With summer here, your skin's number one enemy is the sun and its harmful UV rays... Which UV protection should you choose? Why is it so important to protect your skin? Discover all our tips for protecting your skin from the sun.
What is good sun protection?
Just like all your facial care, proper sun protection depends on you and several factors. First, you need to determine your skin type: the lighter your skin, the more sensitive it will be to UV rays and will require higher protection than darker skin.
The second criterion depends on the time of exposure. If you expose yourself at the beginning, middle or end of the day, the sunlight conditions differ and require suitable protection.
Finally, the duration of exposure and the activities you will be doing will help you determine whether you need waterproof protection (if you swim or engage in intense physical activity) or classic protection.
Please note: to be truly effective, the application of a protective cream must be renewed every two hours and after swimming or any intense physical activity.
How does the sun affect my skin?
The sun, awaited all year round for its stimulating action on the production of vitamin D, its antidepressant effect and the beautiful tan it provides, hides many secrets from you... Indeed, in addition to its instant benefits, the sun can quickly become dangerous for your skin, risks of sunburn, spots, allergies and premature skin aging, protecting yourself effectively means preserving the quality and youthfulness of your skin. It is also the promise of a sublime and lasting tan.
Which protective cream should I choose?
Sunscreens are categorized according to their protection factor. This level of UV protection is indicated by the acronym SPF (sun protection factor) or IP (protection index), which is divided into low, medium, high, and very high protection. The higher the SPF, the greater the photoprotection action.
Not all skin types have the same needs when it comes to sun protection; geographical location and the amount of sunlight they are exposed to must also be taken into account.
• Normal and dark skin should opt for medium protection SPF 15 to 20 when the sun is mild or at the end of your stay.
• Light and sensitive skin exposed to strong and extreme sunlight or at the start of a stay should choose very high SPF 50+ protection.
• In average sunshine, in the middle or end of your stay, all skin types will find what they are looking for with high SPF 30 protection.
• Normal and dark skin should opt for medium protection SPF 15 to 20 when the sun is mild or at the end of your stay.
Think about the rest
Sunscreen protects your skin from UV rays, but unfortunately, there's no such thing as total protection. So remember to wear sunglasses, a hat, and light clothing, and choose to relax in the shade to limit direct exposure.
Anaïs Texier, E-commerce Manager at PAYOT
An expert skincare specialist, Anaïs deciphers skincare trends and shares her advice.