We all know that we get vitamin D from the sun’s rays which plays an important role in our skin and health. But did you know that prolonged exposure to sunlight can damage your skin and cause problems like sun tan, sun burn, pigmentation and premature aging. Not only this, skin cancer is also a big problem which is due to over exposure to the sun. You should use sunscreen before going out to protect yourself from this kind of problem.
There are countless options available in the market so choosing the right sunscreen for your skin from these options can be a challenging task. However, after reading our article, you will know what to look for in sunscreen before buying.
So let’s take a look at what to look for before buying sunscreen.
SPF numbers tell you how long your sunscreen can protect your skin from UVB rays. Most dermatologists recommend SPF 30. This is because the sunscreens of SPF 30 protect your skin 98% from UVB rays. On the other hand, SPF 15 sunscreens protect your skin 93% from UVB rays. Again, 50 SPF sunscreen protects your skin 98% from UVB rays.
Now many may be thinking that the more you use SPF sunscreen, the more protection you get from UVB rays. But unfortunately, this logic does not apply in this case. In fact, the skin contains a type of polymer called melanin to determine the color of our skin and hair. Darker skin contains more melanin than fair skin.
For example, a person with black skin can stay out for a long time using SPF 30 sunscreen while a person with bright skin needs 50SPF sunscreen to stay out for the same amount of time.
Also, The sun protection factor also depends on how and where you use sunscreen.
before buying sunscreen, check if the product has board spectrum written on it. Because there are two types of UV light that can damage your skin, one is UVA and the other is UVB rays.
UVB rays damage the epidermis layers of our skin and can cause sunburn or skin cancer. UVA rays are more harmful than UVB rays because they reach your dermis layers and damage melanin and collagen tissues. This can lead to problems like tanning, premature aging, wrinkles.
A board spectrum sunscreen can protect you from these two types of harmful rays.
You can use chemical or physical sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. The purpose of each of them is to protect your skin from UV rays but their working process is different.
Physical sunscreens reflect 100% of UV rays so that the sun’s rays do no harm to the skin. But as a result of using a physical sunscreen, the vitamin D synthesis process in our skin is stopped. Because if sunlight does not reach the skin, there will be no synthesis of vitamin D.
The main and active ingredients in physical sunscreens are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Certain types of chemicals are used in chemical sunscreens. There is nothing to worry about hearing the name of the chemical because not all chemicals are harmful to our body and skin. Chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s ultraviolet rays and convert those rays into heat. As a result of conversion to heat, UV rays become inactive. And the use of chemical sunscreen does not stop the process of vitamin D synthesis.
The main and active ingredients in chemical sunscreens are octinoxate, oxybenzone and avobenzone.
When buying sunscreen you need to see if it is water or sweat resistant. A water resistant sunscreen may be ideal for you if you sweat a lot or you can use it while swimming.
Water resistant sunscreens are effective in water or sweat for 40 to 80 minutes. When buying sunscreen you may have noticed that the product has “water resistant” or “very water resistant” written on it. Actually water resistant sunscreens are effective in water for 40 minutes and very water resistant sunscreens are effective in water for 60 minutes. After 40 to 80 minutes you need to apply sunscreen again.
There are some sunscreens that give the skin a sticky and uncomfortable feeling when used. Sunscreens are now available in a variety of forms, such as creams, gels, and lotions. Choose one of these sunscreens that is comfortable for your skin.
If your skin is oily then you need gel based sunscreen. Cream based sunscreens are suitable for dry skin. And for those whose skin is sensitive, lotion or spray sunscreen is effective.
Each of us has a different skin type. Considering the ingredients suitable for different skin types, here are some sunscreens that you need to try.
For oily skin
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 60, $29.99, Dermstore
- Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench SPF 45 Hyaluronic Cloud Moisturizer, $52.00, Amazon
- Dermstore Collection Daily Mineral Sunscreen Sheer Tint SPF 40 , $35.00, Dermstore
- Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Matte SPF 50, $27.30, Colorescience
For dry skin
- Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Classic SPF 50, $27.30, Colorescience
- Resist Paula’s Choice Skin Restoring Moisturizer Board Spectrum SPF 50, $33.00, Amazon
- Sun Moisturizer SPF 50+ PA+++, $16.00, Amazon
For sensitive skin
- Proactiv MD Daily Oil Control Moisturizer SPF30, $24.00, Amazon
- Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Mineral Sunscreen Board Spectrum SPF 60+, $8.97, Amazon
- EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41 Sunscreen, $34.00, Dermstore
Sunscreen is important for all skin types. And it is very important to use it in all kinds of weather. Sunscreen will protect you from the harmful UV rays of the sun as well as reduce inflammation, prevent skin discoloration, reduce your risk of skin cancer, reduce the signs of aging.
You should always avoid certain ingredients before buying a safe and effective sunscreen. These are Essential oil, fragrance, sodium lauryl sulfate, coconut oil.
