Beauty Files
Choosing the right SPF for good sun protection
Who says summer says sun protection protection. To go on vacation well protected, find here all the golden rules for a summer in the sun, while preserving your skin.
What is the purpose of SPF and which one to choose for your skin?
It's easy to get a little lost when faced with the vast array of suncare products. Especially since they don't all have the same acronym. The best known? SPF which means "Sunburn Protection Factor". We sometimes meet its French translation SPF for "Sun Protection Factor" or IP for "Protection Index". But all these acronyms mean the same thing.
Le SPF est l’indice qui représente le niveau de protection d’un produit solaire. Plus il est élevé, plus l'action de photoprotection est élevée. L’indice SPF mesure le pouvoir de blocage des rayons UVB, les rayons responsables principalement des coups de soleil. Mais attention, ce n’est pas parce que l’indice de protection solaire est élevé que tous les méfaits du soleil sont écartés : en cas d’exposition au soleil en excès, le vieillissement prématuré de la peau et les taches brunes guettent notre peau. Et contrairement à ce que l’on peut penser, crèmes solaires visage et corps ne constituent pas une barrière anti-bronzage. Celles-ci vous permettront simplement de le faire en toute sécurité. En effet, si le soleil à petite dose est excellent pour faire le plein de vitamine D, sortir lorsque les rayons deviennent menaçants, nous expose à un risque de coups de soleil, voire à des soucis de santé plus compliqués à gérer.
There are 4 levels of SPF:
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6 to 10: representing low protection
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15 to 25 : which represents a medium protection
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30 to 50 : which represents a strong protection
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50 and + : which represents a very strong protection
Each sun protection factor corresponds to a percentage of UVB blocked. For example, SPF 20 blocks about 92% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks about 95%. Finally, SPF 50 will block 98% of UVB rays. Even if the difference in the percentage of UV rays blocked is not huge, the protection will still be more effective and a high level of protection will be more appropriate, especially if you have fair skin. Do you have dark skin? Depending on where you are going, you can opt for a medium to high protection factor. But, in all cases, suncare products can only deliver their protection effectively if certain golden rules of application are followed.
Please note : the notions of total sunscreen or total protection are now prohibited. Indeed, no sunscreen can guarantee total protection against UVA and UVB rays. Since 2006, the European Commission has grouped together sunscreen indices above 50 (as well as the 60 and 80 indices that existed previously) into a single 50+ index. This measure was also taken to protect consumers who mistakenly thought they could tan without limit with an index 80 applied only in the morning ...
Whichever option you choose, don't forget to take a good make-up remover oil or balm with you, even on vacation, to effectively remove all sun filters. After the oily step, which effectively emulsifies your suncare product, a cleansing gel will refine the result. We also pause our facial exfoliator (or adopt the Exfoliating Powder Oh My Cream Skincare) to avoid sensitizing the skin.
And because every skin condition needs its own sunscreen, discover our favorite sunscreens in this article.
Choosing the right SPF for your face
Our sun care for the body
And to repair skin weakened by UV rays after exposure
To care for skin that has become overheated after prolonged exposure to the sun, and to relieve sunburn, we opt for an after-sun treatment that will provide our skin with the moisture it needs. An after-sun sorbet jellyto refresh skin that has suffered from heatstroke, or an ultra-nourishing mask to soothe sunburn... Choose the right care product to repair skin weakened by UV rays. Find out more about our tips for refreshing skin after exposure here.
Our tips for safe tanning
- Even if you are protected, don't expose yourself between 12pm and 4pm. During this time, ultraviolet rays bombard the skin and skin aging is the result (regardless of your phototype)...
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We think of the sensitive areas: ears, hairline, neckline, hands and feet... All these fragile places where sunburn and redness can happen!
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Complete your travel kit with the right accessories for maximum protection: sunglasses, wide-brimmed hat, T-shirt or flowing blouse..;
- We reveal all our tips for (really) good tanning, here.
- Et pour un bronzage longue durée ? Exfoliez votre peau avant de vous exposer pour enlever les cellules mortes et faire peau neuve. Après exposition, n’oubliez surtout pas de bien hydrater votre peau avec un lait après-soleil. Soyez tout de même vigilant·e·s à la surexposition qui, malgré toutes les crèmes solaires au monde, présentera quand même un danger pour votre peau.
Want to complete your summer vanity with a face maskor a nourishing or firming body care product? Don't hesitate to visit our boutique to receive your skin diagnosis. Would you like to discover another sun cream or after sun ? Our complete collection on the site will detail all the others gems. Go here to discover all our essentials to take care of your body and your skin this summer. And here for our best tips on how to get a good tan. Finally, an e-mail to consultation@ohmycream.com will help you find the perfect formula! Have a great summer!