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The Ultimate Guide to SPF & Choosing the Right Products for you
As we move through the warmer months, and travel starts opening back up again, we know that you will be looking to enjoy being outside wherever you can. However, with hotter weather, both at home and abroad, comes the risks associated with sun exposure. We know that it can often be overwhelming navigating SPF to find the best sun protection cream for you. That’s why we have compiled this guide about why you need to get sun cream in the UK and beyond, as well as advising you on the SPF you need to stay protected.
Why do I need SPF?
SPF works to protect you against the harmful effects of UV rays on the exposed parts of your body. Prolonged sun exposure often causes sunburn which, according to the NHS, in turn increases your risk of developing skin cancer. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor; the number attached to it tells you how long UVB rays would take to redden your skin, compared to when you do not apply sunscreen as instructed. For example, correctly using an SPF 30 sun lotion would mean that it would take 30x longer to burn than without any product at all.
Is SPF only necessary in summer?
The answer to this is no – despite popular misconceptions, you can in fact get burnt even when you are in the UK, and the weather is cloudy. Therefore, we recommend at least including facial SPF as part of your daily skincare routine. According to Skin Cancer UK, you should ideally be applying sun lotion every day. Moreover, for best results, you should do this before you get dressed for the day, as well as 30 minutes prior to exposure. This allows the product to bind to your skin, as well as ensuring that your skin is protected if your layers shift, or are removed.
Applying a product such as the SPF30 Riemann P20 Once A Day Sun Protection Spray at the start of the day provides reliable sun protection for 10 hours.
Get your sun protection cream online today!
How do I choose which SPF I need?
When looking to buy sun protection cream, you will find SPF ratings categorised using a scale of 2-50+. The scale offers guidance on the level of protection they provide, with 50+ being the highest possible amount. Therefore, we recommend a sunscreen that is SPF 30+. Moreover, if you feel that you may be applying too little of a lower SPF sun lotion, we would recommend switching to a higher one to accommodate for this. We offer a range of sunscreens to suit your needs; we would recommend the Nivea Sun Protect & Dry Touch Spray if you are looking for maximum factor 50 protection.
Also, UVA ratings specify protection against ultraviolet A rays. The best possible rating is 5 stars; therefore, it is important to look for at least 4 stars. A sun protection cream’s UVA rating can also appear in a circle on the label. This indicates that it meets the EU standard for SPF.
What SPF do my children need?
It is essential that you ensure that your children are adequately protected against UV rays, using factor 50 sun cream. If you are looking for children’s sun protection cream, we offer products such as the SunSense SPF50 lotion. This sunscreen is specially formulated for the sensitive skin of children aged 6 months+.
Stock up online for your family holiday below!
Make sure to get your sun cream online today!
You should stock up on SPF as soon as you can to protect against UV rays in warmer weather. We offer a range of sun-related skincare, including aftersun to soothe your skin following sun exposure. Our 1-2 working day delivery ensures that you won’t get caught out, so why wait?
Order your sun protection online today!
This blog post was written on behalf of Chemist.net by Pharmacy Mentor.