Glowhan — Korean Skincare Guide | glowhan.shop

Glowhan — Korean Skincare Guide | glowhan.shop

SPF and PA Explained

SPF grades UVB protection and the PA rating (PA+ to PA++++) grades UVA, the rays behind skin aging — both appear on the same label.

A sunscreen's SPF number indicates its effectiveness in protecting the skin from sun radiation. It speaks to UVB, the rays that burn, and it is the number most people read first.

The PA rating (PA+ to PA++++) grades protection against UVA, the rays behind skin aging, alongside SPF for UVB. PA+ is the lowest grade on that scale and PA++++ the highest, so a bottle carrying both a high SPF and a high PA count covers the two ray types together.

The signature mark of this site, drawn as a plate

On narrow screens, swipe or scroll the plate sideways.

Application quantity determines whether the labelled number holds: sunscreen applied thinly does not deliver the SPF printed on the bottle. The two-finger rule — product squeezed along two fingers — is the common field measure for face and neck.

Reapplication timing follows the same logic. A morning layer does not carry a full day outdoors, and retinoid users have an added reason to keep it in place, since retinoids increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight.

Dermatologists recommend mild cleanser, moisturizer as needed and daily sunscreen for children and teens — the sunscreen habit is the one piece of the adult routine that carries over unchanged.

  • Read SPF for UVB and PA for UVA on the same label
  • Apply enough: two fingers of product for face and neck
  • Reapply through the day rather than trusting one morning layer
  • Retinoid nights make the next morning's sunscreen mandatory

Further reading