how-much-SPF-to-wear-for-your-face

How Much SPF to Wear For Your Face

June 22, 2020

It's no secret that applying sunscreen daily is an important part of caring for your skin. From dermatologists to beauty bloggers, the amount of praise sunscreen receives in the world of beauty is unparalleled. The benefits of applying the recommended SPF for your face range from minimizing the appearance of premature aging and wrinkles to protecting your skin from skin cancer. If you're serious about your skin's health, then incorporating sunscreen into your daily skincare routine is a no brainer.

And while the benefits of daily sun protection are easy to understand, knowing how to choose a sunscreen that provides optimal sun protection while maintaining skin health can feel daunting. As Skin Health Experts, our clients, customers and fans often ask:

● "What ingredients should I look for in a sunscreen?"

● "Should I use oil or oil-free sunscreen?"

● "Where does SPF fit into my daily skincare regimen?

While these are all valid questions, we've found that people often opt out of daily sun protection rather than educate themselves on which product and what level of SPF works best for their skin. With all of the competing information and confusion surrounding proper sun protection for face, some women even turn away from using any skincare products containing SPF.

Wondering what the ideal SPF for your face is? Our Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts put together this quick and easy guide to help you figure out what’s best for your skin!

How to Determine the Right SPF

When determining how much SPF you should wear on your skin, there is no clear cut answer. The truth is that everyone's skin is different and therefore has different needs. Some people have more sensitive skin than others, which will impact how much sunscreen they wear. There are, however, a few tips to follow to ensure that the sunscreen you choose is the right one for you.

Choose a "Broad Spectrum" Sunscreen

No matter which skin type you have, a broad-spectrum sunscreen will provide you with the most protection [1]. Broad-spectrum means that the sunscreen is meant to protect your skin against UVA rays, rays believed to cause fine lines and wrinkles, and UVB rays, those responsible for burns and melanoma. Protecting your skin from both of these UV rays will help deter skin cancer development and prevent signs of premature skin aging.

Consider Your Lifestyle

When choosing the right sunscreen for you, it’s important to consider the environmental factors your skin faces daily. Though you might not live in a city or town that receives year-round sunshine, your skin is still at risk of sun exposure. UVA rays can penetrate glass and clouds and are still present on overcast or cloudy days [3]. By now, you probably realize that sunscreen should undoubtedly be a part of your morning skincare routine. However, if you are outdoors frequently, you'll need to apply it every two hours to protect from ultraviolet rays. Additionally, if you lead an active lifestyle, you'll want to invest in a sunscreen that can withstand heat and sweat.

Look at Your Skin Tone

Your skin tone and skin type play a critical role in choosing an effective sunscreen. The lighter your skin is, the less pigmentation it has, and the more prone it is to get a sunburn. Individuals with fair skin should always choose sunscreens above SPF 30. Anything below could put you at risk for skin damage.

Individuals with darker, more pigmented skin are naturally more protected from UV rays than lighter skin types due to an increased amount of melanin [2]. This being said, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15-30 should be sufficient. Not sure which skin type you fall into? A general rule of thumb for all skin types is to choose a sunscreen with SPF 30. Doing so will help ensure that you're adequately protected from UVA and UVB rays.

Consider Your Skincare Routine

When choosing the best sunscreen for you and your skin, you’ll also want to factor in the rest of your skincare routine. Though you should apply sunscreen daily, if you use retinol-based products or chemical exfoliators, wearing sunscreen is even more critical. Though great for your skin, when used correctly, using products like this, can cause your skin to be more sensitive to UV light and increase your risk of skin damage. If you regularly use these products, then we recommend wearing daily sunscreen of at least SPF 30.

All Day SPF Coverage

Remembering to put sunscreen on daily doesn't have to be hard. Several skincare products like our UncompliKated SPF and our Daily Deflector mineral face sunscreen contain sunscreen already. Our makeup setting spray is a no-fuss mist that works to instantly set makeup while reducing shine and providing a matte finish. The best part? It contains SPF 50 and is an ideal solution for setting your makeup and protecting your skin. No need to worry about the hassles of applying face sunscreen over makeup anymore. You can have all day SPF coverage with the spray’s easy re-application.

Regularly applying sunscreen is a vital part of your skincare regimen. Whether you're spending long hours in the sun or just going from your car to work and back again, your skin is exposed to harmful UV rays daily and needs to be protected from sun damage. We hope this article has helped you determine how much SPF for the face is required when applying sunscreen. Curious to learn more about sunscreen? Read this article to discover more about the benefits of sunscreen.

Sources:

BEST SELLERS