An SPF is this season’s hottest accessory. How to properly accessorize—that is the question! Here at OLEHENRIKSEN, we know how important sunscreen is and for that reason, we’re sharing all the information you’ll need in this three-part summer SPF blog series.

SPF stands for sun protection factor and it was introduced as a way to measure how well a sunscreen protects against UVB rays. What does SPF 15 mean, how about SPF 30 or 70? An SPF describes the amount of overall protection you have from harmful sun rays in terms of the length of time you can be out in the sun and still be protected.

To determine how long your sunscreen will protect you from harmful rays, use this formula:

minutes to burn without sunscreen X SPF number = maximum sun exposure time

For example: if you typically burn without sunscreen in 10 minutes and you are wearing and SPF 15, you will be protected for 150 minutes or 2.5 hours.

In the next blog, I’ll cover the difference between a chemical and a physical sunscreen and how much you need to use to adequately protect your body. Do you have any questions about your SPF? Ask away in the comments below!