Facial sunscreen helps protect exposed skin from UV radiation. Too much UV can cause sunburn and premature skin ageing and contributes to skin cancer. Choose broad UVA and UVB protection and combine sunscreen with clothing and shade. Here, we explain what SPF means and how to use sun protection properly.

THE SHORT VERSION

The essentials to remember.

  • Choose UVA and UVB protection. Your skin needs protection from both.
  • Apply enough. And reapply during your time outdoors.
  • Seek shade too. Clothing and a hat are part of the routine.
  • SPF is not a timer. A high factor is not a reason to stay in the sun longer.

Why your face deserves protection

A jacket covers your arms. Trousers cover your legs. Your face usually goes without a similar layer. That makes it a natural place to give sun protection some thought.

Protection is about more than preventing redness: excessive UV exposure also contributes to skin ageing and skin cancer. The World Health Organization explains these effects of UV radiation.

You do not need a complicated skincare routine. Start by considering when you are outdoors, how strong the sun is and which areas of your skin remain exposed. Alongside your face, remember your ears and neck.

Sun protection and skin cancer

Research into regular sunscreen use does not show the same outcome for every type of skin cancer. In the long-term follow-up of an Australian randomised trial, squamous cell carcinoma occurred less often in the group that had used sunscreen daily. No clear benefit was demonstrated for basal cell carcinoma.

Van der Pols and colleagues, 2006. Sun protection reduces exposure and can help reduce risk; it does not eliminate all risk.

Scars and discolouration

Scars deserve attention too. Once a wound has healed completely, sun protection can help limit red or brown discolouration. That is the purpose of using sunscreen on a scar.

The American Academy of Dermatology offers advice on this. Do not apply regular sunscreen to an open wound. After a procedure, or if symptoms persist, follow your healthcare professional’s advice.

UVA and UVB: what is the difference?

Sunlight contains different types of radiation. For sunscreen, UVA and UVB are the relevant UV categories that reach your skin at ground level. UVC from sunlight is absorbed by the atmosphere. That is why sunscreen mainly refers to UVA and UVB. The WHO explains the different types of UV.

UVA

Contributes to skin ageing and also plays a role in skin cancer.

UVB

Plays a major role in sunburn and also contributes to skin cancer.

This distinction is a memory aid. The effects are not completely separate. A broad-spectrum product addresses both. The American Academy of Dermatology explains why protection from both UVA and UVB is needed.

What does SPF tell you?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The number describes protection against the development of redness under test conditions.

UVB plays the main role here. So a single SPF number does not tell you everything about UVA protection. The European recommendation on sunscreen therefore addresses both UVB and UVA protection.

SPF 50+ does not mean you are protected for fifty hours. How much you apply, how evenly you spread it and what you do afterwards all matter. No sunscreen blocks all UV radiation. Reapplication remains necessary, even with a high factor.

A high factor is a level of protection. Not a timer.

When choosing a sunscreen, look beyond the largest number on the front: check for UVA protection, read the directions and choose a texture you enjoy applying in a sufficient amount. The Dutch Cancer Society, KWF, recommends at least SPF 30 with UVA protection.

What research shows

An Australian randomised trial investigated whether daily sunscreen use could slow skin ageing in 903 adults younger than 55.

After 4.5 years, the increase in measured skin ageing was lower in the daily-use group than in the group that decided for themselves when to use sunscreen. Hughes and colleagues, 2013.

This supports the value of regular use. The study does not promise wrinkle-free skin or predict exactly what one product will do for you. It involved a specific study population and a defined measurement method. It was not research on Soluveli: our sunscreen is still in development.

Two friends walking under trees on a sunny day
Even an everyday walk is a moment to think about sun protection.

Sun protection in four steps

A routine is easier when you know what you need. Use these four steps as a starting point.

  1. Check the UV index.

    Temperature does not tell you how strong UV radiation is. The Dutch public health institute, RIVM, advises taking extra care and protecting yourself from a UV index of 3. Your skin type and time outdoors also matter. Read the RIVM’s guidance for the Netherlands.

  2. Apply enough.

    Spread sunscreen evenly over exposed skin. A tiny dab over a large area will not reliably provide the tested level of protection. Follow the amount and directions stated on your product.

  3. Make reapplying easy.

    Take your sunscreen with you. KWF recommends applying it half an hour before going outdoors and reapplying every two hours during exposure. Reapply after swimming too; follow any additional label directions after sweating or towel drying.

  4. Give your skin some shade too.

    A hat, protective clothing and less time in direct sunlight remain part of your protection. In the Netherlands, KWF advises staying out of the sun as much as possible between 12 noon and 3 pm in spring and summer. Read KWF’s practical tips.

Want to add one habit? Keep your sunscreen next to something you already use before leaving home. It makes remembering it and taking it with you easier.

A pleasant finish and good protection

A matte finish describes how a product looks on your skin. An invisible finish describes its visibility after application. These are useful qualities to look for, but they do not, on their own, tell you anything about the tested level of protection.

At Soluveli, we are developing facial sunscreen with SPF 50+ and UVA and UVB protection as our goals, alongside a matte, invisible finish, sweat resistance, comfortable wear under make-up and an affordable price. We also want daily skincare to be part of that formula.

The formula is still in development. We will share its final properties and supporting evidence when they are available.

Woman wearing a light sun hat outdoors in the shade
Alongside sunscreen, a hat and shade help limit exposure.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need sunscreen when it is cloudy?

Cloud cover does not automatically mean low UV exposure. Check the UV index and consider your time outdoors. The WHO’s UV index helps explain the strength of UV radiation. Protect exposed skin when conditions call for it.

Does SPF 50+ also protect against UVA?

You cannot tell from the SPF number alone. SPF mainly relates to UVB. Also check the stated UVA protection. For Soluveli, SPF 50+ and UVA/UVB protection are part of our development goals.

Can one application be enough for the whole day?

A high SPF does not guarantee this. Outdoors, the AAD recommends reapplying roughly every two hours, and sooner after swimming or sweating as directed. Read the AAD’s application advice.

Can I order Soluveli yet?

Not yet. We are developing the product and working towards a launch in a few months. Discover our plans and sign up for launch day. Free delivery on every order is already a firm commitment.

Sources & further reading

Want to read more? Below are the guidelines and studies used in this article. Sources open in a new tab.

  1. WHO — UV radiation and your healthOverview of health effects and sun protection.
  2. Van der Pols et al. (2006) — sunscreen and skin cancerResearch into the long-term effects of regular application.
  3. AAD — wound care and scarsAdvice on sun protection after a wound has healed.
  4. WHO — UVA, UVB and UVCExplanation of the different types of UV radiation.
  5. AAD — sunscreen: questions and answersBroad-spectrum protection, SPF and reapplication.
  6. European Commission — sunscreen recommendationUVA and UVB protection and product labelling. PDF, 2006.
  7. KWF — protect yourself from the sunPractical Dutch guidance on sunscreen, clothing and shade.
  8. Hughes et al. (2013) — sunscreen and skin ageingRandomised trial involving 903 adults.
  9. RIVM — protection from a UV index of 3Guidance for periods of higher UV exposure.
  10. WHO — the UV indexWhat the UV index tells you about UV radiation.

About this article

The studies mentioned concern sun protection in general. Soluveli is still in development and was not tested in these studies.

Read how we choose our sources and approach product claims.