Sun protection: how it works and how to choose one

Whilst sun exposure can be good for our bodies in countless ways, it can also cause burns and long-term damage to our skin and cells if we don't protect ourselves properly before going out in the sun. That’s why understanding how sunscreen works and how to choose sunscreen is essential to protect your skin.

In this article, we cover what sunscreen is, the different types of sunscreen, how to choose the right amount of sun factor protection, and our recommendations for face and body sunscreens.

December 16th 2022

From BIOTHERM

How does sunscreen work?

Sunscreen protects your skin through physical and chemical filters that absorb, reflect, or scatter UV rays. That way, they can’t penetrate your skin and damage you.

What’s the difference between physical vs. chemical sunscreens?

Physical sunscreens have physical filters that act like a shield, reflecting UV rays away while they sit on top of your skin.

Chemical sunscreens absorb UV radiation so that it can’t penetrate deeper into the skin, protecting you from sun damage.

How to choose the appropriate sun factor protection (SPF)

When choosing a sun cream, the most important thing to take into account is the sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 6 and 10 for low protection, 15, 20 and 25 for medium protection, 30 and 50 for high protection and 50+ for very high protection. There are a number of crucial factors to think about when considering SPF, including the weather, the amount of time spent in the sun and above all the skin's phototype.

But your choice of SPF should not be based exclusively on phototype. It is essential to keep a number of other important elements in mind, including age, exposure time, season, the time of year and the altitude of where you are. The SPF (i.e. the sun protection factor against UVB rays) should be clearly visible and legible on the product's packaging.

Broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or above is generally recommended for daily use for everyone, especially during outdoor activities.

For people with an on‑the‑go lifestyle, our new Aquascreen Activewear Daily UV Fluid SPF 50+ is an ultra‑light, sweat‑resistant shield that disappears in the skin while offering high sun protection.

To recap:

• Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen daily for the best protection
• Choose either a physical or chemical sunscreen depending on your needs

Apply your sunscreen daily, no matter where you’re going, and reapply every 2 hours for the best protection.

*without filters - 74% (SPF 50) and 77% (SPF 30) biodegradable formulas with filters according to the OECD 301 test or ISO equivalent
**excluding pigments and dispenser