In the first SPF blog, I broke down what SPF means, how to calculate the amount of time you’re protected and what type of coverage an SPF gives you. Today, I want to give you a little more information on summer’s hottest accessory.
Did you know that there are two different types of sunscreen? I didn’t!
| Chemical Sunscreen | Physical Sunscreen |
| Contains ingredients that absorb UV radiation so your skin doesn’t | Contains ingredients that reflect UV radiation from your skin |
| Main ingredients like: Avobenzone, Octocrylene, Octisalate and Octinoxate | Main ingredients like: Titanium Dioxide and Zinc |
| Has a transparent appearance after being massaged into the skin | Has a thicker appearance that sits on top of the skin |
| Good for deeper skin tones or people that tend to not burn easily | Good for fair skin tones that tend to burn easily or extended sun exposure |
| Example: herbal day creme spf 15 | Example: skin insulator creme spf 15 |
Any SPF protection should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure, reapplied every 2 hours and immediately after swimming or heavy sweating. It’s recommended that at least 2 TBSP or one ounce of sunscreen be used to cover the entire body – and don’t forget your lips or hands!
Next time I’ll cover some information on full spectrum sunscreens and the difference between UVA and UVB rays. Have a happy and safe weekend!
Ole Henriksen 
Jenn Karasik 