What the SPF? How to pick the best sunscreen for spring and summer

Is that the sound of birds chirping? Is that the warmth of the sun on our skin?

As spring breaks and summer heats up, we’ll be spending more time at concerts, on road trips, and off the grid. You know what that means: MORE FUN IN THE SUN. It’s been a long-time coming, but let’s not lose control. Wearing a properly rated SPF will help us prevent sunburn and other skin damage. 

Here’s a quick list of questions to answer before you bare it all outside:

 

1. What even is SPF?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It measures the level of protection a sunscreen provides against potentially harmful ultraviolet rays. The higher the SPF number, the greater the level of protection.

 

2. What are the different levels of SPF?

Generally, an SPF of 15 or higher is recommended to provide adequate protection against UVA and UVB rays. 

It’s important to look for the words “broad spectrum” on the bottle. This indicates protection against both UVA and UVB rays. We recommend SPF30 or higher for your face. 

 

3. How can I tell which SPF sunscreen to wear?

The SPF you should wear depends on your skin type, the length of time you will be in the sun, and the intensity of the sun’s rays. Not sure which SPF is right for you? Check out this chart.

 

SPF 50+		SPF 20–40		SPF 5–15
Light skin tone		Medium skin tone		Dark skin tone
2+ hours of exposure		2 hours of exposure		1 hour of exposure

 

4. Do I need to wear sunscreen when it is cloudy out?

Yes, you should still wear sunscreen even when it is cloudy outside. UV rays can still penetrate through the clouds and cause damage to your skin. Sunscreen will help protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun.

 

5. Which brand of SPF sunscreen is recommended?

We recommend using mineral sunscreens instead of chemical sunscreens. While chemical sunscreens filter UV rays, mineral sunscreens include zinc oxide and titanium oxide, which reflect and scatter UV rays, physically blocking them from penetrating the skin.

We also recommend Glytone Age Defense UV Mineral Sunscreen Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 50+, which is enriched with hyaluronic acid to help hydrate skin and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while blocking UV rays at the same time.