You still need to know how to choose between all the different sun creams that are available on the market. There are many factors to consider when making a decision:
A sun protection product should :
The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of a product indicates its UVB protection level. UVB rays are the most dangerous because they burn the epidermis and cause sunburn on skin that is insufficiently protected by melanin pigments (UVB rays are the cause of 90% of skin cancers). But UVA rays are not harmless. Far from it: they penetrate deeper into the dermis and destroy the collagen and elastin fibres that keep the skin toned. These rays are therefore the primary cause of skin ageing.
1: Epidermis -
2: Dermis -
3: Hypodermis -
4: Absorption -
5: Reflection - distribution
Whatever your chosen SPF, the most important thing is to apply sun protection generously and regularly. It has been proven that a 50% reduction in the recommended amount to apply leads to a 75% reduction in efficacy. In other words, an SPF20 or SPF30 product applied liberally and regularly throughout the day is often more effective than an SPF50 product applied only once a day.
The choice of SPF should be determined by sun intensity, the duration of sun exposure and individual phototype. The fairer the skin (phototype 1), the higher the SPF should be.
This skin type is very fair and milky-coloured, often with freckles. The hair colour is usually red. Even very short sun exposure will cause sunburn and they hardly tan at all. It is essential that this group stays protected from the sun.
Recommended SPF: 50+
Fair skin, sometimes with freckles and blond hair. These people almost always get sunburned, but they do tan lightly and have a light tan at the end of their holiday.
Recommended SPF: 50+
These people are blond or brown-haired, with light or dark skin. They may get sunburnt with early sun exposure, but then develop a classic golden tan. The colour of the eyes and hair is important. Phototype 3 blonds or those with light eyes age more rapidly than brunettes with dark eyes under repeated sun exposure.
Recommended SPF: 30 or 50.
This group is made up of people with dark skin and brown hair who rarely get sunburnt. They tan easily.
Recommended SPF: 20 or 25.
These are dark-skinned people who very rarely get sunburnt and tan very quickly. They have a dark tan.
Recommended SPF: 20 or 25.
This group is made up of people with black skin and dark eyes who are very resistant to sun exposure. A low SPF sun cream is sufficient for them.
Recommended SPF: 10 (and 20 to 25 for the lighter parts of the skin).
When choosing the texture, there are two indicators to remember: personal preference and skin type. The drier the skin, the more oily the texture you might choose. As such, sun creams are suitable for dry skin, fluid protection for combination to oily skin, and so on. The choice of texture or format of your sun cream can also depend on the area of the body to be protected and the application methods you prefer: spray, milk, stick, etc.
Choosing an Avène product means that you benefit from our 30 years of research and innovation in sun care.
Sensitive skin
For children and adults
The orange range is for you
Hypersensitive skin, intolerant to chemical filters and perfumes
For children and adults
The mineral range is the one for you
Sensitive skin
For children and adults
The sunless range is for you
The terms “sun block” and “total protection” have now been abandoned because no sun cream product can guarantee total protection against UV rays. Since 2006, SPF above 50 (60, 80 and even 100%) have been grouped by the European Commission into a single 50+ index. This measure was taken to protect consumers from thinking that with an SPF of 100% they could stay in the sun all day without needing to reapply sun cream and without suffering the effects of the sun on their skin.
Sport is risky in the sun, especially outdoors where you are exposed to the reflection of the sun’s rays. In the heat of the moment, you’re also more likely to forget to apply your sun cream every two hours. You should therefore choose protection that is adapted to your movements, with a texture resistant to water and perspiration.
Protecting your skin during sun exposure is essential. But you can also take care of it beforehand by preparing your skin for the sun, especially through dietary supplements and a suitable diet. And to prolong the effects of your tan, it’s also important to take care by soothing your skin after sun exposure.
Scars don’t like the sun. A scar which is exposed to the sun can leave a permanent mark on the skin. During the first few months of your scar's life, it is best to avoid exposing it to the sun. After six months, once the scar has turned white, it should be protected with a suitable high protection cream. And this is the case for life.
The more moles an individual has, the greater the risk of developing melanoma: 35% of these cancers develop from an existing mole. It is therefore essential to effectively protect your skin from the sun in order to limit the appearance of new moles as much as possible, with a sun cream adapted to your skin type. In addition, overexposing existing moles has an influence on the development of lesions that may become cancerous.
A very effective product with a truly pleasant texture that doesn’t leave any traces and spreads very easily. I really like it on my intolerant skin - it's one of the only ones I can stand!Discover our Sun Care products
