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Are You Really Sun Protected?

Sarah Drury

Sunscreen Buying Considerations For a Safer Holiday

When packing for your holiday have you really considered if your sunscreen has the right protection factor for you and is appropriate for the outdoor activities you’re looking forward to?  It’s worth spending some time making sure you have exactly what you need so you can enjoy your holiday to the full without fear of burning and causing skin damage.


But when it comes to purchasing supermarket and branded sunscreens, it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you. Branded products aren't always better, supermarket alternatives can work just as well for you, it all  depends on personal preference and your budget. Whichever you decide to purchase, the packaging will tell you if its the best option for you.


What are you likely to see on the packaging and how do you know what protection a sunscreen offers?

Looking carefully at the packaging can reveal alot about how much protection is offered. You are looking for three things:

SPF (Sun Protection factor) – this is the number on the front of the packaging and usually ranges from 2 (very low) to 50+ (very high). People often think this is an indicator of how long you can stay out in the sun - it isn’t, it tells you how protected you are before your skin burns and this usually depends on the type of skin you have. If you have fair skin, you need a higher protection factor. But this isn’t the whole story, you need to look at the UVA and UVB rating as well.


UVA and UVB - what does it mean?

UVA and UVB are two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. While both can cause skin damage, they differ in their intensity and the type of damage they cause. 

UVA rays are more intense, penetrate deeper into the skin, and can cause wrinkles, age spots, other signs of premature aging and skin cancer.

UVB rays are less intense but can still cause sunburn, skin cancer, and other forms of skin damage. It is important to understand the difference between UVA and UVB protection so that you can protect your skin from both types of radiation when spending time outdoors.

Ideally, using creams with a high protection for both UVA and UVB is the best option.

Star ratings are visible on the packaging for UVA and occasionally UVB. The ratings are often displayed on the back of the packaging as well as the front so take a close look. If you can only see a UVA protection symbol it doesn’t mean there is no UVB protection - the higher the UVA protection, the higher the UVB protection.

The following are examples of symbols you should be looking for on UK and EU packaging:


Star ratings are an indicator of how well the sunscreen will absorb UVA rays. Occasionally, you may see a UVB star rating but this is uncommon.

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Spray, cream or lotion?


This depends on your preference and what you are most prepared to use. The important thing to consider is applying enough to ensure good coverage and to reapply frequently - this applies to whether you’re in the UK or overseas.


If you’re going to be swimming or participating in water sports then use a sunscreen which is water resistant and won’t wash off so easily.


Skiers should use sunscreen to protect them from the sun and the reflection from the snow. There are sun block sticks available designed specifically to protect the face for outdoor sports activities.


Ultimately, using sunscreen is the most important thing to do – it won’t stop you getting a tan (unless you’re going for a complete sun block and sitting in the shade fully clothed) but it will help to prevent burning and skin damage so you can enjoy your holiday and many more to come wherever you are!

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