SPF-how many use it correctly?

[Jazzbea]

Considering that the amount of SPF one must use throughout a day is almost half a container, a large spoon sized application and reapply every 2 hours on an ordinary day? Using SPF in the morning (only) does little to nothing. Especially if you are using SPF incorporated in foundation or a tinted moisturizer. How many use the product correctly?

Factor 50 in the morning only beneath makeup.

What happens to it within 2 hours if you don't rub it off etc?

I'm very fair and burn easily when unprotected, but use a high factor and apply it once unless I'm outdoors for a whole day in particularly good weather or somewhere the sun is particularly strong. I barely change colour all summer.

I'm afraid I'm a bit of a skeptic over the instance that it needs reapplying so frequently, in view of the fact that all the research is funded by the industry.

I only reapply on holiday.

I was shocked to discover how much you’re supposed to slather on (advice from a dermatologist) and then reapply throughout the day. She also said to apply it everywhere that’s exposed - so neck, chest, hands etc.

I know I should do all this, but I cba. Once a day, face only, for me. 🤷‍♀️

Most people probably don't use enough, or think that the sunscreen in their foundation will do them fine - but I disagree that we should slather it on all day long - I spend a large portion of my day indoors, why would I need to reapply every 2 hours if I'm not out going in direct sunlight?

Yes, I understand that UVA rays are also damaging, and they are present all day long rain or shine - I use SPF50 every day, and in the summer I top up with a sunscreen powder during the day, but we have to be realistic about what people are willing or able to do.

Wiping off your makeup every 2 hours to reapply is just not going to happen for most people.

I would guess that hardly anyone does, looking at how my Aussie friends apply it.

I put it on my face, neck, chest, hands and arms, then reapply once after a few hours everywhere but face. I’m very pale and this has never failed me.

I do also wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses, if I wasn’t keeping my face shaded I’d go without makeup and reapply on my face too.

I do feel there's a difference between how we need to wear it in the uk, and in places like S Africa and Australia!

There's a few photos doing the rounds showing the difference if people apply to their face and not their neck, or where one side of the face of a lorry driver is badly affected. I don't see this happening in the UK, so think I'm safe for a while yet!

Not really, amounts and application techniques, time on skin to take effect and time before reapplication required are all constant.

It's just that you might not need such high protection factors in some places and at certain times of year

Lots of the messaging about suncream in social media is completely mad - people wearing it indoors, in winter etc

No medical authority recommends this; the advice is to actively expose your skin to the sun some of the time, obviously taking lots of care never to burn.

At this rate I'm more concerned about a generation of women doing serious harm to their health by avoiding all sun exposure

I’m skeptical about SPF having seen the effect on car paintwork. I know of two people whose darling children decided to
smear suncream over their cars which both required the panels re-spraying.

I wear the 8 hour stuff. I really on a ski holiday but otherwise I’m not usually out in strong sun all day.

The higher the factor the less you need. This is why medical professionals recommend over spf 50 to white people and over spf 30 to everyone else. Spf 10-15 is basically a con

I disagree about a small amount applied once doing little to nothing. I'm mostly indoors and the thumbnail sized blob that's smeared across my face and neck then rubbed in, is enough to stop me getting sunburned when I'm outside. I wear makeup so can't reapply every 2hrs and I'm mostly inside so don't need to. If I was going out for the day and would be outside a lot I'd take a hat and also apply sunscreen to my body parts that aren't covered up too (usually don't). Again, that one morning application is enough to stop me burning during an ordinary day. I'd only reapply if I was on the beach and probably just once around midday. It just isn't practical to walk around smothered in a thick layer of cream and constantly reapply. I prefer to cover up and stay in the shade. Makeup itself seems to provide a physical barrier against sun and pollution anyway. I wear foundation and top it up with powder once or twice a day when it starts to melt.

This is the reason I use Ultrasun. As per the instructions on the box. It's long enough lasting for me not to have to reapply. I also check the UV ...at this time of year it is mainly towards later morning and midday it is higher and it goes down fairly rapidly after 3.00pm (England). If you work inside during the day there might not be too much to worry about at this time of year. So soon I won't be wearing it at all ...I don't wear it in winter. As I say, I check the UV.

I used to wear Ultrasun but was put off when I realised that it is us supposed to be applied to bare skin; any serums and moisturisers should be worn over it. I don't see how a serum will work over SPF.

@Housewife2010 I don't use serums and moisturisers during the day in summer. I put those on a night before bed. I find the Ultrasun is fine to use during the day without moisturiser. Doesn't make my skin dry.

Also, I've been on the Caroline Hirons FB. Her advice has changed. Originally she used to rely on the SPF in her make up. Now she says that if you are in your house and there is enough natural light to be able to read a book, you should wear SPF. Unless you are spending a long time by a sunny window this seems rather extreme.

I don't particularly rate Caroline Hirons advice. I am over 50 and don't think her skin looks any better than my own. 🙂

All reputable medical dermatologists recommend sunscreen in winter. Medical studies have also shown, that as per the premise in the OP of this thread, so few people use enough sunscreen that the depletion of vitamin D production is negligible.

You can probably drop to 30 in the UK rather than 50.

Spf 30 lotion applied under makeup in the morning, at least 30 minutes before you go out to allow it to set and work it's magic.
Then the most effective protection is to top up 1 hr after exposure and then again every 2 hours.

There's absolutely no need to remove any make up to top up. There's loads of spray/mist/powders available, that can be applied ON TOP of makeup without smudging or melting it off.

I also use a wide brim hat with uv/spf 50+ protection in the summer.
The summers are getting warmer and warmer so those claiming that this level of protection is unnecessary, are really not doing themselves any favours.

I use Ultrasun on all exposed skin and don't reapply, but I also wear hats, mostly covered shoulders and stay in the shade a lot. I would reapply if I'd been swimming but we don't tend to have pool/beach holidays. I don't use any serum or moisturiser in the morning in summer, the Ultrasun is moisturising enough. In winter I do tend to switch to a moisturiser based one unless I'm going to be outdoors a lot.

@TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon, I think the all year round )in copious amounts) in the UK advice is problematic. Sunscreen isn't the absolute good health panacea some would have you think. There are risks associated with ingredients breaking down within a couple of hours and causing worse skin damage (chemical and mineral ingredients) and also ingredients getting into the bloodstream and causing hormonal changes.

As an aside the advice to wear it regardless of conditions was given due to behavioural reasons. That is people forget to wear it if is is not a daily established habit not because there was an actual medical advantage (I read this in the Aus sunscreen summit report) assuming the UV was low enough on occasions not to need it.

I'm disagreeing too. SPF 30 once a day in the UK and SPF 50 abroad. I never tan or burn on my face using this level of protection.

"loads of spray/mist/powders available, that can be applied ON TOP of makeup without smudging or melting it off."

@AlwaysNever, lots of opportunity there to inhale the stuff and let it have a party in the lungs!!! And powders? How much do you apply?

@meanderingbrook if you want to know how much to use, you follow the instructions obviously 🙄 and just like any other aerosol or powder, use in a well ventilated room and hold your breath for the 2 seconds it takes to apply.
You're definitely over thinking this.