Sunscreen Terms: What You Need to Know.

In the world of skincare, Zendaya's wisdom rings loud and clear: "I think skin is the most important. If you take care of your skin, then everything else looks good" summarized perfectly. 

Here's the thing: Whether or not you are into skincare, sunscreen needs to be used now and always. 

• This little tube packs a whack! It protects you from those sneaky UVA and UVB rays that can wreck your skin faster than you can say "SUNBURN”. 
  
  Honestly, this should be an everyday product for you to apply rather than just applying for those 3 months of summer. We can say it’s a 365-day thing. Make it your habit, even if you stay indoors, it’s a must.   

But wait, what's with all the jargon? UVA, UVB, SPF, +++? It's enough to make your head spin! We are always used to seeing those terms and signs everywhere, either on the internet or in TV commercials.

Have you ever questioned yourself about what they mean or what they portray? Don't sweat it, though. We're diving into everything you need to know about sunscreen, making sure you're protected and ready to enjoy those sunny days ahead! 

• Let's start with the basics: sunscreen shields you from the sun's harmful rays, preventing wrinkles, sunburn, and even skin cancer. That's why we recommend slathering sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher like it's nobody's business.
  
  This single product will help your skin’s overall health in the long run and is always considered an important product in everyone’s skincare routine.  

Now, onto the fun part: decoding sunscreen talk! What does SPF actually mean? Or what's up with those numbers like 30, 40, or 50 written on the bottle? Grab your sunscreen, a pen, and a notebook, and get ready to gain some knowledge.

1. UVA/UVB Rays: Let's decode the sun's ABCs. 

• UVA [Ultraviolet A] and UVB [Ultraviolet B] are two troublemaking siblings of sunlight whom we meet daily. Both rays have equally bad effects on your skin. 
• UVA – Penetrates deeply into the skin, leading to premature skin aging and skin cancer.  
• UVB – The one responsible for skin tan and skin burn after staying outdoors for hours.  
• UVC – [Ultraviolet C] is not as harmful as the other two. They are directly absorbed by the earth’s ozone layer.  

2. Broad Spectrum: Your skin's shield against sun drama.

• The broad spectrum acts as your superhero cape that protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays that are responsible for all major skin problems.  
• A tip, always go for a sunscreen that assures you ‘broad spectrum’ as it offers the maximum protection while staying outdoors.  

3. SPF and the SPF Squad: Sun protection factor unveiled. 

• The Sun protection factor indicates how well the sunscreen's superpowers shield the skin totally from sunlight. 
• The higher the value of the SPF, the higher will be the protection.  
• We always see numbers written next to SPF as SPF 30, SPF 40, or even SPF 50, which means [30] will allow you to stay in the sun thirty times longer than usual. [40] allows you to stay in the sun 40 times longer and provides slightly more protection from SPF 30. [50] allows you to stay in the sun 50 times longer and provides better overall protection from SPFs 30 and 40 in general.  
• SPF 50 is always recommended and is enough to keep your skin healthy.  

4. Triple [+++] and Quadruple [++++]: The shield strength indicator. 

• Ever noticed those plus signs on sunscreen labels? They're like the "power levels" of your skin's armor. 
• For instance, single + indicates low protection, double + indicates medium protection and triple + indicates high protection.  
• Quadruple + provides an extremely high level of protection as compared to the other 3 signs, however, we wouldn’t recommend it as it can contain ingredients that may not be suitable for everyone’s skin type.   
• Our recommendation to you will be SPF with triple plus protection that is best for every skin texture. Sometimes less is more.   

5. White Cast: The ghostly glow no one wants. 

• White cast: The unexpected guest that overstays its welcome on your skin.   
• Always use sunscreen that blends well with the skin. High-in ingredients and heavy cast will make your skin look oilier and greasier.  
• Remember, non-oily and non-greasy is always a thumbs-up!  

While sunscreen seems like a small step in your skincare routine, it's a big game player in the match of keeping your skin healthy and happy. It plays his role and walks off silently like a dark knight. It never gets the flowers it deserves. It is often neglected by everyone but little they know it’s your lifeline not for the present but for the future.

But hey, we get it, sunscreen jargon can be as confusing as trying to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded. UVA, UVB, SPF, +++, it's like a secret code language from the sun itself! We've cracked the code for you in this article.

The next time you're enjoying the sunshine, make sure to put on sunscreen like it's your best buddy. It's like armor against the sun's bad stuff, keeping your skin healthy. Slather it on and stay safe! Become a beacon of healthy skin. 

• Reference - https://www.earthraga.com/blogs/news/50-quotes-on-skincare-that-you-must-read-to-follow-a-proper-skincare#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20think%20skin%20is%20the,else%20looks%20good.%E2%80%9D%20%2D%20Zendaya