Suncare 101
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What are UV rays?
UV rays are a kind of light invisible to the naked eye. Too much exposure can lead to serious skin damage! The two main culprits are UVA rays, which can penetrate the skin and contribute to premature aging, and UVB rays, which mostly affect the skin's surface and are the primary cause of sunburn.
What is SPF?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and indicates the level of protection against harmful UVB (ultraviolet B) rays that cause sunburn. A higher number equals higher protection. For instance, if you can usually tolerate the sun for 10 minutes without burn, SPF 50 will protect your skin 50 times longer, hence providing protection up to 500 minutes (more than 8 hours).
What is PA?
The PA system measures protection against UVA rays, the rays that cause premature skin aging and skin cancer. The more + you see after the PA, the higher the protection against UVA rays.
What is broad spectrum sunscreen?
Broad spectrum sunscreen means it will provide protection from both the UVA and UVB light spectrum. When looking for sun protection, always look for a broad spectrum sunscreen.
How should I choose the right SPF for me?
To help you decide which SPF is best, consider how sensitive your skin is, how long you'll be in the sun, and what you'll be doing outdoors. For the best protection, most experts recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. It's also best to look for one that provides 'broad spectrum' protection, which will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. For outdoor & water activities, look for a water-resistant or waterproof sunblock. A quick trick to determine your perfect number is to take the time it would take you to burn without sun protection and multiply that by the SPF. So, if you burn in 10 minutes, but apply a sunscreen of SPF 15, you'll be protected for up to 150 minutes.
How much sunscreen should I use?
For each body part (which is roughly 9% of your total body surface area), you need TWO strips of sunscreen squeezed out onto the index and middle fingers from the palmar crease to the fingertips.
Do SPF values add up if I wear multiple products?
If you apply a SPF15 sunscreen and an SPF30 sunscreen, you get SPF30 protection - not SPF45. Determine how long you are going to spend in the sun and choose the appropriate SPF value for your activities.
Does my child need sunscreen?
Children's skin is very gentle and more sensitive than adults, so they absolutely need protecting from the sun. For children above six months, sunblock with SPF30 or higher is recommended. Infants under six months probably should not be in the sun at all.
Do my lips need sunscreen too?
Our lips are very delicate and do not contain melanin, which helps protect skin against UV rays. Always wear a lip balm with an SPF. Remember, your lips can burn just like the rest of your skin! Lipbalm doesn't just protect your lips from sunburn, but also dehydration, dryness, chapping and cracking.
Do I need sunscreen on cloudy days?
Cloudy days deceive many people into thinking the danger of UV radiation is minimal. Up to 50% - 60% of the sun's ultraviolet radiation still reaches us on a completely cloudy day! This misperception often leads to the most serious sunburns, because people spend all day outdoors with no protection from the sun. UVA rays can even pass through windows and glass, making the indoors, near windows, equally dangerous for your skin.
What's the difference between Suncreen vs. Sunblock?
Sunscreen absorbs and scatter UV rays before it can penetrate the skin, converting the rays into heat and then releasing them. Sunblock sits on top of skin and reflecting UV rays away. They're also known as physical sunscreens.
How do I know if my sunscreen has expired?
Check the expiration date written at the bottom of the bottle! If your sunscreen has no expiration date, the rule of thumb is that it should be used within 3 years of your buying it. If you can't remember when you bought your sunscreen, it's safest to throw it out since you can't be sure if it has sustained environmental damage that would make it no longer good for use.
How should I store my sunscreen?
Sunscreens, like a lot of products, need to be stored in certain conditions so they don't go bad prematurely. Keep your sunscreen away from direct sunlight and high heat.
Does Sunplay use animal derivatives?
There are no animal derivatives in Sunplay products. However, a few of our products contain hydrolyzed collagen, from plants and marine sources.
Does Sunplay make chemical or physical sunscreens?
Most of our products are hybrid sunscreens that provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. But we also have a physical or mineral sunscreen that’s specially designed for people with sensitive skin.
What is Sunplay's Watery Liquid formulation?
SUNPLAY's unique Watery Liquid formulation is able to provide high SPF protection in a water-like texture that is non greasy and very light and smooth on skin. It is suitable for both face and body.
What is photostability and what does it do in my Sunplay?
Unstable sunscreen have decreasing efficiency even after a few minutes of sun exposure. Our photostable sun protection with Solarex-3 technology contains protective ingredients that can withstand long and extreme sun exposure.
My skin is sensitive. What sunscreen should I use?
If your skin is sensitive, we recommend using Sunplay Skin Aqua Physical Sunscreen SPF50+ or Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Moisture Gel SPF35.
Do I need to wear sunscreen daily when I'm indoors?
Yes! Even while you're indoors, UV rays can still penetrate the glass in windows and doors. No skincare routine is complete without your daily sunscreen and UV defense.
Why does my face start sweating when I apply sunscreen?
When you apply an SPF product, it smooths out the surface of the skin. This encourages small, natural sweat droplets to clump together, causing them to take longer to evaporate and run down your face instead - which causes that sweaty feeling.
Is PA++ enough protection against UVA rays?
PA++ level protection is sufficient for daily indoor or outdoor usage to shield your skin from UVA/UVB rays.
Is Sunplay Halal?
Our products are not Halal certified. However, there are no animal derivatives in any of our ingredients. Sunplay Skin Aqua Physical Sunscreen and UV Brightening Moisture Gel is also free of alcohol.
I have oily/combination skin. What sunscreen should I use?
We recommend using any of the Sunplay Watery gel sunscreens. The texture of the gel products is much lighter and can easily be absorbed into the skin without the greasy, heavy feel.
How frequently should I reapply my sunscreen?
It is advisable to reapply your sunscreen every 4 hours. This may vary depending on the activity and also the duration you are exposed to the sun.
I want a non-waterproof sunscreen for daily use. What sunscreen should I try?
We recommend the Skin Aqua range. It is suitable for indoor and daily use, and is non water-resistant.
How long can a bottle of Sunplay last?
Your bottle, tube or can of Sunplay is good for three years or up to 100 applications, whichever comes first.
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