Which SPF is better for the face?

What is sunscreen?

This product is a topical product that is usually produced either in the form of a cream or a lotion or spray. Sunscreen protects the skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays by reflecting or absorbing these rays, depending on the type. Sunscreen is not only used to prevent sunburn, but is also one of the most essential essentials in preventing skin cancer. If you want to be completely protected from the harmful rays of the sun, in addition to sunscreen, you should also use products such as sunglasses and sunglasses.

What does SPF mean and what does it mean?

The sun protection factor is called SPF. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and is a scientific measurement criterion. SPF levels in the sun increase the skin’s natural defenses against the sun’s harmful rays. When you apply sunscreen to your skin, it takes longer than the sun’s harmful rays to penetrate the skin, causing damage and burns. The SPF rate determines this duration.

The sun emits two types of rays: UVA and UVB. UVA rays promote the signs of aging skin such as wrinkles and sagging. While UVB rays are more carcinogenic and cause sunburn. To get more familiar with the concept of SPF, for example, when you use sunscreen with SPF = 15, it takes 15 times longer for your skin to get sunburned than when you do not have sunscreen. To clarify this, let us give another example. Suppose you have skin that burns after 10 minutes of sun exposure. Now if you use sunscreen with SPF = 30, it will take 30 times longer to get sunburn; That means about 300 minutes.

Different SPFs in sunscreens

Before you get acquainted with the best SPF for face, it is better to know that there are different SPFs available in the sunscreen market. SPF15, SPF20, SPF30, SPF50 and SPF100 are more common in sunscreens than any other protective factor. Note the following table:

As you can see, the SPF30 is not much different from the SPF100 in terms of sun protection. You should also know that there is no sunscreen that can completely protect the skin from UV rays.

The best SPF for the face

Dermatologists recommend that you use a sunscreen that has at least SPF = 30 to protect your facial skin from the sun. As you can see in the table in the previous section, sunscreen with a protection factor of 30 can block up to 97% of the sun’s ultraviolet (UVB) rays.

To choose a sunscreen for your skin type, you must be careful. If you have dry skin, buy a sunscreen that contains moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or ceramides. If you have oily skin, it is better to use non-greasy sunscreen.

Does sunscreen with SPF30 have the most protection for the face?

Based on what you have read so far, you may ask, with these interpretations, why not the best SPF for the face, SPF100? A very important point to note is that your sunscreen must also have a “broad spectrum” label. This label indicates that this sunscreen protects the skin from both UVB and UVA rays. Earlier in this article, we described the necessary points about this type of radiation. The point is that the higher the SPF, the less protection it will have against UVA rays.

Based on this, it can be said that sunscreens with SPF above 60 have less protection against UVA rays. Since SPF 100 sunscreen provides only one percent more protection than SPF 50, its use is not highly recommended by experts. On the other hand, any sunscreen should stay on the skin for a maximum of 2 hours. Therefore, sunscreen with any SPF level has an effect of 2 hours, whether its SPF is 100 or less.

The difference between SPF 30 and 50

Sunscreen with SPF30 blocks UVB rays up to 97% and sunscreen with SPF50 blocks up to 98%. So it does not matter which one you use. As we said, the important thing is that the protection factor against the sunscreen you use is at least 30.

Why should we still use sunscreen if we have dark skin?

Many people mistakenly believe that people with darker skin do not need to use sunscreen. But some studies have shown that black people have a higher rate of skin cancer than others. So, regardless of your skin color, be sure to use sunscreen.

Tips for buying sunscreen

Introducing the best SPF for the face. But you should know that SPF in sunscreens is not the only thing you should pay attention to. When buying sunscreen, pay attention to the following:

Waterproof sunscreen

No sunscreen is really waterproof, but if it is water-resistant, it can provide good protection against water and sweat. Especially for water activities and when exercising, it is better to choose waterproof sunscreen.

Should we use sunscreen or not?

The customers of this type of sunscreen are mostly parents who have naughty and lively children. Experts are concerned about the use of sunscreen sprays because they may contain chemicals that are considered irritating to the breath. Therefore, it is better to use sunscreen in the form of cream first.

Wide range labels

The sunscreen with this label shows that it protects against both UVB and UVA rays. UVA rays are one of the causes of accelerating the signs of skin aging.

Physical or chemical sunscreen

In general, sunscreens fall into two categories: physical and chemical. Physical sunscreen is based on minerals. The two sunscreens work a little differently, but they both protect the skin from the sun. Some experts believe that mineral-based sunscreens do not work as well as chemical sunscreens. However, the use of physical sunscreens is especially recommended for pregnant and lactating women.

Concluding remarks

One of the essential skin care products for everyone is sunscreen. Even children from 6 months onwards should use this product. The best SPF for the face, according to dermatologists, should be at least 30. SPF indicates the degree of protection of the skin against ultraviolet rays. Use sunscreen for both children and adults with an SPF of 30 or higher.