What does the 50 in SPF50+ mean?

SPF stands for ‘sun protection factor’ and the 50 in SPF50 refers to the amount of protection the sun screen offers compared to unprotected skin.

SPF 50+ sunscreens are formulated to allow less damaging rays to reach your skin’s surface than lower SPF sunscreens. For example, when applied correctly, SPF30+ allows 3.3% of UVB rays to reach your skin while SPF 50+ allows only 2% to reach your skin. This may not sound like much of a difference, but over a lifetime of UV exposure, it all adds up.

What level of protection do other SPFs offer?

In general, the SPF number refers to the theoretical amount of time you can stay in the sun and be protected without getting burnt, compared to unprotected skin. For example, SPF30 allows you to stay in the sun with less risk of sunburn for thirty times longer than you would if you weren’t wearing sunscreen.

However, there are factors that influence this and can reduce the amount of protection offered, including: the fairness of your skin; physical activity that may cause the product to sweat or rub off; water exposure; and most importantly, correct application.

Make sure you check out our sunscreen application tips to ensure you are applying your product correctly to ensure maximum protection, and cover up exposed skin where possible.