Whether your skin is dry, oily, combination or sensitive, do you know what is the one must-include product in your skincare regimen? Yes, you got it right. No matter whatever skin type you have, no matter what your skin tone is, if you want to get healthy skin, never skip your sunscreen.
Before incorporating this product into your daily routine, you must be curious to know everything about sunscreen. Just keep patience. By the end of this article, you will get all the answers you have been craving for. happy reading
Why you shouldn’t skip sunscreen
To grasp the importance of sunscreen, first, you must understand the nature of UV radiation and its impact on the skin.
There are three types of UV radiation. UVA. UVB and UVC. Fortunately, the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs nearly all UVC radiation while UVA and UVB still have significant impact.
UVA radiation accounts for the majority of UV radiation (95%) that reaches the Earth’s surface. Penetrates deep into the skin, contributing to premature ageing and wrinkles. The rest are UVB (5%), which is responsible for causing sunburn and skin cancer, although UVA probably contributes.
Sunscreen is often touted as the go-to defence as it acts as a protective shield against these harmful radiations. As we all know, UV radiation is the main culprit here, it can damage your skin significantly if exposed without sunscreen. And that’s why skipping sunscreen is considered a skincare sin with far-reaching consequences.
Types of sunscreen
There are two types of sunscreen. Physical (Mineral) sunscreen and chemical sunscreen. We are not going to put one prior to another. Neither is necessarily better than the other. They are just using different active ingredients, hence their way of working is different. Both protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays and help to prevent skin damage.
Physical sunscreens act like a mirror, reflect UV rays away from the skin by creating a physical barrier on the skin’s surface. They contain active ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which provide broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
On the other hand, chemical sunscreen works by absorbing UV radiation and converting it into heat, which is then released from the skin. They typically contain organic compounds like oxybenzone, avobenzone and octinoxate.
How to choose the perfect sunscreen for your skin
Are you getting puzzled thinking about which sunscreen you should pick? Hold on there. We’ve come up with a three-step system to help you find the right sunscreen for your skin.
The first step is to check the spectrum of your sunscreen
As we know UVA and UVB have different effects on the skin, so you need a sunscreen that can give protection from both UVA and UVB. And here comes the term “broad-spectrum”. So It’s really important that you pick a broad-spectrum sunscreen, for maximum benefit.
The next step is to look at the sun protection factor or SPF rating of the sunscreen
Unfortunately, SPF doesn’t tell you anything about UVA protection. It was designed to measure UVB protection only. SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB radiation, SPF 30 blocks 97% and SPF 50 blocks 98%. There isn’t much difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50. So any sunscreen that is both broad-spectrum and above SPF 30 is a greater choice. Keep in mind that the higher the SPF rating, the thicker the sunscreen tends to be. If you’re thinking of using sunscreen as part of cosmetics, then SPF 15 can be a good balance between cosmetic results and sun protection.
The third step is to talk about the types of sunscreen
If you are a lactating mother or pregnant woman, you should go for a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreen is also better for people with sensitive skin. For example, people who have acne, rosacea, or dermatitis like eczema. If you don’t have sensitive skin then either type is fine. The thing people are normally concerned about physical sunscreen is it tends to give a white cast on the skin. So if you have a darker skin tone or don’t like the white cast, you can avoid physical sunscreens.
When it comes to cosmetic results, this is where chemical sunscreen has the edge.
Chemical sunscreens tend to be transparent when they dry. So if you have oily skin, or are looking for sunscreen as part of cosmetics, opt for a lightweight, non-comedogenic, chemical sunscreen.
Some sunscreen manufacturers are now combining both physical and chemical ingredients. So it’s better to see and experiment to determine which sunscreen works best for your skin.
How to use sunscreen
Normally it is advised to apply sunscreen as the last step in your skincare routine. You can use toner, serum, moisturizer whatever you need but sunscreen should be the last product in your morning skincare routine. Don’t rub or blend it completely. Spread on your skin as a thin layer to protect your skin from sun rays.
How much sunscreen you should use
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should apply enough sunscreen to cover all skin, not covered by clothing. Most adults need 1 ounce, or enough to fill a shot glass to fully cover their body.
If it seems difficult to understand, you can follow two-finger rules. Take the amount of sunscreen that can fully cover your two fingers and apply it to your face. And then again take the amount that can cover your half finger and apply it to your neck.
In case of thinner consistency sunscreen, you can change your two-finger rules to three-finger.
When to use
The most common question and the simplest answer is whenever your skin is exposed to the sun. It may seem too much but sunscreen is still necessary when spending time indoors, especially if you’re exposed to sunlight through windows. UVA rays which penetrate through glass, can lead to premature ageing, wrinkles and even skin cancer over time.
Apply sunscreen at least 15-30 minutes before sun exposure to give it time to penetrate the skin and create the preventive shield. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or before as needed in case of excessive sweating or after a swim.
Final words
No sunscreen can give 100% sun protection. And that’s why using sunscreen should not be the only step in your sun protection journey.
Try to avoid sun exposure at peak hours like from 10 am to 4 pm. For maximum protection, pair your daily sunscreen with sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and sun-protective clothes and seek shade whenever possible.
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2. A Comprehensive Guide on How to Identify Your Skin Type
3. Morning Skincare Routine for Glowing and Healthy Skin
