Does a High SPF Protect My Skin Better?
When choosing a sunscreen, you might be tempted to go for the highest SPF available, thinking it offers the best protection. But does a high SPF really protect your skin better? The answer is a bit more nuanced. SPF measures how well a sunscreen protects your skin from UVB rays, the kind that cause sunburn. An SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, while a sunscreen with spf 50 blocks around 98%. Beyond SPF 50, the increase in protection is minimal, with SPF 100 blocking about 99%. So, while higher SPF offers slightly better protection, the difference isn’t as significant as you might expect. The real key to effective sun protection isn’t just the SPF number. It’s about how you use sunscreen. Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen or forget to reapply it, especially after swimming or sweating. Tinted Sunscreen should be applied generously—about a shot glass full for your entire body—and reapplied every two hours, or more often if you’re in water or sweating heavily. While a higher SP...