The sun, who doesn’t love it? Once the first warm rays of sunshine reappear you seem to notice it in everything. People are outside more, they become more active and happy! When summer finally begins again, we can get back on the terrace with a refreshing rosé, we prefer to lie on the beach with a good book and we are only too happy to settle down in the park on a rug with a nice ice cream. And if there isn’t enough sun to be had in our own country, we book a vacation to a warm place for our needed vitamin D as well as that wonderful tan that makes us all a little more beautiful. Unfortunately, there are some misconceptions about safe tanning and the use of sunscreen. So I have listed the biggest misconceptions about sunburn and the sun for you, so that together we can eliminate them. P.S.: After protected sunbathing, I recommend that you always use an aftersun lotion or nourishing body cream. This allows your skin to unwind and replenish moisture. Always choose a perfume-free variety to avoid irritation.

1. Once you get used to the sun you no longer need to use sunscreen

It is true that it is important to slowly acclimate your skin to sunlight and build up time in the sun. But, once you have a tan it does not mean that this will give you extra protection from the sun. A tan is only a sign that your skin has been exposed to the sun and your skin cells have produced melanin. You probably don’t think about it because everyone loves a tan, but this is already a form of skin damage. If you then go sunbathing unprotected, you may not burn, but instead expose your skin to unhealthy UV radiation. Therefore, it is incredibly important to always protect yourself from the sun. Even if you already have a tan or don’t burn (anymore).

2. An expensive sunscreen is of much better quality than a cheap (house) brand

The range of sunscreen products is vast and there are wide variations in prices. This may scare you, because which one is the best? Every year the Consumers’ Association tests a wide range of sunscreens. Time and again, it turns out that an expensive brand does not necessarily provide better protection from the sun and UV rays. It was also found that some brands did not give the promised protection factor at all, but a lower one than stated on the package. The list of winners is a good mix of A-brands and private brands.So don’t blindly trust price or brand when it comes to sunscreen, but do some (online) research beforehand.

3. On a cloudy day or in the shade, you don’t need to apply sunscreen

UV rays consist of UVA, UVB and UVC rays. UVC rays are most harmful to us, but these fortunately do not reach the earth. They are blocked by the ozone layer. UVA and UVB rays do reach the earth. UVA rays are present year-round, even on a cloudy day. These rays can penetrate clouds and your skin where it can damage cells. That’s why it’s important to protect yourself all year long, good weather or bad! UVB radiation reaches us mainly on sunny days. This is what gives us the nice tan and makes our skin burn. Radiation also reaches your skin through reflection, such as through snow, water and even sand. So even from under a tree or an umbrella, the radiation can reach you, which is why it is also necessary to properly protect your skin in the shade.

4. You only need to rub in once a day

If you purchase sunscreen you can choose from creams with different protection factors that are referred to as SPF (Sun Protection Factor). The SPF indicates how many times longer you can stay in the sun without getting burned when using the sunscreen compared to the time when using no protection. With your skin type, can you lie in the sun unprotected for about 10 minutes before you burn? Then you can sunbathe with factor 4 for about 40 minutes before this happens. With factor 15, this would be 150 minutes. So, depending on your skin type and the SPF, grease regularly. When rubbing it in, it is important that you rub in well. In fact, the degree of protection depends on how much you apply. Often we apply too little product and a thin layer of SPF50 can then give this sunscreen an effect of SPF20.

5. Waterproof sunscreen stays put after swimming

It is often thought that a waterproof sunscreen will keep you safe longer, even after swimming. But this is not the case. First of all, there is no such thing as a waterproof sunscreen. After all, otherwise we would never be able to wash it off! Therefore, this term should also no longer be used and is now referred to as “waterproof”.This means that in contact with water, the cream or lotion does not come off immediately, but you are still protected for some time while swimming. Still, after swimming the SPF will be significantly lower and when you dry off with a towel you remove the product completely. After swimming, therefore, re-apply even with a water-resistant sunscreen product!

6. With a dark skin type, you need not worry

Everyone has a friend or girlfriend who never burns on the patio or during the vacations. Or maybe you’re one of those lucky ones yourself. Indeed, people with more pigment in their skin are less likely to suffer damage, such as sunburn and skin cancer; they are naturally better protected due to the amount of melanin. But that does not mean they are fully protected from the sun. Overexposure to the sun can still cause a lot of damage from UV radiation over the long term, and the skin will also dry out. Also, skin color says nothing about your genes and you may be hereditarily more susceptible to skin cancer, for example.

7. You won’t tan from factor 50+

SPF50+ is also known as sunblock and therefore has the image that it blocks sun rays completely and does not tan you. But no sunscreen product stops the tanning process; they are simply not strong enough. It does slow down, but this is only good. This is because if you give your skin too much sun all at once, your skin cells will not have a chance to produce melanin and the skin will turn red: you will burn. When you slow down the process with a higher factor, you actually get a much more beautiful and even tan, and a slowly built tan stays longer too!

7. You won’t tan from factor 50+

SPF50+ is also known as sunblock and therefore has the image that it blocks sun rays completely and does not tan you. But no sunscreen product stops the tanning process; they are simply not strong enough. It does slow down, but this is only good. This is because if you give your skin too much sun all at once, your skin cells will not have a chance to produce melanin and the skin will turn red: you will burn. When you slow down the process with a higher factor, you actually get a much more beautiful and even tan, and a slowly built tan stays longer too!

9. Only true sun worshippers are at risk of skin cancer

Many people actually get a tan, or a sunburn, when they do outdoor activities other than deliberately spending hours in the sun. We expose our skin to UV radiation when we garden, walk our dog, run or just have lunch outside or walk to the supermarket. All UV exposures are accumulated in our skin: the skin remembers it, so to speak. Moreover, the sun can do damage in as little as ten minutes. So no matter how long you spend outside, always make sure you have proper protection.

10. Sunscreen has no expiration date

On all beauty products, it says how long they have a shelf life.On sunscreen lotions and creams, you will see a number and the letter M on the packaging, such as 12M. This means it has a shelf life of 12 months after opening, but this is the cream itself, not the factor. The factor slowly diminishes.If you still have a sunscreen from last year you can still use it (provided it has been stored at room temperature), but assume the factor is half as strong. So factor 30 will now be about factor 15. Has the tube or bottle been in the sun a lot or has it been in a hot car for a long, regular time? Then you better buy a new one.

11. My foundation already has an SPF so I don’t need to lubricate my face extra

It is tremendously helpful when your face makeup such as a BB cream or foundation contains a protection factor.
After all, any extra protection is a nice bonus. But for this factor to really do its job, we would need to use much more of the makeup product than you probably do (read: a very thick layer!). Moreover, it won’t stay on all day and you may not rub all parts of your face with it. Therefore, wear extra sunscreen on your face and reapply when you go outside for lunch in the sun, for example.

Additional tanning tips for safe sunbathing

☀️ Aren’t you a real sun worshipper?
Always build up the number of sun hours slowly and let your skin get used to the sunlight. ☀️ Be sure to oil your entire body and face, and especially don’t forget places like ears, eyelids, feet and the backs of knees! ☀️Bescherm also protect your eyes from UV radiation with a good pair of sunglasses.Avoid the sun when it is at its highest: this is between noon and 3 p.m. in the Netherlands. Different times may apply at your vacation destination. ☀️ Wear a hat or cap, as your scalp can also burn considerably. ☀️ Always apply a restorative aftersun lotion or a nourishing body cream after sunbathing. This helps replenish lost moisture and soothes your skin.

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