Sunscreen: Which SPF Should You Choose for Your Skin?

Which SPF should you choose for sunscreen?

The sun is here, radiant and blazing! It feels great on your skin, but don’t forget to protect yourself under its rays, or you could pay a high price! Sunscreen is essential, but you need to choose it carefully. The protection factor should be a key selection criterion. But which SPF should you choose?

What is a sun protection factor?

When we talk about SPF, some people think sunscreen protects us from tanning. That’s not true—it protects us from sunburn. So using sunscreen won’t stop you from tanning. On the contrary! You’ll get a more even and longer-lasting tan.

So, there’s no debate about using sunscreen—applying it is a must! What changes is the SPF, which measures how effective it is against sunburn.

Which SPF should you choose?

The sun protection factor, known as SPF (Sun Protection Factor), allows you to extend the time your skin can be exposed to the sun before sunburn appears. Every skin type needs its own level of protection and has a certain sensitivity to the sun. That’s why there are 6 phototypes, classifying skin from the lightest to the darkest.

Lower SPFs are suitable for darker and olive skin tones. The lighter your skin, the more sensitive it is and the higher the risk of burning. A very high SPF is strongly recommended! This protection is indicated by a number (6, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 50+) and must be clearly shown on the sunscreen packaging.

Also read:

With the same SPF, what’s the difference between a lotion and an oil?
Monoi: When and how to use it?
With facial sunscreen: golden and well protected all year round!