Sun Protection Factor — aka SPF — is how sunscreen manufacturers indicate how much protection their sunscreen will be able to offer when you wear it while exposed to solar power (UV radiation). The higher the SPF, the more protected you'll be from sunburns. John Hopkins Medicine recommends wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for everyday use. If you're planning on spending lots of time outside, John Hopkins says that the ideal sunscreen has an SPF of 60 or higher.
While sunscreen always has SPF, not everything that has SPF is classified as sunscreen. Makeup with SPF is not enough to protect your skin. Even if your foundation has SPF, you'll still need to wear sunscreen underneath it. "Don't rely on makeup for the best source of SPF as it's notoriously unreliable in terms of the level of protection," New York City dermatologist Dr. Bruce Katz told Makeup.com. "Plus, makeup isn't always applied evenly and comes off easily, decreasing optimal coverage. You want to wear sunscreen underneath your foundation — it actually provides a better base for your makeup application."
Broad-spectrum SPF refers to the sun protection factor that guards your skin against UVB and UVA rays. According to SkinCancer.org, UVB rays are those that are most likely to cause skin cancer. Meanwhile, UVA rays are the ones responsible for making your skin sunburned, tanned, and wrinkly.
