The Difference Between SPF 30 And SPF 50
At KINeSYS one of our missions is to empower people with the knowledge to stay protected from the sun. Let's unpack the cryptic acronym SPF.
What does SPF stand for? Do the numbers really matter? How does SPF relate to the different types of sun rays?
Sun Protection Factor
SPF stands for ‘sun protection factor’ and indicates the level of protection a product offers from the sun’s harmful UVB rays.
UVB rays are the ones that cause sunburn when you have been indulging in a little too much time outdoors, without adequate protection.
When we look at the difference between SPF levels, SPF 30 and SPF 50 for example, this comes down to the percentage of the sun’s UVB rays that the product can block.
A product with an SPF level of 15 will block around 93% of the sun’s UVB rays. You will often find SPF 15 in makeup and skin care products. However, in sunscreens, the industry standard, and the SPF recommended by Dermatologists is generally SPF 30 and above.
A sunscreen with SPF 30 will protect you from around 96.7% of UVB rays, whereas an SPF of 50 means protection from about 98% of UVB rays. Anything beyond SPF 50 makes very little difference in terms of risk of sun damage, and no sunscreens offer 100% protection from UVB rays. Hint - Application and re-application is key!
But what about UVA rays?
Of course UVB aren’t the only rays you need to worry about. UVA rays cause wrinkling, premature ageing and skin damage. Whilst the SPF level of your sunscreen determines the level of protection you’ll receive from UVB rays, UVA protection is indicated by the term ‘broad spectrum’.
Protecting your skin from both UVA and UVB rays is important for skin safety and for preventing damage and premature aging.
Choosing a sunscreen that has a SPF of at least 30 and is broad spectrum will help ensure adequate protection. So you can get active, go adventure, or simply be lazily immersed in nature, without worrying about the harmful effects of sun exposure.
What’s the best sunscreen for you?
At the end of the day, the best sunscreen is the one you love to wear.
If putting on sunscreen becomes a chore, or you’re finding your sunscreen irritating, you simply won’t wear it. Our best advice to you is to find a sunscreen that you love and that suits your needs, apply it properly, and use it whenever you head outdoors.
Correct application (and re-application) is key
1. Sunscreen needs to be applied at least 20 minutes before heading out into the sun.
We suggest getting into the habit of applying your sunscreen as part of your morning routine, like when you brush your teeth or before your first coffee!
2. It is necessary to swipe over the skin, to ensure even and adequate coverage - simply spraying is not enough.
Remember your skin isn’t a smooth surface. You need to fill in your skin’s “valleys” before your skin’s “hills” can be covered.
Two lighter applications are better than one heavy application. This helps ensure you cover missed spots, and lighter applications dry more quickly.
3. When applying to the face, always spray into the hands. NEVER spray directly to the face.
2 - 4 sprays are generally sufficient for the face, neck and ears.
KINeSYS Recommendations
Because the people in our community are at the heart of what we do, we’ve dedicated years to developing sunscreens that offer the best protection, and that people love to wear. We’re for the busy parents, the sporty types, the skin cancer survivors, and those with sensitive skin.
Pushing Limits
If you’re training hard, pushing goals, enthusiastically disappearing down trails, or climbing unexplored routes, you need protection that isn’t going to impact performance. The KINeSYS pick is our award-winning, high-performance SPF 50 Fragrance Free Spray Sunscreen. It’s both sweat and water resistant, alcohol-free, fragrance free, and with SPF 50 for superior protection.
Runners Life
One of the reasons that many runners avoid wearing sunscreen is because it can leave an oily residue, which can drip into eyes and cause irritation. We recommend that runners use an oil-free sunscreen which is sweat and water resistant for 80 minutes.
As the World's First Informed Sport Sunscreen, our SPF 50 sets the benchmark in formulations for the those who love staying active. Each year Runner’s World USA share their Best Sweat-Resistant Sunscreens for Runners and year-after-year SPF 50 Fragrance Free Spray Sunscreen makes the list as an Editors’ Choice. The compact 1oz bottle delivers 170+ sprays and fits easily into your running belt, vest or pocket.
Bitten by the Travel Bug
Keeping luggage to a minimum is a down right battle. We love to travel, and we feel your pain. That’s why most of our range, including oil-free and alcohol free sprays, also comes in handy travel-sized bottles. The KINeSYS pick for travel is our SPF 30 Mango Spray Sunscreen in travel-size. With a subtle mango scent, it’s like sunshine in a handy 1oz travel-sized bottle.
Kids Rule
Getting kids to wear sunscreen when heading outdoors can be a nightmare! You often need to manage sensitive skin, and deal with wriggly bodies who just want to go play. The perfect solution is a sunscreen that is gentle and easily applied. The KINeSYS pick, our SPF 30 Fragrance Free Spray Sunscreen packaged in bright orange, just for kids. Kids LOVE KINeSYS, and parents get to kiss the dreaded sunscreen routine goodbye.
Diving In
Whether you’re exploring the reef, padding down-river, or kicking through an ocean swim, it’s important to protect yourself. The KINeSYS pick for water lovers is our SPF 30 Clear Zinc.
It goes on white, rubs in clear, and smells amazing! 100% natural and lightly scented with natural preservatives, Peppermint and Rosemary the sunscreen is gentle on sensitive skin and Reef Safe.
No matter how you perform, we’ve got a sunscreen for you. Check out the full range.
