Playing the Number Game: Which is the Best Grade of SPF in Sunscreen?

Are you heading out? You may have put on everything right, but did you prep your skin well for the day? It’s advised to pick a sunscreen with a UV protection formula of SPF 15 or 30. Many people often wonder what SPF in sunscreen is and why would they ever need it, especially if they usually stay indoors. 

From sunny holidays at the beach to cold winter days, you should remember this small step to take care of your skin, or you may face sunburns that you might regret later. In addition, you should apply sunscreen with SPF even if you stay at home, as electronic devices emit harmful rays to the skin.

Isn’t SPF with sunscreen important for your skin? This article will dig deep into the concept of SPF and sunscreen. So give it a quick read to learn about SPF sunscreens and pick the right one for yourself!

What is SPF?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The SPF meaning in sunscreen is a measure that determines the number of UV rays that get blocked, and you stay protected from the rays.

Here’s an easy example. If you apply sunscreen with SPF 30, it will take 30x more UV rays which are required to burn the unprotected skin. So if your skin takes 10 minutes to face a sunburn, SPF 30 Sunscreen can protect you for 5 hours. 

Knowing different types of rays

Before digging deep into the different types of SPFs, you need to understand the different kinds of rays present in the atmosphere and how they affect our skin.

– UVA rays are the ultraviolet rays emitted through sunlight and are easily absorbed by our skin’s dermis (middle layers). Responsible for various signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots, and can penetrate through the window glass. It may also lead to multiple skincare issues with time.

– UVB rays: These are UV rays that are too created by the sun but are more harmful to the skin. They directly target the epidermis (top layers) of the skin. Apart from causing sunburns, prolonged exposure leads to skin cancer and melanoma.

– Blue light rays: They are visible light highly sourced by energies. Apart from electronic devices such as laptop screens, smartphones, or tablets, they are one of the lights produced by the sun. Unfortunately, this blue light can even more harm the skin as it penetrates deeply and affects the hypodermis (deepest layers of skin).

Digging into different Types of SPFs 

Markets are loaded with different SPF in sunscreen that contains different ingredients. These different ingredients protect your skin in varied ways depending on how these ingredients interact with UV rays. 

Here are some of the different types of sunscreens:

a. Physical sunscreen: Also known as mineral sunscreen, this type of sunscreen forms the layer on the skin that blocks UV rays from entering the skin. They’re gentle on the skin but can easily leave the skin through sweating and leave a white sheen on the skin. 

Physical sunscreens are not recommended if you’re wearing makeup. Applying makeup while using this SPF in sunscreen may leave the skin heavy and greasy.

b. Chemical sunscreen: It is a type of sunscreen that easily gets absorbed by the skin and creates a shield that absorbs UV rays and releases them as heat. People with sensitive skin should stay alert as it can cause irritation and itchy skin. However, they come in handy when tackling sweat or applying makeup.

c. Broad spectrum SPF: A broad spectrum SPF in sunscreen protects you from harmful UVA and UVB rays. At the same time, regular sunscreen gives you a cover against UVB rays only. UVA rays can go beyond the skin layers, harming the skin and leading to skin cancer and premature aging. Therefore, they are perfect for daily use.

Digging into the different SPF and PA levels

If you head over to the market and pick any of the sunscreens, do ensure to avoid that next time. Instead, pick the sunscreen that contains SPF and PA levels. PA levels measure how well your skin is protected from UVA rays. Let’s explore the different levels of SPF & PA and how they act. 

We would start with the effect of SPF levels:

– SPF 15 in sunscreen blocks around 93% of UVB Radiation. 

– SPF 30 in sunscreen keeps you away from around 97% UVB Radiation.

– One of the best sunscreens is a sunscreen with SPF 5o in India, protecting you from 98% UVB Radiation. 

Now, let’s have a look at different PA rating Levels. 

– PA+ gives some protection from UVA radiation.

– Pa++ gives moderate protection from UVA radiation.

– PA+++ gives high protection from UVA radiation.

– PA++++ gives you the best grade of protection from UVA radiation. 

Once you figure out your time indoors and outdoors, you can pick the perfect sunscreen. For example, if you stay most of the time indoors, you can pick a sunscreen with SPF 2o or a natural and toxin-free sunscreen gel such as Mamaearth Aqua Hydrating Sunscreen Gel. Powered by Himalayan Thermal Water and Hyaluronic Acid, it protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays and blue light protection. 

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If you stay under the sun for most of the day, apply sunscreen with SPF 3o or 50 before heading out. Also, do remember to reapply it several times during the day. 

It would be advisable to pick a natural sunscreen that does not contain harmful ingredients such as Sulfates, Phthalates, and many more. Therefore, we advise you to pick Mamaearth Ultra Light Indian SPF 50 Sunscreen. It is packed with the goodness of Carrot Seed, Turmeric, SPF 50, and PA+++ protection. 

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Why do you need sunscreen with SPF? 

One of the primary reasons that you need sunscreen is to protect the skin from sun damage that leads to several other disorders. Well, sunscreen has many other benefits, as it keeps your skin healthy. Here are some benefits of sunscreen that will convince you to get an SPF in Sunscreen.

– Reduces the risk of skin cancer:

Prolonged exposure to harmful UV rays can lead to constant damaging the skin and makes your skin prone to develop several skin disorders. Wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 or 50 daily can prevent you from developing skin cancer. 

– Shields against sunburns: 

Harmful rays of sunlight can lead directly to different types of sunburns, increasing the person’s risk of getting various skin disorders. In addition, sunburns can damage the genetic material in skin cells. A sunscreen will help you defend the skin against UV rays by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight. 

– Inhibits DNA damage:

UV rays can damage the skin, which can damage our DNA. Moreover, it triggers skin carcinogenesis (a condition where normal cells get converted into cancer cells) and photoaging. Sunscreen blocks out the UVA and UVB rays that protect the epithelial tissue that protects the skin from damaging the DNA cells. 

– Prevents signs of premature aging: 

Prolonged exposure to UV rays also causes premature skin aging, resulting in the loss of collagen and losing the skin’s elasticity. By using the best SPF 50 Sunscreen in India, you can easily ward off the chances of developing wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet. It would also help slow down several signs of premature aging. 

– Fights off hyperpigmentation:

Nobody likes pigmented and uneven skin, right? But, prolonged sun exposure can cause several spots on the face, hands, and other body parts to become dark or discolored. But, a sunscreen gel with SPF can help treat the skin’s hyperpigmentation and reverse excessive sun tan.

You can use Mamaearth Skin Illuminate Sunscreen Gel SPF 50. It is loaded with the goodness of Vitamin C, Turmeric, Glycerin, and Aloe Vera. It effectively treats darkened skin, repairs sun damage, and moisturizes it. 

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– Evens out your skin tone: 

Sunscreen gel with sun protection formula effectively evens your skin tone, making your skin bright and spotless. It also makes your skin have a smooth texture. 

How to pick the right sunscreen for your skin?

Finding ‘The One’ that suits your skin the best is a difficult choice as you’ve to try every sunscreen for women and then figure out the best. But, once it is done, your outings can be perfect, and that too without any hesitation. 

But, you may consider several other factors that affect the level of protection you stay in for long hours. So, here are some of the factors that you need to consider.

– Your skin type

– Your frequency of sunscreen application

– Current weather conditions and environment

– Amount of sweat in the weather

– Amount of time you spend near any reflective surfaces, such as sand and water

– Here are the types of formulations one can pick for their skin types.

– Dry Skin: Dry skin requires a type of formulation that is quite nourishing and hydrating and consists of a sun protection formula. We advise you to pick a natural sunscreen made of natural ingredients. 

Mamaearth HydraGel Indian Sunscreen should be the perfect pick for you. It is loaded with the goodness of Aloe Vera & Raspberry and protects you from UVA & UVB radiation. In addition, it is a non-sticky and light formulation.

– Oily Skin: One with oily skin needs an oil-free, light formulation that protects the skin. Pick an SPF 30 sunscreen that contains hydrating and skin-healing ingredients. 

–  Normal to Combination Skin: If you have normal skin, you should add a face serum along with the aforementioned sunscreen. We recommend Mamaearth Aloe Vera Sunscreen Face Serum that protects the skin from UVA & UVB rays and hydrates your skin for up to 24 hours. It contains Aloe Vera, Niacinamide, Ashwagandha, and Black Oats.

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A Healthy Skincare Routine for You

If you forget to reapply sunscreen during the day, you might damage your skin. But you need to follow a healthy skincare routine with the help of natural and toxin-free skincare products to revive your skin’s damaged texture.

1. Cleanse your skin thoroughly: Environmental aggressors such as UV rays, pollution, and weather changes can weigh the skin down. Get rid of all the dirt, grime, and environmental load by washing your face and body with a natural face wash and body wash.

2. Brighten your skin: Prolonged exposure to the sun can make your skin pigmented and discolored. You can reveal your skin’s natural glow and eliminate all the dead skin cells and impurities by scrubbing off your face with a mild natural face scrub.

3. Maintain your skin’s pH balance: With a regular dose of toning your skin, you can make your skin healthier and brighter. A face toner cleanses your skin deeply, tightens the pores, reduces the effects of sunburn, and balances the skin’s pH levels.

4. Mask out your face: Supply the essential nutrients to your face to maintain healthy skin. Face masks supply essential nutrients and make the skin smooth, supple, and bright. They also help strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier to prevent dryness.

5. Dose of moisturization with SPF is essential: Finally, apply a body lotion on your body containing SPF 30 and a face moisturizer with SPF after bathing and 15 minutes before leaving your home. 

It will protect your skin from UV rays and keep it adequately hydrated.

Pro Tip: For calming down instant skin inflammations, you can apply a face gel that soothes skin inflammations and gives a cooling effect to the skin.

Tips to protect your skin from sun damage

– Limit direct exposure to the Sun’s harmful UV rays, especially when the UV index is high. Generally, it happens between 12 pm to 4 pm.

– Cover up your facial skin and hair with clothes such as scarves. Do wear considerably thick clothes so that UV rays do not reach out to the skin.

– Consider carrying an umbrella to stay protected if you step out in the sun.

Summing it Up

Undoubtedly, the sun’s UV rays can have a profound impact on our skin health that can lead to a variety of skin concerns. So, you must check SPF in your sunscreen regardless of weather or environmental conditions. But consider doing a patch test before picking the one for yourself.

Mamaearth is Asia’s 1^st Made Safe Certified brand, and it offers a wide range of safe, gentle, and toxin-free skincare products. Our skincare products are dermatologically tested to suit all skin types. It is proud to have India’s first Made Safe certification.

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