How to Maximise Your Sun Protection
Apply, apply, and apply again! That's our advice when you head out into the sun. But not all sunscreen applications are the same. Applying SPF correctly is crucial, not only for effective skin protection but also to ensure you get the most out of your precious sun protection products. We’ll guide you through several steps to help you maximise your sun protection.
Step 1: Nourishing Product with Antioxidants
Start your day with a freshly washed face and a cream or serum containing antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralise free radicals in our cells. This protects healthy skin cells from oxidative damage caused by UV radiation. A free radical is an unstable molecule that can bind to other molecules, causing damage to cells and tissues (which are made up of molecules). The more free radicals formed, the higher the risk of skin damage. This is where antioxidants come in. Antioxidants prevent excessive free radical release by stabilising them in advance. A perfect complement to the protective function of SPF. Always apply the product before your sun protection and allow it to absorb properly. Products rich in antioxidants are the Vitamin C Serum and the Vitamin C day cream from Vitaminstore.
To protect skin cells against delayed skin damage and premature ageing, HerbaProtect® NOX3 contains active ingredients: pomegranate flower extract, shiso extract, and kakadu plum extract. These ingredients have antioxidant effects on the skin, helping you get the most out of your sun protection.
Step 2: Applying SPF
Generally, sunscreen is applied too thinly, reducing its protective effect. Use an SPF of at least 15 or higher and apply an even layer, about a teaspoon, over the entire face, not forgetting your neck, décolleté, and ears. For your body, use 6 tablespoons: one tablespoon per body part (legs, arms, back, and chest/abdomen), a generous layer indeed! If you're using natural sun protection like Vitaminstore's SPF 20 body or SPF 30 face, you don't need to wait half an hour before heading into the sun. Mineral filters don't penetrate the skin but form a layer on the surface. This layer reflects the sun's rays before they can negatively impact the skin. Synthetic filters need 30 minutes to become effective as they must penetrate the skin to absorb UV radiation.
Natural sun protection, like the new line from Vitaminstore, remains on your skin, protecting against harmful UVA and UVB rays. The products contain no microplastics, and the filters do not harm ocean life such as coral reefs. Better for you and the planet.
Steps 3… 4 and 5
Keep applying! It's extremely important to reapply every two hours to fully benefit from the SPF's protective effect. Once applied, the effectiveness gradually decreases over two hours. How quickly it decreases also depends on the amount of perspiration (for instance, when exercising or on a hot beach day) and/or how often you go into the water. Remember, even with waterproof products, you need to keep applying because, despite the claims, most creams do not offer full protection after being in the water. Every skin is different, so stay alert and reapply promptly if you think you need to do so more often than every two hours.
Written by: Noëlle van Seggelen
