Nowadays sunscreen must be used in skincare products both inside at home and whenever we go outside in the sun because it protects our skin from dangerous ultraviolet radiation and keeps our skin safe from environmental pollution. Prolonged exposure to UV lights can be the reason for sunburn, premature skin aging, and even melanoma (skin cancer).
Sunscreen creates a barrier on your skin, preventing UV radiation from penetrating the skin. It has become a vital part of our daily routine. Regular sunscreen usage can keep our skin safe, healthy, and beautiful while lowering the risk of premature skin aging, sunburn, and skin cancer.
However, choosing the right sunscreen is equally as important as using sunscreen daily. There are a lot of different brands of sunscreen available in the market, so selecting the correct one can be difficult. In this article, we will go over how to choose the best sunscreen for your skin.
1. Choose Broad-spectrum Sunscreen
Broad-spectrum sunscreens are designed to protect skin from both UVA and UVB radiation. UVA photons are responsible for accelerated aging, wrinkles, and other skin damage, while UVB rays cause sunburn. Broad-spectrum sunscreens made of chemicals to shield the skin from both types of radiation, offer all-around sun protection.
2. Look for SPF Rating
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) measures how well a sunscreen can protect the skin from UV rays. UV rays cause sunburn, suntan, skin damage, and melanoma (skin cancer). The SPF rating of a sunscreen indicates how much longer it will take for the skin to burn when using the product than without it. For example, if your skin tends to get tanned after 10 minutes of unprotected sun exposure or without sunscreen, SPF 30 provides 5 hours of protection by multiplying 10 minutes by 300 minutes. The higher the SPF rating, the more protection it provides. Still, SPF does not account for UVA radiation and UVA cause of premature skin aging. That is why it matters most to focus on other parts as well.
3. Check the Ingredients
Before purchasing sunscreen, it is very required to check the ingredients. Avoid sunscreen with harsh chemicals like oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, dioxybenzone, cinoxate, sulisobenzone, meradimate, padimate O, parabens, phthalates, and octinoxate. Instead, look for mineral sunscreens with natural ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are safe for you and the environment.
4. Water Resistant
If you plan to swim or participate in any water activities, you have to select a water-resistant sunscreen. Choose sunscreen with a label such as “water-resistant”, or “sweat-resistant”. Nevertheless, remember that no sunscreen is completely waterproof, so reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.
5. Check the Expiration Date
Before purchasing sunscreen, make sure to verify its expiration date. Using expired sunscreen can be harmful to your skin and offer no protection against UV rays.
6. Non-comedogenic
To avoid breakouts and skin irritation, select the appropriate non-comedogenic sunscreen. When purchasing sunscreen search for the phrase “non-comedogenic”. This signifies the product is designed to not block pores.
7. Paraben Free
One of the primary concerns about parabens is their ability to impact the endocrine system, which controls hormone synthesis in the body. This interruption can cause a variety of health and skin concerns. Check for sunscreens labeled “paraben-free”.
8. Fragrance Free
Fragrances are frequently used to make skincare products to make them more attractive, but they can be irritating to some people, especially those with sensitive skin. If you are prone to irritation or allergic reactions, look for sunscreens that are labeled as “fragrance-free”.
9. Alcohol Free
Alcohol is a commonly used element in medical and cosmetic products, and sunscreen also. It can be drying and irritating for some people, particularly those with sensitive and dry skin. Look for sunscreen that is labeled as “alcohol-free”, if you have concerns about dryness and irritation.
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