What is a SPF?
But first, what exactly is an SPF? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and says how much UVB radiation the SPF cream, spray or oil can absorb or reflect. The B in UVB stands for burning. That means that UVB radiation can burn the skin, increasing the risk of skin cancer. It’s therefore very important to protect yourself well against these harmful influences.
How is SPF determined? The sunscreen factor is simply the time in which you would burn without sunscreen. Suppose you get normally burned after 30 mins of exposure to bright sun rays. Then with SPF 30 you would only burn after 30 mins x spf 30 = 900 minutes (= 15 hours). Please note, this only applies if you reapply the sunscreen every 2 or 3 hours.
The difference between factor 30 and 50
It’s often thought that SPF 30 and SPF 50 are very different from each other. However, nothing is less than true! Factor 30 offers almost 97% protection from the sun’s rays and factor 50 for no less than 98%. That means the difference is only about 1% (!!!).
I hear you think, isn’t there a sunblock with 100% protection? No, unfortunately this doesn’t exist. The term sunblock should therefore no longer be used. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has banned this term because it’s very misleading.
SPF 30 face sunscreen
We, from Clay And Glow, recently launched our Protecting Face Sunscreen SPF 30. This is a sunscreen especially for sensitive skin (also impurities-proof). During the production of this face sunscreen, we especially chose to go for a light formula. The formula is easy to spread and does not leave a white cast or greasy layer. This minimizes the chance of impurities, yay!
Got curious? Shop our new Protecting Face Sunscreen SPF 30 below:
