Not all sunscreen is created equal.
Therefore, it can be overwhelming to know which products you can trust and those you should avoid. Don’t worry! We’ve done the research for you. Here are the attributes you should look for in high quality sunscreen.
SPF
SPF, or sun protection factor, is a measure of sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Well, now you might be thinking to yourself, “What’s the difference between SPF 15 and SPF 50 sunscreen?” Let’s break it down into the percent each SPF filters out:
SPF 15: 93 percent of all incoming UVB rays
SPF 30: 97 percent of all incoming UVB rays
SPF 50: 98 percent of all incoming UVB rays
No matter if you are using SPF 15 or 50, no sunscreen can block all UV rays.
How to Apply
Apply 15 minutes before you go outside. This allows the sunscreen (of SPF 15 or higher) to have enough time to provide the maximum benefit. Use enough to cover your entire face and body (avoiding the eyes and mouth). An average-sized adult or child needs at least one ounce of sunscreen (about the amount it takes to fill a shot glass) to evenly cover the body from head to toe.
Frequently forgotten spots:
- Ears
- Nose
- Lips
- Back of neck
- Hands
- Tops of feet
- Along the hairline
- Areas of the head exposed by balding or thinning hair
Reapply at least every two hours, and more often if you’re swimming or sweating.
Broad Spectrum
Not all sunscreens are broad spectrum, so it is important to look for it on the label. Broad spectrum sunscreen provides protection from the sun’s UV radiation. There are two types of UV radiation that you need to protect yourself from—UVA and UVB. Broad spectrum provides protection against both by providing a chemical barrier that absorbs or reflects UV radiation before it can damage the skin.
Reef Safe
Hawaii’s state legislature recently passed a bill that bans chemical sunscreens that not only cause harm to your body, but reportedly contribute to coral reef bleaching. Senate Bill 2571 prohibits the sale and distribution of any sunscreen that contains Oxybenzone or Octinoxate beginning in 2021. According to the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, “chemicals in sunscreen kill coral and result in DNA damage in larval and adult stage coral. The impact on DNA limits coral’s ability to grow and develop healthily.”
Set your mind at ease knowing that SnugZ USA’s SPF 30 lip balm, SPF 30 sunscreen and zinc is coral reef-safe.
Beginning April 1 through June 30, our Broad Spectrum and Reef Safe SPF 30 SnugZscreen in 1 oz. (ZSUN10) and 1.9 oz. (ZSUN19) is on sale at EQP—20 percent on orders over 250 pieces. Simply reference promo code SZSCREEN when ordering. Visit snugzusa.com for more details.
Source: fda.gov
