How do I choose a UVA/UVB sunscreen?

One of the most important steps in facial skin care is the use of sunscreen. How to choose the perfect cream with SPF and what to look out for? Experts Chantarelle will createliday creams with UV protection for every skin type.

Sunscreen type

All Chantarelle day creams have protective chemical and physical filters. Mineral filters form a protective layer on the skin that reflects UV radiation. Chemical filters, on the other hand, absorb ultraviolet radiation and turn light energy into heat.

SPF factor

The SPF factor in cosmetics is not the amount of protection, but a conditional indication of how long the product will protect you. For sun exposure, determine the approximate time after which your skin starts to turn red. This is usually 15 minutes, but rates can range from 2 minutes to half an hour. Multiply your safe time by the filter factor e.g: 15 min x SPF 20 = 300 min. Thus, you have determined that an SPF 20 sunscreen will allow you to be in the sun for up to 5 hours.

PD index

PPD (Persistant Pigmentation Darkening) determines the degree of protection against UVA radiation. It is UVA radiation that is most responsible for premature ageing processes. It causes uneven skin tone, exacerbates inflammation and degrades collagen and elastin, resulting in loss of firmness and the formation of wrinkles. UVA radiation tends to have a constant intensity that does not depend on the weather or the season. Therefore, sunscreen should be applied all year round, even on cloudy days.

skin type

The skin’s natural protection against the sun’s harmful rays is determined by the skin’s phototype. The higher the higher the phototype, the lower the risk of burning. For example, people with fair skin belong to phototype 1 – they are prone to sunburn. If you belong to phototype 1, you will need products with stronger protection and vice versa, where the SPF protection of phototype 3-4 may be weaker.

How high a sunscreen to choose?

For daily protection, an SPF 15-25 sunscreen will be suitable for you. However, if we have a lot of sun exposure, such as when walking on a hot day, an SPF 25-50 sunscreen will be useful. Remember that reapplication of the sunscreen every 2 hours is recommended. Chantarelle’s all-day creams provide SPF protection of between 20 and 50.

dr Khrystyna Shekhovtsova

Chantarelle expert, dermatologist and aesthetic physician