From a very young age, we are taught to apply sunscreen before we spend time outside, but as Jade Bloom has branched into the world of UV protection, we are beginning to realize that very few people understand why we should apply SPF, when to wear it, and what different kinds of UV protections mean or do. We are here to create a simple guide that will help you understand all of these aspects of sun exposure so you can make educated decisions regarding your skin’s health.
The Importance of UV Protection
Reducing your UV exposure through sunscreen use isn’t just important for protecting you from sunburn. The sun creates UVA, UVB, and UVC rays. UVC rays don’t pass through the earth’s atmosphere, but UVA and UVB rays do and can cause sunburns, premature skin aging, and skin cancer. Wearing SPF can help block UVA and UVB rays considerably. In fact, wearing at least SPF 15 sunscreen daily reduces your risk of squamous cell carcinoma by about 40% and your risk of melanoma by about 50%. Keep in mind that a sunscreen’s SPF will indicate how effectively it can block UVB rays, but the SPF unfortunately doesn’t say anything about its ability to block UVA rays. Keep an eye out for sunscreens that have “broad-spectrum protection” as this lets you know it will protect against both UVA and UVB rays (Hopkins Medicine).
When to wear UV Protection
You may be great at applying sunscreen during sunny summer days, but it is actually equally important to wear your sunscreen during the winter and when it’s cloudy out. On a cloudy day, 80% of the sun’s rays still reach the earth (American Academy of Dermatologists). Because of this, you should put on SPF every single day, regardless of your plans or what the weather is like. We recommend at least SPF 15 daily or at least SPF 30 if you will be outdoors. Generally, sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours, especially if you have been swimming or sweating a lot, but if you aren’t in direct sunlight for the majority of the day, you don’t need to reapply nearly as often (Hopkins Medicine).
Kinds of UV Protection
When looking to buy sunscreen, you will have the choice between chemical sunscreen or mineral sunscreen. Chemical sunscreen works by absorbing the UV rays before they can damage your skin whereas mineral sunscreen works by blocking and scattering the rays before they can reach your skin. The most common issue with chemical sunscreen is that many people with sensitive skin or a tendency to react to products have negative reactions or skin irritation from using them. They have also been shown to result in other long-term and short-term negative effects. Mineral sunscreens are generally considered safer. We also don’t recommend any kind of spray sunscreen, whether chemical or mineral, as those ingredients can be harmful when inhaled (MD Anderson Center).
Options we Provide
Shield and Shield Me are Jade Bloom’s natural product offerings for sun protection. They both contain SPF and help block harmful UV rays from the sun.
Newly reformulated in 2022, Shield is our classic mineral sunscreen that provides protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun. With approximately 30 SPF, it is a natural sunscreen that nourishes and moisturizes the skin when used.
Shield Me is our cult classic DermaGlucan but with added spf. The active ingredient in DermaGlucan is Beta Glucan which has been shown to improve the body’s immune response as well as promote cell regeneration/cell turnover of your skin. The BetaGlucan present in DermaGlucan helps to improve skin’s moisture, firmness, and elasticity.
Sometimes we enjoy ourselves too much and end up forgetting to reapply sunscreen, ending up with sunburns despite our best efforts. When this happens, it is helpful to have something to soothe those burns and alleviate the pain. Jade Bloom has two sprays that act as an after-sun spray intended to soothe burns, protect the skin, reduce inflammation, moisturize, and kill bacteria.
The Sunburn Spray contains Aloe Vera Gel Juice, Vitamin E, and essential oils of Peppermint, Lavender, and Wintergreen. The Sunburn Spray is an original Jade Bloom formulation and is naturally effective at reducing the pain and heat from sunburns, and is safe for ages 10+.
The Cool Down Spray is the Sprout Safe version of our After Sun spray, meaning it is safe for soothing the sunburns of all ages. It contains Aloe Vera Gel Juice, Lavender Hydrosol, Peppermint Hydrosol, Helichrysum Hydrosol, Chamomile Hydrosol, Sandalwood Hydrosol, and Vitamin E. It is the better alternative if you have younger children and want to do what you can to assist in their healing and pain relief.
Whether your summer is bright and cloudless or if a great deal of it includes cloud cover, it is so important to be wearing SPF on a daily basis. This can greatly help reduce your chances of sunburn, premature skin aging, and skin cancer, and overall ensures greater skin health throughout your life. Be sure to pick a sunscreen with a high enough SPF and that works best for your needs, whether that be chemical or mineral. Do your research, and always be sure to look out for your body: including your skin.
