Sunscreen: how to choose it?
When the sun is present and you spend a lot of time outside, it is essential to cover you with sunscreen, to protect your skin from sunburn. But how to choose the product that suits you best?
You will have noticed, on all the packaging is registered the same annotation: SPF. It is an acronym that, translated into French, becomes FPS (sun protection factor). There are 4 categories.
| SPF | Protection |
| From 6 to 10 | Low protection |
| From 15 to 25 | Medium protection |
| From 30 to 50 | High protection |
| 30+ | Very high protection |
This degree of protection signals the level of protection against UVB, which are the most dangerous rays since they are the ones who will burn the skin and cause burns. The higher the SPF, the better you will be protected.
Know that it is important to opt for a cream that will protect you effectively because UVB are the cause of 9 out of 10 skin cancers.
Also remember that it is more than recommended to apply sunscreen generously several times in a day, even if it has a 50 index. Every two hours, it is necessary to renew the operation, but also after each swim.
Everything is a question of phototype
Kesako? This is the classification of different types of skin. It is established according to the reaction of each of them when exposed to solar radiation.
Thanks to this classification, which includes 6 different phototypes, you can thus determine the protection index that suits you.
| Phototype | Characteristics | Sun tanning | Sun protection recommended |
| 1 | * Your skin is very white * Your hair is blond or red * You have a lot of freckles |
Your skin burns as soon as you expose it to the sun, and you do not tan. | SPF 50 It is also recommended to stay away from the sun between 12h and 16h. |
| 2 | * Your skin is white * Your hair is blond or light brown * You have some freckles |
Your skin tends to burn when you take the sun, and you only tan very lightly. | SPF 50 |
| 3 | * Your skin is white * Your hair is dark |
Your skin burns when you take the sun, and your skin takes a lightly hauled color. | SPF 30 Opt for a 50 hue index when you expose yourself between 12h and 16h. |
| 4 | * Your skin is matte * Your hair is dark |
Your skin rarely burns, and you tan well. | SPF 30 |
| 5 | * Your skin is brown | You never catch sunburn and always tan. | SPF 20 |
| 5 | * Your skin is black | You do not know the sunburns, and your tan is excellent | SPF 15 or 20 Even if your skin is naturally pigmented, you must protect it. |
Protection, multiple textures
Sunscreen does not only exist in thick texture, tube or spray, but also in the form of lotion, oil, or glittery gel.
For the face, favor the tube, it will be much easier to apply. For the rest of your body, a spray can do the trick.
If you have opted for a water-resistant version, this does not mean that you can refrain from not applying it again, since it will disappear with the passage of the towel when you wipe your body .
And for the little ones?
The skin of children is more sensitive than ours, because much finer. They are therefore more likely to suffer from burns.
When your toddler goes out in the sun, it is imperative to spread 50% cream on the entire body and face, and to repeat this operation every 2 hours. In spite of this protection, it is useful to make him put on a t-shirt so that his shoulders are covered, as well as a cap or a hat, and sunglasses.
Obviously, we avoid putting his little blonde head in the sun in the middle of the day, especially between 11am and 5pm.
Solar food supplements
You can eat at the approach of sunny days, or a few weeks before a departure to a sunny destination. These capsules will allow you to prepare your skin for the sun and preserve it from aging once you are exposed to it. They will also help you keep your tan.
On the other hand, despite these dietary supplements, do not forget to protect yourself with cream, and do not abuse too much sunlight, which can be harmful to your health.
Direction trash for expired tubes
If an expiry date is indicated, it is not for nothing. The product is indeed less effective once it is exceeded.
If the deadline is still good, but the tube is open several months, reserve the same fate and throw it away, since the sunscreens that make up the cream may no longer be effective. Moreover, it is likely that after being opened a few weeks, the mixture is more homogeneous and contains grains.
3 additional info
- Before exposing yourself, avoid doing a scrub: it will refine your skin, which will become extremely sensitive and much more vulnerable to the rays.
- The production of the pigment responsible for the skin coloring, melanin, may be favored by certain foods. Among them, carrot, red pepper, apricot or mango.
- After your shower, moisturize your skin as much as possible: this will prolong your tan.