What Does the SPF Number Mean in Sunscreen?
Before you opt for any sunscreen, it’s important to understand What does the SPF Number Mean?
SPF or Sun Protection Factor is an important parameter to keep in mind when purchasing a sunscreen with SPF. Choosing the right SPF for yourself is the best way to protect yourself from the harmful effects of sun exposure and environmental stressors.
Want to know about SPF and sun protection myths? Here’s everything you need to know about SPF.
What Is SPF Number?
SPF is nothing but a measure of how much sun exposure/UV radiation is required to cause sunburn on your skin when it is protected by sunscreen relative to the amount of sun exposure needed to cause sunburn on unprotected skin. To put it simply, the sun protection a sunscreen provides increases when the SPF value increases. Using sunscreen is the best way to protect your skin from all sorts of damage that can be caused by the harmful rays of the sun due to prolonged exposure, daily.
How SPF Is Measured
The SPF number is determined by the amount of sunlight required to produce redness in skin which is protected by sunscreen, divided by the amount of sunlight that produces redness in skin which doesn’t have sunscreen on.
Different Types Of SPF
Now that you know what does the number on your sunscreen mean, it’s time to select a sunburn sunscreen that fits your needs and protects your skin effectively.
Here are the different types of SPF you need to know about.
1) SPF For Dry Skin
A sunscreen for dry skin should contain hydrating ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera. These formulations will moisturise your skin from within and protect it on the outside.
St.Botanica Recommends Best Skincare Product with SPF For Dry Skin: Vitamin C, E & Hyaluronic Acid Age Defying & Skin Clearing Moisturiser With SPF 30, 50ml
St.Botanica Vitamin C, E & Hyaluronic Acid Age Defying & Skin Clearing Moisturiser With SPF 30 helps maintain an appropriate amount of moisture in dry skin. It nourishes the skin and also helps shield it against UVA and UVB rays. Using this sunscreen also helps promote firmness, increases skin clarity, and lightens blemishes. This incredible moisturiser is a blend of the most refined natural oils, skin conditioning agents, vitamins and plant extracts. SPF 30 and PA+++ make it the intact product for a complete summer skincare routine.
2) SPF For Oily Skin
Oily-skinned folks! You need to apply sunscreen too. Sunscreen for oily skin should contain ingredients like Vitamin C, Niacinamide and Pro-Vitamin B5. These face brightening creams will not only shield oily skin but will also control sebum production.
St.Botanica Recommends Best Skincare Product with SPF For Oily Skin: Pure Radiance Anti Aging & Face Brightening Cream With SPF 25, 50g
St.Botanica Pure Radiance Anti Aging & Face Brightening Cream With SPF 25 helps moisturise the skin. Enriched with the most efficacious skin-firming components, this product contains Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E and Retinol. Created for daytime skin care; it assists in shielding your skin from UVA and UVB rays, tanning, sunburn and photo-ageing. It also helps replenish the skin’s hydration.
3) Day Cream With SPF
If you are someone who finds it tedious to apply sunscreen on top of their regular moisturiser, then you needn’t worry anymore. You can always go for day creams with SPF or moisturisers with SPF.
St.Botanica Recommends Best Day Cream With SPF: Retinol Advanced Anti Aging Day Cream SPF 30, 50g
St.Botanica Retinol Advanced Anti Aging Day Cream SPF 30 consists of anti-ageing ingredients, natural antioxidants and skin conditioning agents. This moisturising and nourishing day cream helps in tightening the skin while diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. It assists in reducing skin dullness as well. This stunning day cream is forged to provide hydration and anti-ageing support all day long. It also helps shield your skin from tanning, sunburn, hyperpigmentation, dark spots and premature wrinkling.
St.Botanica Best Moisturiser With SPF: Vitamin C Brightening Day Cream With SPF 25, 50g
St.Botanica Vitamin C Brightening Day Cream With SPF 25 contains collagen-stimulating vitamins that protect your skin from the harmful UV rays. This ideal base cream also helps for a blemish free face and reduces dullness. Its highly potent antioxidant formula includes Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide and Pro-Vitamin B5. It has a lightweight consistency that blends with the skin easily and makes it convenient to wear all day. It brightens your skin texture and helps reduce pigmentation.
4) Mist Sunscreen
Make sun protection even simpler with a sunscreen mist. Just spray it on the exposed areas and you are good to go. The fact that you can spray it also means you can conveniently reapply it as and when required – you’d not even need a mirror. Just make sure to choose one that is enriched with soothing ingredients like Vitamin C, Green Tea Extract, and Vitamin E because the sun can be very harsh on the skin, especially in our climate.
St.Botanica Recommends Best Mist Sunscreen: Vitamin C SPF 50 Sunblock Face & Body Mist Sunscreen, 120ml
St.Botanica Vitamin C SPF 50 Sunblock Face & Body Mist Sunscreen is a non-greasy and water-resistant formula. It shields the skin from UVA and UVB rays. Offering up to 98% protection from the sun’s harmful rays, it shields your skin from damage caused by sun exposure. Spraying the sunscreen on the face, neck, arms, and other exposed areas of your body forms a protective layer/barrier on your skin. The presence of Vitamin C and antioxidant-rich plant extracts make this mist sunscreen even more effective.
Conclusion
Choosing a sunscreen with the right SPF goes a long way in protecting your skin from sun exposure and other environmental stressors like air pollution, dust and so on. Using the right sunscreen will also keep ageing, dark spots or pigmentation, and blemishes at bay. Hence, make sure to pick an SPF which works well for your Indian skin.
FAQs On What Is SPF Number
Q: Does higher SPF matter?
A: Yes, a higher SPF provides more protection from the harmful UVA and UVB rays. Your ultimate choice completely depends on your skin type, concerns, and climate of the place you are in.
Q: What SPF number is best?
A: It is advisable to use a sunscreen with at least SPF 25. Anything more than 25 is great. SPF 25 to 50 is the ideal range, keeping in mind the Indian climate.
Q: What SPF should I use every day?
A: You should use a lightweight and hydrating sunscreen with at least SPF 25 on a regular basis. Using such a product will shield your skin and prevent damage caused by exposure to the sun.
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