Sunburns are a bummer, so our summer must-have is sun protection clothing. Summertime is all about soaking up sunshine and spending the days outdoors, so we defend ourselves against the harsh rays with UPF 50+ clothing. Sun protected AND stylish? We’ve got you covered. Here’s the scoop on staying safe this summer.
1. WHAT IS UPF?
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. This measures how much UV protection is in the fabric of clothing. The rating reflects the percentage of UV rays that can penetrate a fabric. The higher the rating the more sun protection the fabric provides. For example, clothing with a UPF 30 rating means that only one-thirtieth of UV rays will pass through the weaving of the fabric. UPF 50+ is the highest possible UPF rating, protecting you from 98% of the sun’s UV rays.
Clothes only block some of sun’s UV rays, making it possible to get sunburned through your clothes. Covering up is still the best way to shield your skin from the sun, but not all clothes are created equal. For example, the average white t-shirt only has a UPF rating of seven. You can try this yourself. If you see your hand through an article of clothing, it offers minimal sun protection. If shielding yourself from sun-damaging UV rays is a top priority, sun protective clothing is the way to go. Sunseekers, look no further than UPF 50+ clothing. It’s the latest and greatest way to safeguard your skin from the harsh UV rays that come with your summer in the sun.
Our UPF 50+ Luxletic Weekender Cropped Pant is your solution for sun protection during your morning beach run.
2. HOW DOES SUN PROTECTIVE CLOTHING WORK?
How much sun protection clothing provides is based on the fabric used. A fabric’s ability to block ultraviolet rays depends on the color, weave density, and type of fibers used to construct the fabric.
COLOR Darker colored fabrics generally absorb more UV rays. However, bright and vivid colors also substantially absorb UV rays. The more vivid the color, the greater the sun protection.
FABRIC TYPE Synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon afford greater sun protection compared to natural fibers like cotton and wool. The shininess of synthetic fibers also helps the fabric reflect ultraviolet rays whereas matte materials tend to absorb UV rays.
WEAVE Fibers are woven together to create fabric. The tighter the fibers are woven, the more sun protection the fabric provides. This is because tightly woven fabric reduces the number of spaces UV rays can pass through.
3. WHAT OTHER WAYS CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM THE SUN?
COVER UP Wear clothing with sun blocking properties.
FABRIC TYPE Synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon afford greater sun protection compared to natural fibers like cotton and wool. The shininess of synthetic fibers also helps the fabric reflect ultraviolet rays whereas matte materials tend to absorb UV rays.
WEAVE Fibers are woven together to create fabric. The tighter the fibers are woven, the more sun protection the fabric provides. This is because tightly woven fabric reduces the number of spaces UV rays can pass through.
