Sunscreen guide for your face and lips

Sunbathing without protection with a sun protection factor (SPF) can lead to sunburn, sun damage, age spots, wrinkles and increases the risk of skin cancer. Therefore, it is important to use sunscreen with the right SPF for your skin type when exposed to UV rays from the sun.

Sunscreen for the face is extra important

Unlike the rest of the body, the skin on the face is constantly exposed to the sun and UV radiation. Since the skin on the face and lips is also thinner and more sensitive than on the rest of the body, it is especially important to use sun protection on the face. Permanent sun damage such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles do not appear on the skin until many years later. Sun damage you get when you are young can therefore contribute to you getting more wrinkles and uneven skin as you get older.

Sunscreen for the face is not only important on a sunny holiday

If you are going skiing on the Easter Mountains, it is especially important to remember sunscreen, both for yourself and the children. If you are on birth control, you should be extra careful with the SPF. The hormones in the contraceptive pill can make you more sensitive to light and more prone to hyperpigmentation. This means that you can get age spots more easily and generally tolerate less sun than usual.

Choose sunscreen specifically designed for your face

Since the face is continuously exposed, it may be a good idea to choose a sunscreen with an extra high SPF for the face. SPF 30 and SPF 50 provide long-lasting protection, but remember to apply sunscreen evenly throughout the day if you swim or sweat - to ensure optimal protection for the skin. Choose sunscreen based on the factor and how you like the consistency of the sunscreen. 

Avoid getting oily skin and acne from sunscreen

Natural sunscreen for the face

Huden i ansiktet kan også være ekstra sensitiv og har derfor godt av produkter med mindre parfyme enn huden på resten av kroppen. Rudolph Care tilbyr for eksempel organisk, uparfymert og solkrem og har vunnet flere priser for sine solprodukter.

This is how often (and how much) sunscreen you should apply to your face

Apply sunscreen to your face every two hours for maximum protection. Reapply after swimming. If you sweat, wipe your face, or get dressed or undressed, you should expect some of the sunscreen to come off and you should reapply. Many people are also not aware of how much sunscreen to use when applying sunscreen. The rule of thumb is that you should use a dose of sunscreen the size of a nickel to cover your face and achieve adequate sun protection.

Don't forget sunscreen for your lips

A sun stick with SPF 50 can provide better protection for extra exposed skin, such as on the lips and nose. It is advisable to choose a waterproof version so that you are extra protected when you sweat in the hot sun. Even if you choose a waterproof version, you should lubricate your lips often. You eat, drink, kiss and talk, and sunscreen is of little use if it is only on for 5 minutes. For those of you who want to protect your lips, but also want a little colour, there are lipsticks and lip balms with SPF as well. 

Sunscreen and makeup

If you like to wear makeup when you're in the sun, it's a good idea to start the day with a good layer of sunscreen on your face before you put on makeup. There are also foundations or day creams with SPF. These can be a good option as daily sun protection throughout the year. A colourless sun spray can be sprayed nicely over makeup and is easy to carry in your bag. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fresh Mist SPF50+ is a light and invisible mist that provides maximum protection against both UVA and UVB rays without leaving white marks. Perfect over makeup.

Keep this in mind when you are going to be in the sun a lot:

• Take breaks from the sun (preferably in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest).
• Wear a cap or sun hat. This will also protect your scalp.
• Use a minimum SPF 30 on your face.
• Apply sunscreen to your face every two hours.
• Reapply if you swim or sweat.
• Use sunscreen daily – all year round.
• Apply sunscreen regularly and every time you eat or drink.
• Remember sunglasses – your eyes can also be damaged by the sun.