Here in the salon, we have years of experience and knowledge, and we are very passionate about the beauty industry, so as a team we have promised each other that we will share as much information as we can regularly to give you all an insight into our world via our blogs.
The beauty world is constantly evolving, and we must evolve and grow with it. We appreciate it’s incredibly confusing being a consumer who is bombarded with heaps of advertising and old wives’ tales or myths that have been around for decades. So we will shed some light on what is right and what is wrong by giving you the facts with our blogs.
SPF any difference?
SPF is single handedly the most important product you could use on your face and body. It can be found in sun creams, facial and body products and make up.
The sun is the biggest culprit for ageing our skin and is accountable for 80% of the damage. Most of us, at some point, will have caused damage or premature ageing from the sun, the most serious of which is skin cancer, with over 100,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. In a recent survey, over 40% of people admitted to putting on SPF on sunny days, but didn’t realise that sun damage can be done every day even when it’s cloudy.
Made up of UVA and UVB rays, both cause damage to our skin, but in very different ways.
UVA is DAYLIGHT- causes ageing
UVB is SUNLIGHT – causes burning/tanning
UVA Rays are responsible for 95% of premature skin ageing. They penetrate deep into our skin, breaking down existing collagen and elastin as well as reducing our skins ability to produce more. SPF is the most powerful protection against wrinkles and damaged skin. UVA rays remain constant throughout the year, meaning that they are just as harmful during the winter months as in the summer. Even if you spend your days working indoors or commuting, a shocking 80% of UVA rays penetrate through clouds & windows. This is why an SPF should be worn 365 days a year, regardless of the weather. UVB Rays are more intense than UVA rays and are responsible for burning and pigmentation beneath the skin. These rays penetrate even further into our skin than the UVA rays and are at their strongest during the summer months when the sun is uncovered by clouds.
WHAT IS AN SPF? The definition of SPF is Sun Protector Factor, this measures the effectiveness of the sun screen against UVA/UVB rays. Sunscreens reflect, absorb and scatter both UVA and UVB rays, ensuring skin does not absorb them. Most of us are under the impression that the higher the SPF number the better the protection. This is wrong. In simple terms, the SPF number indicates the length of time you are protected for, not the strength of sun you are protected from. For example, if you take 5 minutes to burn in the sun without an SPF, then an SPF factor 50 will give you protection for 250 minutes Remember, reddening of your skin is only an effect to UVB exposure. It doesn’t tell you anything about how the UVA is damaging your skin. To offer your skin full protection, you should ideally be wearing a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection which is SPF 30 or above.
PHYSICAL (BROAD SPECTRUM) OR A NON – PHYSICAL (CHEMICAL) SPF Understanding the difference between a physical & chemical sunscreen will help you to choose the right product to prevent sun damage.
• Physical filters reflect the UV rays away from the skin. They provide UVA & UVB protection. They are also what’s called “Broad Spectrum”
When an SPF is BROAD SPECTRUM, it protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays, not just one or the other. This type of SPF will block all sun rays from entering the skin. Acting like the surface of a mirror, reflecting the light. A Non-physical SPF will soak into the skin and the U. V rays will enter the skins surface slightly. The ingredients in the SPF will attack and stop the U. V rays from going deeper into the skin, hence causing damage
• Chemical filters absorb the UV rays. They only provide UVB protection and are more likely to irritate your skin. You need to apply them at least 20 – 30 mins before sun exposure for effective protection.
It is very important that a non-physical (chemical) SPF is applied frequently to ensure protection is there all day long Start by including a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or above in your daily routine. Sun damage can happen every day, no matter what the weather. Don’t rely on the SPF in your make-up or moisturizer. The SPF included in your cosmetics won’t be applied thick enough to offer you full protection. It is often only chemical and can be easily wiped off throughout the day.
If you have any questions on the difference between SPF’s or wish to order your product then give us a call on 01635728572.