CONTENT BEAUTY —

Natural Sunscreen to Protect Your Skin This Summer

Nataural Sun Protection Natural Sunscreen
Posted in Content Beauty

Ever wondered what the numbers on your natural sunscreen really stand for? Just how diligent you should be when it comes to wearing sunscreen? This summer, ensure you stay sunburn free with our mini guide to natural sunscreen.

How Sunscreen Works

There are two types of ultraviolet radiation — UVA and UVB. These two forms of ultraviolet radiation are the culprits responsible for damaging the skin, increasing the risk of skin cancer and ageing skin prematurely. Whilst UVB is responsible for visible sunburn, overexposure to UVA is known to penetrate the skin at a deeper cellular level. UVA exposure is associated with wrinkling, leathering, sagging and other light-induced effects of skin ageing.

The term SPF displayed on the label of all sunscreens is otherwise known as the Sun Protection Factor. It refers to a product’s ability to screen the skin from the sun’s harsh rays. With SPFs ranging from 2 to 50, there has been a common misconception that the higher the SPF the less frequently the sunscreen requires application. However, this is not the case.

Most of us assume that an SPF 30 gives twice the screening protection as an SPF 15, but this is incorrect. An SPF 15 blocks out 93% of UVB rays, while a SPF 30 protects against 97% of rays – not much more. The number rating is about time. It reflects how long you can stay in the sun without burning. If you can normally stay in the sun for 15 minutes without burning, an SPF15 with give you 15 times longer (approximately 3.5 hours).

To ensure we are protecting our skin to the best of our abilities, it is imperative to get into the routine of combining sensible sun exposure times and different types of protection. Interestingly, research indicates that certain foods, beverages and supplements can increase the skin’s ability to protect itself against UV damage. Studies have shown that consuming a dietary fish oil supplement reduces UVB sensitivity[1], while including antioxidant rich dark leafy greens such as spinach and swiss chard into our diets can inhibit the harsh effects of sun exposure[2]. Moreover, a recent study conducted at the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center found green tea can assist in the prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer through its ability to enhance DNA repair[3].

Natural Sunscreen

Here at CONTENT we are firm believers that everything should be enjoyed in moderation. So while it’s perfectly okay to enjoy the sun’s warming rays, keep in mind that a little goes a long way and heed the following tips for a sun-smart summer:

Three’s The Rule

1. Cover up.

2. Stay out of the sun during the peak hours of 11am and 3pm.

3. Use a natural and organic sunscreen.

Think Ahead

Apply your natural sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun to give it time to settle into the skin.

Be Generous

It doesn’t work when it’s still in the bottle! People regularly underestimate how much sunscreen they need to use, which affects the protection level. As a guide, it should take around 2 tablespoons of sunscreen to cover the body.

Forget the Math

It’s all about application. As a consumer, SPF ratings are confusing. It is logical to assume that a SPF 30 gives twice the protection of an SPF 15. But in fact, an SPF 15 product blocks about 94% of UVB rays; an SPF 30 product blocks 97% of UVB rays; an SPF 45 product blocks about 98% of rays. The important point, no matter the rating, it is the frequency of application. Re-apply at least once every 2 hours. You may be sweating it off in the heat or washing it off in the sea.

Shop All SPF Skincare & Cosmetics | Read More: Our Guide to Sunless Tanning

  1. Rhodes L.E., O’Farrell S. & Jackson M.J. Dietary fish oil supplementation in humans reduces UVB-erythemal sensitivity but increases epidermal lipid peroxidation. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1994 Aug;103(2):151-4.
  2. Lee L., Jiang S., Levine N. et al. Carotenoid supplementation reduces erythema in human skin after simulated solar radiation exposure. Proceedings of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2000 Feb;223(2):170-4.
  3. Katiyar S.K. Green tea prevents non-melanoma skin cancer by enhancing DNA repair. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2011 Apr 15; 508(2):152-8.