Understand Your Label
The popular Korean skincare line Krave has one of the most highly recommended sunscreens, Beet The Sun. I see it in almost every sunscreen recommendation or informative SPF video. Recently, however, Krave’s pulled the cult following product from the shelves over faulty or inaccurate SPF claims. At the same time, I’m learning that American sunscreen is mediocre in comparison to products out of the country. The options feel limited and in a sense what do we need to know to pick out the best sunscreen?
To start what does sunscreen really do? When you read the SPF scale you’re seeing how protected you are against UVB rays. What you aren’t seeing is how protected you are against UVA rays. Though you might know UVB rays are what cause sunburns UVA rays hit the skin more deeply. For this reason, they cause premature aging like wrinkles, and not all sunscreen will protect you against these risks. When sunscreen’s advertised they are broad-spectrum they’re saying you are being protected from both types of UV rays.
Now you have your board spectrum, but in order to understand the label, you need to know about SPF. The number on the bottle next to the SPF is misleading in its own way. Higher SPF sunscreens are not necessarily stronger or higher in protection. The general recommendation made by dermatologists is at least 30 SPF. If, however, you were to buy 60 SPF you’re not twice as protected. Instead, you are protected twice as long. The SPF scale is probably better imagined as a marker of longevity rather than that of strength. For example, if you put on SPF 30 and burned in one hour putting on SPF 60 would mean you’d start to burn after two hours. The higher the number does not indicate the higher protection, it’s important to still reapply and to know when to do it.
When the time of reapplication comes understand what kind of sunscreen you have. There are two you’ll likely find. One of which, the most common and the one people are more accustomed to is physical blockers. Physical blockers are the ones with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. They are more well known visually by the white cast they tend to leave on your skin. Think of the classic white nose covered in sunblock, that’s a physical blocker. These block the sun by creating a barrier. The UV rays are reflected off the skin, like a mirror, which is how you stay protected. Chemical blockers work a little harder. They catch the rays and absorb them. For that reason, however, they tend to deteriorate and it’s important to remember to reapply because the sun is breaking down your protection the longer you’re in the sun.
Even despite the less than perfect sunscreen market as compared to elsewhere it’s possible to still be protected and well educated for summer. Beet the sun is gone, but a broad-spectrum, 30 SPF, physical blocker sunscreen will still be by our side.
