Frequently Asked Questions

Will sunscreen block my pores?
Most sunscreens are developed to give the levels of protection without blocking the pores of the skin. Look for a light lotion for the less greasy, easily absorbed feeling.

I’m worried about getting freckles from sun exposure.
Good sun protection behavior will help reduce the risk of freckles and skin darkening. By wearing very high protection sunscreen with PA+++ or above sunscreen this will reduce the incidence of freckles.

How do I protect my skin from darkening?
Sunscreen offers excellent protection by minimising damage/skin reddening from the sun’s UVB rays, which are the main contributor to tanning and darkening.

Does SPF 50+ mean I can re-apply less often?
SPF50+ does not mean you have a “suit of armour”; you need to apply just as liberally and frequently as SPF30+.

What does PA rating in sunscreen mean?
This is the Protection Grade of UVA (PA) system to measure the UVA protection a sunscreen provides.
The Protection Grade of UVA (PA) system is based on the Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) reaction and is now widely adopted on the labels of sunscreens.
PA+ corresponds to a UVA protection factor between two and four, PA++ between four and eight, and PA+++ more than eight.

Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
The sun protection factor of a sunscreen is a laboratory measure of the effectiveness of sunscreen — the higher the SPF, the more protection a sunscreen offers against UVB (the ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn and skin darkening).

Water Resistance (WR)
Water resistance for EU/Asean compliant sunscreens refers to the amount of time that a sunscreen can be on the skin before washing off. This is measured in two categories: Water Resistant, which is equal to 40 minutes, or Very Water Resistant, which is equal to 80 minutes.

What kind of sunscreen is best for me?
New SPF50+ sunscreens on the market offer marginally better UVB protection compared with SPF30+ (98% filtered out compared to 96.7% filtered out by SPF30+).
• SPF50+ does not mean you have a “suit of armour”; you need to apply just as liberally as SPF30+.