How to protect face without sunscreen?
If sunscreen is not an option, physical barriers offer the next best protection. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, staying in shade during peak UV hours (10 AM to 4 PM), and covering up with tightly woven clothing can meaningfully reduce UV exposure. However, none of these fully replicate the consistent protection of a well-applied SPF 50 PA++++ sunscreen.
Clothing with a tight weave blocks UV effectively. A regular cotton T-shirt provides around UPF 5 to 15 depending on colour and weight, while purpose-made UV-protective clothing can reach UPF 50+. Dark-coloured, tightly woven fabrics block more UV than light, loose ones. Staying in shade cuts direct UV exposure but does not eliminate it, since reflected UV from surfaces like concrete and sand still reaches the skin. For the face specifically, a full-brim hat (at least 7 cm wide) provides the most shade.