Things we wish we knew
when we were younger
One of the most powerful facts about the sun’s impact on our skin is that 80% of our total exposure happened before we even turned 18. That means everything we do to protect our young ones from the harm of UV rays is important, right now.
With the right amount of play and independence, we can empower kids to take sun care into their own hands and make it last.
Let’s talk about SPF.
It stands for Sun Protection Factor but using Sqween makes us think of it as Sun Protective Fun.
What does the
SPF number mean,
exactly?
The SPF number is a rating of how much longer it will take for the sun to burn your skin in comparison to not wearing sunscreen at all. Sunscreens with SPF 30 indicate it will take 30 times longer for rays to redden skin.
So, the higher the
SPF the better, right?
Wrong.
SPF is an imperfect measure of effectiveness and only applies to defense against UVB rays. What’s more important is using broad-spectrum sunscreen that shields skin from both UVB and UVA rays, both tied to types of skin cancer.
Actually, a higher
SPF usually comes
with risks…
Sunscreens with a higher SPF typically include harmful sun-filtering chemicals that help to absorb into the skin, but hurt us by potentially disrupting our skin’s cell growth and hormones (and nobody needs that).
Then, what ingredients should be avoided?
Experts say to stay away from these (which are often found in chemical sunscreens):
avobenzone
homosalate
octisalate
octocrylene
octinoxate
oxybenzone
OK, what are the options?
Mineral-based sunscreens act like shields that bounce and scatter UV rays from skin. Mineral options don’t typically include harmful ingredients and are gentler on sensitive skin (and coral reefs, too).
Sqween is safe, clean, 100% mineral sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection.
Keep your sunny days easy, breezy, fun and safe. And don’t forget, sunscreen is most effective when it’s reapplied. So, go ahead and...squeeze, paint, repeat!