Many remember being bathed in sunscreen as babies and children. Then slowly growing into using less and less the older we got – until we found out that sunscreen is crucial for your skin and health. Many remembers SPF as annoying, sticky, and greasy. It was ‘only was necessary’ under high heat, many sun hours and active sunbathing.
Nonetheless, many has gotten wiser and we now know how important sunscreen is. Though it’s difficult to say that the spf-technology – and correct knowledge has moved along. There are still many misconceptions about sunscreen, misleading product labels and different types of sunscreen. So it’s hard to know which ones to go after and when to use it.
– We want to help you navigate in the zoo of sunscreens. Break down the most important features, so you can choose the best sunscreen for you.
Myth No. 1: High SPF = long term protection
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and is followed by a number. The following number of SPF refers to how long it’ll take for your skin to burn and stay protected from UVA, UVB, and blue light rays.
Many think that the higher sun protection factor (SPF number) you choose to wear, the longer (and better) it’ll protect you. But that’s actually wrong! SPF and the following number refers to how long it’ll take before your skin starts to burn from UVB rays, over a period of two hours. Not over a whole day. Hence you should reapply sunscreen every two hours to be fully ‘sun protected’.
– A bonus info is that SPF 50+ sunscreen is packed with active ingredients. This actually makes it less effective in its UV-protection – and can lead to irritation and allergic reactions!
Most dermatologists recommend using SPF 30-50. So basically, we recommend using SPF 30 (to be most gentle towards your skin), and reapply every two hours.
Myth No. 2: You don’t need sunscreen inside, during the winter, or on cloudy days
First and foremost; UVA can penetrate through windows! And it’s the UVA rays that causes wrinkles. So you might not need to reapply every second hour or use a sunscreen with high SPF if you’re indoors. It might still be a good idea to protect your skin against UVA.
Second; Clouds aren’t sun blockers. Despite not being able to feel the sun’s warming rays on your skin, it’s still getting exposed to the UVA and UVB rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation argues that clouds filter less than 25% of the damaging UV rays. So keep on wearing your SPF, despite it being a rainy or cloudy day, to keep your skin protected.
Overall; apply your SPF daily, at the end of your morning routine. This is to make sure it’s protected against the harmful UVA & UVB rays – they’re always present ;)
Myth No. 3: You can’t get sunburned in the water
That’s a lie… Water is a reflective surface, meaning that as soon as the UV rays hit the water surface, they’ll reflect right back up. This means that all of the parts and areas of your body that’s above the water’s surface, will get hit. In most cases, the reflection will even hit your skin with a stronger intensity than before. This gives you ‘double’, and increasing the chances of a sunburn.
So; we advice you to use mineral sunscreen – before, during, and after taking your cooling swim :)
Myth No. 4: Applying SPF once during the day is enough
As you probably can guess from Myth No. 1, this is nooot true!
As soon as you apply sunscreen on your skin, the ingredients starts to break down. The longer amount of time you stay outdoors and in the sun, the more sunscreen breaks down. The more it breaks down, the more exposed to sun damage, your skin will become.
So again; reapply sunscreen every two hours at least, to make sure that you’re protected, and you won’t have to worry about the sunscreen being totally broken down.
We’ll again advice you to use a mineral sunscreen like Boë’s, that’s free of endocrine disruptors, fragrance, reef-safe, non-chemical and can be used for sensitive skin, and while breastfeeding and being pregnant.
Myth No. 5: If you wear sunscreen (or cover op bodyparts that doesn’t have any on), then you’re safe from getting skin cancer
This is to some extent true… You’re less likely to develop skin cancer when you wear sunscreen (regularly). But applying sunscreen does not exempt or guarantee that you cannot develop cancer.
Both UVA and UVB rays are ubiquitous… Sunscreen can help your skin slow down the absorption of the rays, but it cannot fully guard and protect you from them.
This is also why it’s so important to wear and apply sunscreen regularly (besides the cosmetic POV in trying to prevent fine lines and wrinkles)!
– If you have sensitive skin, we’ll again advice you to use a mineral sunscreen, to prevent irritation and other disturbances of your skin and body.
Myth No. 6: The difference in chemical and mineral sunscreen is the skin’s absorption time
Well… the main difference between chemical and mineral sunscreen is their way of protecting your skin from the harmful UV rays. While chemical SPF absorbs the rays and transfers it into heat, mineral sunscreen reflects the radiation away from your skin.
This means that the sunscreens basically works in two different ways. Mineral sunscreen works as a physical barrier (also why Boë’s sunscreen is free from endocrine disruptors), as the sunscreen and chemicals aren’t entering your body. On the other hand, chemical sunscreen works its way into your skin and body, letting the chemicals enter your body, and not flow on top as a protective layer.
Nonetheless, both types of sunscreen protects your skin from UV radiation, from the second you apply them on your skin.
Myth No. 7: One size fits all
Ahh yes, how easy it would be if it was so. Unfortunately, it isn’t… Saying that all sunscreens can be applied by all and work the same on all, can be compared to everybody should use the same scent.
Sunscreen doesn’t affect your skin, the same way as your friend’s or the next person you see on the street. We all have different skin types and our skin works in different ways – everybody is unique :)
If you have sensitive skin – or want to treat your skin in the most gentle way – you should always opt in for mineral sunscreen. Mineral sunscreen is the gentlest, safest, and most non-irritating of the two.
Chemical sunscreen might be suitable for most skin types, but they have irritating and inflammatory components, that can vary in their effects from person to person.
So, the best way to stay clear of irritating or inflammatory skin, is by using non-toxic sunscreens, which in most cases will be mineral.
Overall
Be careful about what you read, see or hear about sunscreens – both types and usage of it. The consequences of using them wrongfully are too high to not make sure that you’re using it the right way.
Better be safe than sorry 💛
At Boë we have sensitive skin as our default
Try, feel it
