SPF 50 Sunscreen

The SPF (sun protection factor) on your sunscreen tells you how well the product protects your skin from ultraviolet radiation. The higher the SPF number, the more UVB-blocking protection the product provides. When you apply an SPF 50 sunscreen, your skin can be exposed to 50 times more UVB radiation without burning, but there's a catch. All sun protection products require frequent application.

SPF 50 sunscreens give you more UV protection than products with a lower SPF. However, that number has little to do with how long your protection lasts. Instead, it tells you the amount of solar energy your skin can tolerate safely. Once the active ingredients in your sunscreen interact with the sun's UV rays, they're depleted, used up. That's why it's important to reapply your SPF 50 sunscreen every 2 hours or as directed on the product label.

The skin on your face is much thinner than the skin on the rest of your body. That makes your face far more susceptible to UV damage. Delicate facial skin is also more likely to react to pore-clogging oils, artificial fragrances and other ingredients that can cause irritation. That's why so many people protect their complexions with sun protection formulated specifically for facial skin. As you browse the SPF 50 sunscreen options at CVS Pharmacy consider how your face might benefit from the following product types:

• Oil Free Sunscreen: Protects your face from UV damage without clogging your pores

• Mineral Sunscreen: Natural sun protection made without potentially irritating chemicals

• Antioxidant Sunscreen: Helps protect sun-exposed skin from free-radical damage

• Moisturizing Sunscreen: Increases moisture retention while protecting skin health

• Tinted Sunscreen: Sun protection that minimizes the appearance of skin imperfections