Dive into our comprehensive sunscreen guide and learn the importance of SPF. We’ll explore its crucial role in skin protection and offer tailored tips for selecting the perfect sunscreen to match your skin's needs and lifestyle, across every season.
Understanding SPF: What Does It Mean and Why It Matters
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Created by Austrian chemist Franz Greiter in the 70s, it’s a measurement system that indicates how protective the sunscreen is against UVB rays. An SPF 50 means that a fiftieth of the solar radiation will reach the skin. This formula assumes that the product covers the skin evenly at a dosage of 2 milligrams per square centimeter, but it does not consider your type of skin or the environment you’re in, factors that matter when you want to be protected against the sun. It is important to note that while SPF protects from UVB rays, which lead to sunburn and inflammation, it does not protect against UVA rays, the long-wave rays particularly responsible for premature skin ageing. That’s why you need to look for “broad spectrum” sunscreen, which protects against both. This is often indicated on the packaging by an encircled UVA symbol in addition to SPF level. Both UV rays can adversely affect the health of your skin and are risk factors for skin cancer. Therefore, it’s best to protect yourself from both.
Choosing the Right SPF for Each Season
What SPF Should You Use in Summer vs. Winter?
Sunscreen is a 365-day necessity. Despite a lower risk of sunburn in the winter, UV rays persist year-round, particularly UVAs which contribute to long term damage and skin ageing, given that they can penetrate windows and even clouds. While it's commonly believed that the sun is more intense in summer due to its higher position in the sky, it's not the only factor to consider. Environmental conditions also play a significant role. For instance, snow reflects 85 to 95% of UV rays, and being at higher altitudes in the mountains increases UV radiation levels by 10% to 12% every 1000 meters. More than just the season, you need to take into account your location and day's activities to adapt the level of protection accordingly. In fact, the key difference between SPF in summer and winter is how often it is applied. And in the summer, we recommend a minimum of SPF 30 with frequent reapplications based on your activity. Movements, friction and lifestyle factors such as sweating and swimming, will alter the efficacy of the UV protection veil, so you will need to reapply regularly, at least every two hours in the case of intense or prolonged exposure.
How Long Does SPF 50 Last and When to Reapply?
The SPF rating system can also help you estimate how long you can spend in direct sunlight before getting sunburnt. A simplified way to understand how SPF works is to remember it indicates how much longer it will take for UVB rays to cause sunburn on skin protected with sunscreen than on skin that is not protected. For instance, with an SPF of 50, you will take approximately 50 times longer than your usual time to burn. However, this explanation has to be nuanced by your skin type, which can be one of six according to Fitzpatrick Classification: Type I is pale white and the most susceptible to sunburn, and Type VI is dark brown or black and the least vulnerable to sunburn. Fair skin can get sunburned in ten to fifteen minutes. You can then deduce that an SPF 50 offers 500 to 750 minutes of protection. It can be longer for darker skin but it doesn’t last forever. But be careful, even if black skin gets sunburned less easily, this does not mean that it does not suffer from insidious UV damage. It can be longer for darker skin. However, it doesn’t last forever, and even if those types sunburned less easily, they can suffer from insidious UV damage. . You also have to remember that the UV protective veil can be altered easily by your movements, or by sweating and swimming for example. Even if you stay still, over time the UV filters will weaken. That is why – and we’ll never repeat it enough - health organisations advise us to reapply sunscreen at least every two hours. *
SPF Myths Debunked
“I use makeup with SPF so I don't need a separate sunscreen.” FALSE Although using makeup with SPF is a wise choice, it's not a substitute for sunscreen. Consider it a secondary defense, not your sole sun protection. Why? Firstly, your foundation or powder may not be evenly applied across your face and not in sufficient amount. Face cream with sunscreen (at least SPF30) is preferable as a supplement, particularly in cases of intense and prolonged exposure. “SPF prevents my body from getting necessary vitamin D.” FALSE Contrary to common belief, sunscreen does not inhibit the body’s production of vitamin D. Regardless of the SPF number you use, some of the sun’s rays will still reach your skin. However, vitamin D deficiency can occur, particularly in winter, not because of sunscreen but because UVB rays are simply less intense. The best way to obtain vitamin D is therefore through diet such as oily fish or eggs.
Final Thoughts: Integrating SPF into Your Daily Routine
Incorporating SPF into your daily skincare routine has never been easier. Today, we can find SPF benefits in everything from makeup to moisturisers. For the best tinted SPF, we recommend Sports BB Compact SPF 50+, UV Protective Compact Foundation SPF30, which combines a long lasting, natural-looking finish with anti-ageing benefits. Or try Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation SPF 30, which helps resist heat, humidity, oil and even movement. As for the ideal SPF moisturiser, Shiseido offers a variety of hydrating or age-defying options with SPF ranging from 20-30. As previously mentioned, we cannot always rely solely on SPF makeup and moisturiser however, as depending on the season and your activity, your SPF may need topping up regularly particularly in case of intense and prolonged exposure. To encourage daily use, we recommend choosing a sunscreen that has a lightweight, pleasing formula. For example, ,Expert Sun Protector Face and Body Lotion SPF50+ is ultra-lightweight and non-greasy – and its UV protective veil is even boosted by water and heat! And for days on the go, you can top up your protection with Clear Suncare Stick SPF50+, which is non-sticky, completely imperceptible and ideal for sensitive parts of your face or body. Once you find the formula that feels most comfortable on your skin, it should be the last step of your daily routine - as normal as brushing your teeth!
Conclusion: Stay Protected with Shiseido's SPF Products
No matter the weather, a broad-spectrum SPF should be a daily skincare staple. Making it part of your routine will slow down your skin’s ageing process and significantly reduce long-term damage.
From oil-free to hydrating cream and makeup powder texture, Shiseido offers sunscreen for all skin types, with optimal levels of sun protection. You can learn more about Shiseido’s wide range of SPF products here.
