You may have noticed that Summer is in full swing again, meaning that the subject of sunscreen comes into focus. One question that’s often asked on this subject relates to SPF protection. That’s what we aim to shine some light on here, as we attempt to provide some answers. By the end, you should have a better idea about whether 30 SPF sunscreen for face offers enough.
What muddies the water is the numbering system, which can be a bit misleading at times. For instance, it would be quite logical to assume that an SPF 30 would offer twice as much protection as an SPF15 product. The truth, however, is quite different.
This is how it breaks down:
- 15 SPF sunscreen for face protects you against 93% of all UV rays
- 30 SPF sunscreen for face protects you against 97% of all UV rays
- 50 SPF sunscreen for face protects you against 98% of all UV rays
You see, the differences aren’t nearly as big as you think, as an SPF 50 product only offers 1% more protection than SPF30! So, in answer to the question in the title – is an SPF30 sunscreen enough to protect your face? Yes, it is.
Does an SPF50 provide much more? Not really. What it does do, however, is afford you a little more time in the sun – but not much. SPF 30 is said to slow down the UV burning process by a factor of 30, with an SPF50 slowing it down by 50. Practically speaking, though, they both need to reapply every two hours.
Is it Worth Wearing an SPF15, then?
Absolutely, yes. While a higher SPF is ideal, 93% protection is not to be sniffed at. A 30 SPF sunscreen for face will provide almost as much as an SPF50, and an SPF 15 isn’t far behind. So, it’s far better than wearing nothing when in direct sunlight.
Obviously, there are benefits to wearing a higher SPF, as they do offer that extra bit of protection, so if you can wear a higher one – you perhaps should. This is especially true if you think you might spend an extended period of time outside.
And What About Waterproof Products?
Let’s get one thing straight. There is no such thing as waterproof sunscreen, meaning that there’s no product in existence that simply repels water and leaves you entirely protected. There ARE, however, water RESISTANT sunscreens that take longer to wash off.
That said, they offer 40-80 minutes of extra protection, at most, so if you are spending time in the water or engaging in prolonged exercise that will make you sweat, you should be ready to reapply often.
Also, even if you’re wearing it all day, you will still eventually burn, so don’t assume that you’re completely safe. With an SPF 15 product on, this might mean that it takes 5 hours to burn instead of 20 minutes – but you’ll still eventually burn.
30 SPF Sunscreen For Face Is More Than Adequate
So, when you’re next purchasing sunscreen, try and remember what we’ve talked about here today. There’s not a lot of difference between SPF 30 & 50, so by using a 30, you’ll be more than protected from the sun – so long as you take precautions and use the product as it was meant to be used.