Ever since moving to Australia last year, my SPF consumption has definitely upped in volume. I’ve always been anal about slathering on sunblock even back home, but given that there is apparently a depleted ozone layer above the Australian continent that means the sun’s UV rays just go straight down under (pun intended), well, I had to ensure that I am constantly coated in protection. Because of the added sun damage risk, the cancer Council Victoria even had this ultra popular anti-skin cancer campaign called, “Slip! Slop! Slap!” (Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat), which has become a pop culture phenomena that endured through the decades.
True, it may be time consuming and yes, a bit gooey to slop on SPF daily, but I cannot stress this enough: wherever you are in the world, you MUST do it, or you will 100% regret it. Still unconvinced? Well, read on to find out everything you need to know about SPF and why you absolutely need it in your life:
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, but in beauty terms, we may also refer to it interchangeably as sunblock. Technically though, SPF is a measure of how much protection a sunblock actually has. The SPF numbers are a measurement of time—an SPF of 15 will allow you to stay in the sun 15 times longer without burning than if you were wearing none. So if it takes about 20 minutes of sun exposure for your skin to redden without SPF, then SPF of 15 would provide you about five hours of protection.
UVA and UVB rays are types of UV radiation, and sunblock protects the skin from both. UVB is the main cause of sunburn, while UVA destroys skin elasticity and is what you can primarily blame for ageing. Both these rays increase risk of skin cancer. Basically, they are the enemy.
How much SPF should I go for?
Most skin experts advise using at least SPF 30 daily, as it blocks over 97% of UV rays. Word of caution—do not be duped by companies claiming to have SPF 100. Just because it is 3x higher than SPF 30 doesn’t mean it provides 300% more protection. You might trick yourself into thinking you are more protected and can get away with re-applying less often. Don’t fall for it.
How much should I apply?
The general rule for full body protection is to slather a shot glass sized dollop of sunscreen all over.
How often should I apply sunscreen?
The general rule of thumb is to re-apply sunblock every two hours, especially when you’re outdoors (at the beach, walking the streets, mountain climbing, playing a sport under the sun, etc.)
What will happen if I don’t use it daily?
Sunspots, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, sunburn, skin cancer, etc. Are you scared yet? Remember, prevention is always better than cure.
What products should I use?
