It is a fact, even though some people still don’t get it: we HAVE to use sunscreen during the summer, whenever we know we’re going to spend more than three and a half hours under the sun, in order to avoid getting nasty sunburns, age spots, wrinkles and, in time, skin cancer. Yes, it is that dangerous and important! We have to use sunscreen and below we have a little and handy guide on how to choose the best sunscreen for maximum protection.

Usually, it has been told and accepted that the higher sun protection factor (SPF) our sunscreen has, the better it is – and it is, overall, correct. For example, a SPF of 12 (found on the most common sunscreen) would mean that if you wouldn’t be wearing that sunscreen, your skin would burn 12 times faster. So, yes, choosing the best sunscreen should start with checking out the sun protection factor – the higher, the better.

However, the SPF only relates to the ultraviolet B rays which, even though very dangerous, are not as dangerous as the ultraviolet A rays, which are considered a bit more dangerous. However, as you can notice, only on rare occasions sunscreen lotions mention anything about the ultraviolet A rays (and it usually reads something like “broad spectrum of protection”). This doesn’t mean we should panic! There are some classic ingredients that, if found in our sunscreen, would mean that it offers ultraviolet A protection. These ingredients are: avobenzone, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, oxybenzone or ecamsule. So, in order to find an even better sunscreen lotion, it should also have these ingredients, alongside the high SPF.

However, even when choosing the best sunscreens out there, this doesn’t mean you are completely protected of the bad effect sun rays can have on your skin. Remember to always wear hats, thick umbrellas and so on and try to limit the exposure as much as possible, especially during the “dangerous” hours (between 12AM and 17PM). Also, take care to always apply the good sunscreen when you go out, even if you are not on the beach (your face and arms should always be protected!)