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Writer's picturePamela Olson

UVA and UVB Sun Protection – What’s the Difference?


Choose a good quality sunscreen with a high enough SPF. Make sure that your sun protection filters UVA as well as UVB and check for a ‘broad spectrum coverage’ sunscreen.

The sun is starting to get hotter and if you are not already wearing sun screen you should be! It can be confusing when you are looking for quality skincare and sun protection – UVB rays are fine, right? Well, no, not quite. Read on to find out what you must know about sun protection.

UV Light Causes Skin Damage

You want to take care of your skin, so you will want to protect it from avoidable damage.

The sun produces two kinds of rays: UVA and UVB. Both types of light can potentially damage your skin, causing anything from sun spots and ageing to deadly skin cancer. Sunscreen protects your skin from sun damage, and if you are not sure about which type of product suits your skin, Pamela, an accredited beauty therapist, will be able to help.

What Are UVA Rays?

UVA rays are a danger to your skin no matter what the weather is doing. They can penetrate clothing and glass, and although beauty salons used to consider them safe, and use them in tanning beds, but experts know that using tanning beds before the age of 30 can increase your risk of skin cancer by 75 per cent [1] so they are not recommended now.

UVA rays can cause damage to the deeper skin cells, and just getting a tan in on the sun lounger is also bad for your skin – the act of tanning will create irreversible skin damage. It will not show up straight away though – but in ten or twenty years’ time it manifests in the form of wrinkles, dark spots, and leathery skin.

What Are UVB Rays?

UVB light is responsible for sunburn. It gets stronger in the summer months or hot climates – also in snow holidays where the sun’s rays can be very bright and reflect off water and snow. UVB is responsible for most skin cancers. UVB is strongest at midday and the best advice for health and beauty is to protect yourself in the sunshine, wear sunglasses, a sun hat and invest in superior quality SPF skincare.

Protect Your Skin

Choose a good quality sunscreen with a high enough SPF (sun protection factor) – ask Pamela, an accredited beauty therapist, for advice if you are not sure whether the SPF is high enough.

Make sure that your sun protection filters UVA as well as UVB. Check for a ‘broad spectrum coverage’ sunscreen, and make sure that your facial skin care contains an SPF too. Do not ignore extra protective sunscreen – if it’s hot and sunny you need to double up even if you have SPF in your moisturiser. There are some great sun products formulated for your face that do not leave an oily residue.

When you are out in the sunshine, you need an absolute minimum of SPF 15 – preferably higher. Do not skimp when applying the product either. Most people underestimate how much they need to effectively cover their entire body. As a rough guide, you should use around a shot glass volume of sunscreen for your body, and do not forget delicate areas like your ears, neck, chest, hands, and feet.

If you need advice – speak to Pamela. Stay sun safe!

Looking for a SPF50+ Sunscreen or Sunblock?

Fleur de Mer SPF 50+ sunscreen and sunblock are available for purchase in the salon at Au Naturalé Beauty Therapy.


Fleur de Mer 50+ sunscreen and sunblock are very high protection broad spectrum creams and come in clear (untinted) or sunblock foundation creams (tinted).


The clear (untinted) sunscreen contains Vitamin E, comes as a very soft white cream with immediate absorption and non-reactive fragrance. On application it thins out, spreads and absorbs easily. On cessation it stays fixed on the skin giving prolonged protection with no whitening. Its texture is generally considered better than the leading brands.

The sunblock has very high protection and these tinted creams make you look good too. They come in three beautiful shades ranging from LIGHT (very subtle, discreet coverage) to MEDIUM (somewhat darker) with SOFT MEDIUM (in between). They are all really soft and easy to apply and hide completely blemishes, pores and lines while transforming your face with a beautiful, healthy glow.


About Us

Our welcoming, accredited, private one-on-one beauty salon and quiet, secluded surroundings in a residential location in Woodbine, Campbelltown, promote a sense of tranquillity and serenity enabling your body to feel both completely relaxed and de-stressed. For your convenience, VIP on-site parking is available right outside our front door, away from shopping centres and Campbelltown CBD.


Pamela, a fully accredited and licensed Beauty Therapist with over 12 years of experience, delivers personalised, bespoke high-quality and pampering beauty treatments for women, customising all treatments to suit your individual needs and circumstances.


Au Naturalé Beauty Therapy offer all aspects of beauty treatments including facial treatments, specialised facial treatments, facial enhancer treatments, face and body waxing, eyebrow and eyelash tinting, fingernails and toenails trimming, manicures, pedicures and 'Spoil Yourself' pamper packages.

Contact Us

To book a beauty treatment or if you would like to know more about Fleur de Mer sunscreens or sunblock, or if you have an enquiry, contact Pamela on 0439 041 057. Alternatively complete our online enquiries form and we will be in contact within 24 hours.

Reference

1 From ‘Dying for a Tan’ article (IARC 2007). Dermatological Nursing 2015, Vol. 14, No. 1

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