Today, the importance of sun protection no longer goes unnoticed by anyone. After all, a quality sunscreen, properly applied, is the essential foundation for long-term skin care. If it's part of your daily regimen, sunscreen is an effective way to fight wrinkles, dark spots, premature skin aging and even reduce the risk of skin cancer.

But even with the increase in popularity of sunscreen, there are still those who unconsciously make mistakes that can cause immense problems. This summer, make sure you stay sunburn-free with our mini organic sun protection guide.

Let's start with the basics...

There are two types of ultraviolet radiation in the sun's rays: UVA and UVB.
UVA rays: long wave rays emitted by the sun that can penetrate deep into the layers of the skin. It is linked to premature aging and the appearance of melanoma.
UVB rays: short wave rays that cannot penetrate deep into the skin layers but have the ability to damage the DNA from cells, burn the surface layers of the skin and increase the risk of cancer.

The term SPF is present on the labels of all sunscreens and, in English, means "Sun Protection Factor". Translating into Camões' language, we have "Sun Protection Factor", which consists of the product's ability to protect the skin from UVB rays. There are those who believe that the greater the number of SPF, the greater the protection, or the less applications have to be made. But in fact, SPF 15 blocks about 94% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks about 97% of those rays, and SPF 50 blocks 98%. The "duration" of protection on our skin is the same for all of them, as they all fade at the same rate with perspiration, or are equally diluted by water.

A sunscreen broad spectrum protects from both UVB and UVA rays (UVA protection does not have a protection factor rating system). To ensure effective protection, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Regardless of the protection factor, you are only truly protected if you apply the product at least once every 2 hours. There is no sun protection that is 100% waterproof, so you should apply it after each trip to the sea or the pool.
The ideal amount for a application all over the body varies depending on the person but, as a rule, you will need of about 40 ml of sunscreen. It corresponds, approximately, to putting a handful of cream all over the body and about a teaspoon of cream on the face.

One thing is for sure, there is no doubt that sunscreen should be an essential part of skin care habits. The proper use of sunscreen is an easy and effective step to maintain youthful, luminous and healthy skin for much longer.

Finally, there are now natural, organic and healthy alternatives to get a tan. luminous and radiant without subjecting the skin to a single ray of sunlight. For us, the ideal is a healthy mix: avoiding the sun during the hottest hours, between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm, and using and abusing sunscreen whenever you get the sun. And then, when you get home, bet on complementing the bronze with a certified and natural self-tanner.