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Surprising Facts About Sunscreen
If you don’t like wearing sunscreen, it’s understandable. It can feel heavy and thick, and the greasier formulas can ruin your makeup. But the beauty experts at OLAY are committed to protecting you from the sun without making you feel like you’re wearing sunscreen. OLAY sunscreens and lotions with SPF are carefully crafted to keep your skin hydrated while protecting you from the summer’s intense rays. Now you’re ready to enjoy the sun.
Here are six facts about the sun and why you need to wear sunscreen that may surprise you.
Here are six facts about the sun and why you need to wear sunscreen that may surprise you.
Did you know?
Your skin is exposed to more harmful UV rays from the sun than you think
Most people grossly underestimate the amount of sun exposure they receive. You may not think about it, but if you sit by a window at work or make coffee for five minutes on a cloudy day, the sun will eventually show up on your skin. We call this the invisible damage of the sun.
Ever notice how the left side of someone’s face looks slightly more droopy than the right? That’s the driver’s side, where the sun shines through the car window on the skin. A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology showed that nearly 53 percent of skin cancers in the United States occur on the left side of the body. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, while car windshields are partially treated to filter out UVA, side windows let in about 63 percent of the sun’s UVA radiation, and rear windows are completely unprotected, leaving back-seat passengers exposed. That’s why it’s important to use a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen every day. Tip: You can also invest in clear window film screens to shield almost 100% of UVB and UVA without reducing visibility.
For most women, typical sun exposure is about 18 hours per week, indoors and outdoors. This means 1 week of incidental sun exposure = 1 full day at the beach. Oops!
Did you know?
SPF, labeled “broad spectrum,” protects you from both UVA and UVB rays.
Both types can cause damage to your skin, and that damage can accumulate over a lifetime. Years of exposure to the sun, whether UVA or UVB, can lead to premature signs of aging and possibly skin cancer, so you should always choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
The sun produces ultraviolet radiation, called UVR. There are 3 types of UVR, differentiated by wavelength – UVA, UVB and UVC.
UVA radiation
UVA radiation penetrates more deeply than UVB radiation. This means that UVA damage penetrates deep into the layers of your skin, which is where the serious signs of premature aging occur. uVA light is not absorbed by the ozone layer at all.
UVB radiation does not penetrate as deeply as UVA, but because UVB rays have higher energy, they are a major cause of sunburn and skin cancer. UVB radiation is partially absorbed by the ozone layer.
UVC radiation from the sun (thank goodness) is not a concern because it is completely absorbed by the ozone layer.
Broad Spectrum: The term “broad spectrum” means that both UVA and UVB rays are absorbed or blocked. This is why you should always choose a lotion labeled “broad-spectrum” protection.
SPF: The acronym “SPF” stands for Sun Protection Factor. Easy, right? Not really. The numbers associated with SPF can be confusing because they are not linear (i.e., SPF 50 is not twice as effective as SPF 25). Instead, the SPF value represents a fraction of the transmitted radiation and actually says more about how long it takes for the skin to sunburn while wearing it.
This chart shows the levels of protection from SPF 0-50.
Sun Protection Levels 0-50
The bottom line is that you need at least an SPF 15 sunscreen, and an SPF 30 on sunny days. Increasing to SPF 50 will only block 1% more sunlight than SPF 30.
Remember, using the correct amount is the key to getting full sun protection. Follow the reapplication instructions on the package and remember that most facial SPF products are not waterproof, so be sure to reapply more frequently if you are swimming or sweating.
Did you know?
All skin tones need sun protection, even the darkest ones, but the lighter the skin tone, the faster it will burn.
If you are very fair-skinned, you are more likely to get sunburned, so you should always apply sunscreen before sun exposure and keep reapplying throughout the day.
But you darker skinned ladies (and gentlemen) also need to use SPF. Because your darker skin is more resistant to visible signs of damage such as sunburn, you may not realize the extent of the damage you are suffering under the surface of your skin, which can include skin cancer. If you have darker skin, we highly recommend that you carefully read the following article from the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Did you know?
SPF makes you look younger. Period.
The sun is the number one cause of visible signs of aging.
Daily exposure to UV rays causes invisible micro-damage to the skin, and this damage accumulates over time. Just five minutes in the sun can cause damage to the deeper layers of the skin that lasts a lifetime. You won’t see the effects immediately (once the initial redness subsides, if you get burned) – it can take years or even decades to show the full extent of the damage.
Below is a photo from an identical twin study in which each twin’s skin was evaluated and photographed by a high-resolution camera. One of the twins wore sunscreen daily and the other did not. Can you see the difference in skin appearance, firmness and apparent age between the twins?
Sun Protection Index
In short, you may not realize how much sun you’re getting, and the good news is that you can help prevent further damage by applying a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen every day.
Did you know?
Cosmetics with SPF may not provide you with enough protection from the sun.
Some cosmetics come with SPF. cosmetics with SPF are helpful, but women often don’t apply enough. The amount of SPF you should put on your face is about the size of a nickel, so if you use less than that, you won’t get full protection from the sun.
For example, if your foundation has SPF 15, but you only use a penny-sized amount, you will get about SPF 4 protection. That’s not enough! Therefore, we recommend that you use a makeup-appropriate SPF under your foundation, such as OLAY Sun Face Sunscreen + Makeup Primer.
OLAY Sunscreen
Did you know?
OLAY was the first beauty brand to create a daily facial moisturizer with SPF.
OLAY has spent more than 28 years researching and refining sunscreen formulas. Over the past 7 years, beauty experts have reformulated their favorite sunscreens so that they not only protect you, but also leave you looking soft, matte and non-greasy!
When it comes down to it, if you’re not wearing sunscreen, you’re not alone. Only 18% of women use a daily sunscreen year-round. Even in the summer, only 58% of women use sunscreen daily, while 26% of women never use sunscreen. The first reason – many find sunscreen to feel sticky, greasy, or just generally unpleasant on their skin. They know they’re taking a hit on their future skin and health, but it’s worth not going for the greasy feeling.
OLAY understands this and has formulated a line of products that you’ll be surprised to find contain sunscreens because they feel so good. Here are our favorite SPF formulas, along with some information to help you determine what’s best for you!
If you’re looking for: a powerful anti-aging SPF moisturizer that’s not too heavy, try: REGENERIST WHIP MOISTURIZER WITH SPF 25
For: Anyone who wants to do double duty with SPF, B3 and peptides to truly maintain their youth
If you’re looking for: a nourishing, lightweight, matte moisturizer with SPF, try: TOTAL EFFECTS WHIP MOISTURIZER WITH SPF 25. We also don’t have a scented product, so just click the link and click the drop-down arrow to find it.
For: Anyone whose skin needs some serious TLC and sun protection
If you’re looking for: an easy, non-greasy, long-lasting, oil-control sunscreen, try: SUN FACE SUNSCREEN + SHINE CONTROL, SPF 35
For: anyone who likes to be outdoors (hint: keep it in your pocket for outdoor activities)
