What does “SPF” mean?

“SPF” stands for Sun Protection Factor and is followed by a number (i.e. 15, 30, 50, etc.) that indicates how long it would take the sun’s UVB rays to burn skin when the product is applied as directed on the label versus how long it would take skin to burn without any SPF. For example, an SPF 50 indicates it would take 50 times longer to for skin to burn during sun exposure when wearing the product than when not wearing SPF. The SPF number refers only to the protection provided against UVB rays, so look for the term “broad spectrum” on packaging to ensure the product also protects against UVA rays.