Smear thick, thin, with a spray or a lotion: what should you pay attention to when buying and lubricating sun protection? Two experts provide an explanation.
“The best cream is the cream that people like,” says dermatologist Marjolein Leenarts. “And that is very personal. Someone with dry skin may prefer a fatter cream. Conversely, a lighter substance can be tasty for people with oily skin.”
And that is precisely why there are so many different types of sunscreen on the shelf, says cosmetic scientist Heleen Kibbelaar. “So that you can choose a texture that you like. It is mainly about lubricating often enough and thick enough.”
Sunscreen Creams are made and tested in a laboratory. As a scientist, Kibbelaar is involved in this from the start. “The development of these creams is strictly regulated and subject to European regulations. So there are no creams on the shelf that could be harmful.”
Why it is important to spread every two hours
You can also assume that every bottle with an SPF actually offers the indicated protection. “SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor,” says Leenarts. The factor stands for the time in which you would burn without sunburn. Suppose you would color red in the sun after ten minutes, then you will only burn with factor 30 after ten times thirty minutes. “Only tested under lab conditions.”
And that is why you can’t assume that on the beach or the terrace, says Kibbelaar. Those circumstances differ from those in the lab. “Not only do we often not lubricate thick enough, we also have to deal with the power of the sun outside the lab and it can differ per day. With a high sun power we burn faster.”
That is why it is important, whatever factor you use, to lubricate every two hours. “A test in the laboratory does not take into account something like swimming, sweating or the friction of your body against towels or clothing,” adds Leenarts.
A cheap sunscreen protects just as well as an expensive brand. And there is also no difference between a spray or cream. “One works no better than the other,” says Leenarts. “The risk with a spray is that people are sometimes inclined to lubricate less or less thick. The trick is to rub the sunscreen with your hands after spraying.”
You have to lubricate
When applying sunscreen, according to Leenarts you have to keep the same thickness as lubricating peanut butter on a sandwich. “So quite a thick layer.” If you do not apply thick enough, then you are protected by a factor of 50 but half.
So thick you have to lubricate according to the KWF
Keep in mind that the protection factor goes down if you spread too thinly. So spread thick. Use at least 7 teaspoons per lubrication session.
“Then there are the different filters in a cream,” says Kibbelaar. For example, we make a distinction between a chemical filter and a filter based on minerals. “While both filters are chemicals. In the filter that consists of minerals (such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide), the raw material is extracted from nature.”
These bottles are referred to as ‘mineral sunburn’ or ‘natural sunburn’. “These agents are still chemically processed. And luckily, because the initial substances as we remove them directly from nature cannot serve as UV filters.”
Is your sunburn bad for the environment?
A sunburn with chemical filter would be bad for the environment. If you go into the sea with a chemical filter, you would leave a lot of chemicals in the water and thereby damage the coral. “These studies were not done in the right context and there is currently no concrete evidence for that,” says Kibbelaar.
And that a filter based on minerals would work better because the UV light reflects, Kibbelaar knows. “Both filters form a layer on the skin and protect by absorbing UV light. It is therefore not mattering for the consumer with which type of UV filter is being lubricated.”
For people who use makeup there are also all kinds of products that say they protect by the makeup. It is not about makeup products to which a filter has been added, but about SPF sprays that you can use over your makeup.
“If there is ‘SPF’ on the bottle, you can assume that the product offers something of protection,” says Leenarts. Kibbelaar notes that it is difficult to find out with such a spray whether someone actually applies enough. So that is something to pay attention to.
Apply Thickly, Thinly, with a Spray or Lotion: What should you pay Attention to when buying and applying sunscreen? Two Experts Explain.
“The Best Cream is The Cream That People Like,” Says Dermatologist Marjolein Leenarts. “And that is very personal. Someone with dry skin May Prefer a richer cream. Conversely, People with Oily Skin May Prefer a Lighter Substance.”
And that is Exactly Why There Are So Many Different Types of Sunscereens On The Shelf, Says Cosmetic Scientist Heleen Kibbelaar. “So that you can choose a texture that you like. It’s mainly about Applying of Enough and Thickly Enough.”
Sunscreens are made and tested in a Laboratory. As a scientist, Kibbelaar Has Been Involved from the Start. “The Development of these Creams is Strictly Regulated and Subject to European Regulations. So There Are No Creams On The Shelf That Could Be Harmful.”
Why It is Important To Apply Every Two Hours
You can also assume that every bottle with an spf actual sacrifices the indicated protection. “SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor,” Says Leenarts. The Factor Repeats the Time in which you would burn without sunscreen. Suppose You Turn Red After Utores In The Sun, Then You Will Only Burn After Times Thirty Minutes With Factor 30. “Only then Tested Under Laboratory Conditions.”
And that is why you cannot assume that on the beach or the terrace, says Kibbelaar. These circumstances Differ from Those in The Lab. “Not only do we or not apply thickly enough, but outside the lab we also have to deal with the power of the sun, which can vary per day. We burn faster with a high sun power.”
That is why, whatever factor you use, it is important to Apply Every Two Hours. “In a test in The Laboratory, No Account, Tasks of Things Like Swimming, Sweating or the Friction of your Body Against Towels or Clothing,” Adds Leenarts.
A Cheap Sunscreen Protects just as well as an exensive brand. And there is also no differentence between a spray or cream. “One does not work better than the other,” Says Leenarts. “The risk with a spray is that people are sometimes inclined to Apply Less well or less thickly. The trick is to still rub the sunscreen in with your hands after spraying.”
How Thick Should you Apply?
When Applying Sunscreen, You Should use the Same Thickness as Spreading Peanut Butter On A Sandwich, Accordance to Leenarts. “So Quite a Thick Layer.” If you don’t Apply Thickly Enough, you are only half protected with a factor of 50.
How THICK SHOULD YOU APPLY ACCORDING TO THE KWF?
Keep in mind that the protection factor decreases if you apply too thinly. So Apply Thickly. Use at Least 7 Teapoons per application.
“Then there are the different filters in a cream,” Says Kibbelaar. We Distinguish between a chemical filter and a filter based on minerals. “While Both filters are chemicals. With the filter that consists of minerals (Such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide), the raw material is extracted from nature.”
These Bottles are referred to as ‘mineral sunscreen’ or ‘natural sunscreen’. “These Products Are Still Chemicular Processed. And Fortunately So, because the Starting Materials As We take them Directly from Nature Cannot Serve as UV filters.”
Is your sunscreen bad for the environment?
A sunscreen with a chemical filter would be bad for the environment. If you go into the sea with a chemical filter, you would leave a lot of chemicals in the water and thus damage the coral. “These studies have not leg done in the right context and at the moment there is no concrete evidence for this,” Says Kibbelaar.
And that a filter based on minerals would work better because it reflects UV Light is not correct, Kibbelaar Knows. “Both filters Form a Layer on the Skin and Protect by Absorbing UV Light. For the Consumer, It Therefore Does Not Matter which type of UV filter is Used.”
For people who use makeup, there are also all child or products that claim to protect through makeup. This does not group makeup products to which a filter has leg added, but about spf sprays that you can use over your makeup.
“If ‘SPF’ is on the Bottle, you can assume that the product sacrifices some protection,” Says Leenarts. Kibbelaar notes that with such a spray it is difficult to find out Whether Someone is Actually Applying Enough. That is something to pay attention to.