Not All Sunscreen Is Created Equal

Not all sunscreen is created equal.

Therefore, it can be overwhelming to know which products you can trust and those you should avoid. Don’t worry! We’ve done the research for you. Here are the attributes you should look for in high quality sunscreen.

1 oz. SPF 30 Sunscreen in Clear Round Bottle

SPF

SPF, or sun protection factor, is a measure of sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Well, now you might be thinking to yourself, “What’s the difference between SPF 15 and SPF 50 sunscreen?” Let’s break it down into the percent each SPF filters out:

SPF 15: 93 percent of all incoming UVB rays

SPF 30: 97 percent of all incoming UVB rays

SPF 50: 98 percent of all incoming UVB rays

No matter if you are using SPF 15 or 50, no sunscreen can block all UV rays.

1.9 oz. SPF 30 Sunscreen in Clear Bottle with Carabiner

How to Apply

Apply 15 minutes before you go outside. This allows the sunscreen (of SPF 15 or higher) to have enough time to provide the maximum benefit. Use enough to cover your entire face and body (avoiding the eyes and mouth). An average-sized adult or child needs at least one ounce of sunscreen (about the amount it takes to fill a shot glass) to evenly cover the body from head to toe.

Frequently forgotten spots:

• Ears
• Nose
• Lips
• Back of neck
• Hands
• Tops of feet
• Along the hairline
• Areas of the head exposed by balding or thinning hair

Reapply at least every two hours, and more often if you’re swimming or sweating.

Zinc Block in Clear Tube

Broad Spectrum

Not all sunscreens are broad spectrum, so it is important to look for it on the label. Broad spectrum sunscreen provides protection from the sun’s UV radiation. There are two types of UV radiation that you need to protect yourself from—UVA and UVB. Broad spectrum provides protection against both by providing a chemical barrier that absorbs or reflects UV radiation before it can damage the skin.

SPF 30 Soy Based Lip Balm in White Tube

Reef Safe

Hawaii’s state legislature recently passed a bill that bans chemical sunscreens that not only cause harm to your body, but reportedly contribute to coral reef bleaching. Senate Bill 2571 prohibits the sale and distribution of any sunscreen that contains Oxybenzone or Octinoxate beginning in 2021. According to the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, “chemicals in sunscreen kill coral and result in DNA damage in larval and adult stage coral. The impact on DNA limits coral’s ability to grow and develop healthily.”

Set your mind at ease knowing that SnugZ USA’s SPF 30 lip balm, SPF 30 sunscreen and zinc is coral reef-safe.

Beginning April 1 through June 30, our Broad Spectrum and Reef Safe SPF 30 SnugZscreen in 1 oz. (ZSUN10) and 1.9 oz. (ZSUN19) is on sale at EQP—20 percent on orders over 250 pieces. Simply reference promo code SZSCREEN when ordering. Visit snugzusa.com for more details.

Source: fda.gov