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1 That’s why the second most important step for sunscreen, above using enough in the first place, is consistent reapplication-every two to three hours when outdoors, according to Dr. 10 It’ll likely rub off to some degree (even if you’re staying indoors) and eventually become less effective, Dr. Generally speaking, applying sunscreen first thing in the morning probably won’t last you all day.
#VANICREAM SUNSCREEN NATURAL SKIN#
(Plus, SPF can also shield your skin from the blue light from device screens, which has been shown to worsen hyperpigmentation. It may seem silly (I’m barely going to be outside!) but the sun’s damaging UV rays can still permeate on cloudy days or even indoors through a window, according to Dr. 8 That said, a higher number may give you a false sense of security and lead you to, um, fly too close to the sun, so we’re warning you: No matter the SPF number on your sunscreen, you still need to apply enough and reapply regularly (per the guidelines below).Įven if you’re sitting in the office all day or just running a few errands, you should opt for SPF 30 at a minimum for daily wear, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). To get more specific, about 7% of the sun’s rays will reach your skin if you’re wearing SPF 15 versus only 2% for SPF 50. In other words, the higher the SPF value of the product, the more sunburn (and therefore damage) protection it offers. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this number is a measure of how much UVB radiation it takes to burn your skin when it’s slathered in sunscreen compared to the amount of UVB radiation it takes when you’re unprotected. But what the heck does it really mean? Is higher always better? You’ve probably seen those three letters sprawled across sunscreens, moisturizers, and even makeup.
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What does the SPF number on sunscreen labels mean?
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