When to switch your level of SPF?
A Mintel Study Found That 40% Of People Don't Know What Level Of SPF To Wear
Our founder, Chartered Chemist & Chartered Scientist Bruce Green advises when to switch your SPF levels: "It's important to wear SPF all-year-round, as UVA/UVB rays are active whatever the weather. Sun
preparations work to reflect UVA and UVB rays away from the skin and act as physical blockers. This
is achieved through mineral ingredients such as Zinc Oxide, which is able to give a protective shield
on the skin. It reflects light. Other ingredients don’t reflect the rays but absorb them before they can
penetrate the skin.
As well as protecting from damaging rays, SPF is a great anti-ageing skincare step, but what level of
SPF should you wear, and when do you switch to a higher SPF? A good sunscreen will give
protection against both UVA and UVB rays (Broad-Spectrum). You should always use a
face/body sun cream with at least a minimum of SPF 30, such as SOS H20 Day Cream SPF 30,
even through the colder months. It's especially important if you have fair skin, freckles, moles or
sensitive skin.
I would suggest it's time to switch to SPF 50 when the summer solstice hits, officially on the 21st
June, but use your own discretion. If in doubt about the weather; check out the global solar UV
index. This is a measure of UV radiation at the earth’s surface and indicates potential for skin
damage. The higher UV index, the greater potential harm to skin. Protect yourself fully if the
index is 3 or higher – check out the Met Office website.
The summer temperatures in the UK are becoming hotter, especially over the last few years.
Usually, the average temperatures in the UK summer are between 18°C- 22°C, however, last
year we saw temperatures of 40°C or higher. With the UV rays much stronger in the summer,
boost your SPF to SPF 50 for added protection. For ultimate protection, look for a mineral
based, SPF 50, Broad-Spectrum SPF, such as SOS SPF 50 Sun Cream.
Using a higher level of SPF doesn't stop you from tanning, which is the misconception, and why
many people feel opposed to using an SPF 50, it's creating a higher safety measure if you are
inevitably going to spend time in the sun/more time outdoors in the summer. In the UK, we
experience all the seasons environmentally, and upping your SPF from 30 to 50 is a good idea as
we are not used to high temperatures all the time, so the sun rays can feel more intense. It's
also true that we don't spend as much time outdoors in the colder months, where we're not
going to be as exposed to UV rays, so when it comes to the summer, we're completely adapting
to a new lifestyle which includes alfresco dining, walking to work, beer gardens and summer
holidays.
Remember, no matter how good or effective your sun protection purchase is, it will only be as
good as its application and re-application. Just like any product you wear on your face, sun
cream has an expiration in terms of longevity, as it is broken down by light exposure to activities
such as swimming and even walking.
Not applying SPF is the main mistake to make! Just because it's not a sunny day, don’t be fooled
– 90% of the harmful rays are still there. Sunlight