With temperatures continuing to climb across the country this week, we dissect several major SPF myths and misconceptions to ensure you’re covered during this heatwave.
Amelia Slattery is a beauty entrepreneur from Dublin who recently launched SPF brand Solas Skin, an Irish Made suncare brand working to protect and educate Ireland on sun safety.
In conversation with Amelia, she debunks several of the most pervasive misconceptions surrounding SPF and sun safety.
Myth: ‘SPF is just for Summer’
You should be applying SPF every day without fail. Whether it’s summer or winter, we should wear SPF daily, regardless of the weather or how many clouds are in the sky. Even on the rainiest, cloudiest days, the sun emits UVA and UVB rays, and the only way to guarantee protection against that is by using SPF every single day.
Myth: ‘My foundation contains some SPF, that is enough protection’
Of course this depends on the product but it’s highly unlikely that a foundation or moisturiser will provide enough protection to cover you fully. Ideally, you should use a specifically formulated SPF which will guarantee you coverage and protection against the sun.
Myth: ‘I’m worried about overloading my SPF’
If you use a specifically formulated SPF along with a moisturiser and/or foundation that also contains SPF, you’re not overloading on protection as there’s no such thing. Let’s say your SPF is factor 50, and your foundation contains factor 20, that doesn’t mean you’re now wearing factor 70. Generally, your protection will remain capped at factor 50 and the best way to guarantee that is by using a specifically formulated SPF alongside your other regular products too.
Myth: ‘The highest your factor, the less often you need to apply it’
Whether you’re wearing factor 20, 30, or 50, the standard guidelines remain the same. For the face and neck, two finger lengths worth of cream should be applied and topped up every two hours, and the same for your body. So, if you’re enjoying the sunshine here in Ireland or lounging on a beach abroad, be sure to keep track of time a reapply your suncream every two hours, or more if needed.
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