As summer is on full throttle, aside from staying hydrated, we need to remember to wear sunscreen! But not only do we need to wear sunscreen during the summer, it’s something we should be applying all year round. Sunscreen protects us from UV ray damage, prevents us from getting burned and premature aging. It also is said to cut our risk of getting skin cancer by half.
To take it a step further, precautions even need to be made by wearing sunscreen indoors (unless we are in a windowless house) because the UV rays are that strong. UVA rays penetrates through clouds and glass and about 80% of the sun’s radiation hits earth. Just because you may not feel the heat of the sun all the time, does not mean that its UV rays are not reaching you. The depletion of the ozone layer has also increased our risk of sun damage. This includes sun and age spots, wrinkles, and even sagging.
But there is a plethora of sunscreens to choose from. Which ones are the best and what’s the difference? Here’s the main things you need to know about sunscreen – keep these in mind, and you’ll be able to choose the best one for you. Including the brand and price ranges you’d like to pay for a good sunscreen to protect you.
What Is SPF (Sun Protection Factor)?
We’ve all heard of SPF, but what does that and the numbers associated with it really mean? SPF 15, 30, 45, 50 are some examples that we often see.
The number basically tells us how long the sun’s UVB rays take to “burn” our skin if you apply the sunscreen. So using an SPF 15 sunscreen would take you 15 times longer for you to burn than without using it. But that does not mean the higher the SPF the better. Anything after SPF 50 is extremely minimal additional protection. Even if you buy a sunscreen that says SPF 100. The best SPF range to use is 15-50.
2 Types Of Sunscreen
To make it simple, there are 2 types of sunscreen: chemical and physical. Each type of sunscreen uses a different way of filtering out UV rays from our body.
- Chemical (absorbers) sunscreens allows your skin to absorb the UV rays, but diffuses it through chemicals and creates a reaction where UV light is converted into heat and then dissipated from the skin. You’ll need to wait 20-30 minutes for a chemical sunscreen to absorb.
- Physical/mineral (blockers) sunscreens sits on top of your skin and blocks or reflects UV rays from penetrating your skin. It also works immediately with no wait time needed.
Doesn’t it already sound scary enough that chemical sunscreens allow your skin to actually absorb the UV rays and then does its thing to protect you? This is one reason why a physical or mineral sunscreen is always the better option. Also, the difference between the 2 types of sunscreen also comes down to the ingredients they use in each.
Active Ingredients You Don’t Want In Your Sunscreen
Most sunscreens contain one of the following ingredients, and these are found in chemical sunscreens. They are all pretty scientific names and can be hard to remember, so this is for extra knowledge and basically reasons why you should avoid this type of sunscreen.
- Avobenzone – hormone and endocrine disruptors. It is also irritating to the eyes and is an allergen. It also degrades in the sun and causes free radicals to be released in the body.
- Benzophenone aka oxybenzone – hazardous to the eyes and skin. Also linked with coral bleaching, hence why we should opt for reef-safe sunscreen.
- Octocrylene – degrades into benzophenone, which can be carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting as well. It also accumulates in the body.
- Octisalate/homosalate – accumulates in our bodies faster than we can get rid of it. It can be toxic and disrupt hormone levels. The maximum amount that the FDA allows is less than 10% in your sunscreen. Also, it is weak in protecting from UVB rays.
- Octinoxate – an endocrine disruptor and studies have found traces of this in blood, urine, and breast milk. This is also linked to coral bleaching.
Chemical sunscreens can contain one, or a mix of the above absorber ingredients. I personally find that the only good thing about chemical sunscreens is that they are able to be applied clear, with no white cast. Which I know, is a huge deal breaker for some people. But compared to the negative effects that these active ingredients can leave, I rather choose a sunscreen that isn’t completely clear. There are brands of course, that have sunscreens with ingredients you want, are of a white color, but does not leave any white cast, so don’t worry! I will share these as soon as I complete my quest on finding the best sunscreens, there are still a lot I am currently comparing.
The Only 2 Active Ingredients You’d Want In Your Sunscreen
These 2 ingredients are the safest and most effective in sunscreens:
- Titanium dioxide – it is actually found in most foundations. But if brands were to have the words SPF on their product, then they will need to go through another round of approvals by the FDA or some other government entity to have this type of label. But if you look at the ingredients in your foundations, you’ll most likely see titanium dioxide as one of the last ingredients on the list. This is also the reason why you get flashback in photos, because sunscreen reflects light. However, if this ingredient is inhaled, it can possibly be carcinogenic. So avoid sprays and powders.
- Zinc oxide – opt for the eco-safe zinc which won’t pollute the oceans or lakes. Zinc oxide has broader spectrum in UVA and UVB which can provide better and safer sun protection. It is also the only ingredient that the FDA has approved for babies. Zinc is also a mineral that our body produces to keep us healthy as opposed to titanium.
Both of these active ingredients are a great alternative to those in chemical sunscreens because 1) these ingredients do not disrupt your hormones 2) less skin irritation 3) safer for the ocean 4) works instantly 5) protects against full spectrum of UV rays.
So How Much Sunscreen Should You Apply?
For the face, I have written a blog post on The Correct Amount Of Skincare Products To Apply which covers how much sunscreen to use along with photos. For the body, about a shot glass amount is enough to cover the entire body. Depending on how watery the sunscreen may be, this can sometimes end up being way too much. So gauge how much you’ll need as long as you can cover your entire body for full protection.
For additional protection, you can consider an SPF lip balm like the one I use.
Also keep in mind your sunscreen’s expiry dates!
Do You Really Need To Apply Your Sunscreen Every 2 Hours?
Well to start, no sunscreen is waterproof. They are only water or sweat resistant, so they will eventually wash off one way or another. Sunscreens that say they are water or sweat resistant are usually tested to only be effective for about 40-80 minutes. So sunscreen for sure needs to be reapplied after swimming or sweating. It is also said that a sunscreen’s sun protection factor (SPF) is effective for 2 hours after application. Usually, the emphasis is placed more on chemical sunscreens since they break down faster than physical sunscreens. So if you are using a sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, you do have more time. But it is better to be safe than sorry, as usual!
Is Having An SPF Foundation Enough?
The answer is no, since you don’t use enough of your foundation, tinted moisturizer, CC or BB cream, or whatever have you, to provide enough sun protection. Although these beauty protects has sun protection, it only gives you additional protection from what sunscreen you already applied.
Personally, I prefer makeup without sunscreen because of the flashback factor, but I will say that it is better than nothing if I forget to wear my sunscreen that day.
6 Easy Ways To Find The Sunscreen That’s Best For You
- Forget looking at ingredients you don’t want, but the ingredients you do want. Since there are only 2 to choose from, this will make it a lot easier for you to remember as well. This also will automatically let you know the type of sunscreen you are using, since the 2 ingredients you want, are both physical or mineral sunscreens. Even though they are still scientific terms, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide is much easier to remember. Choosing to use one of these 2 ingredients will also immediately cancel out a lot of sunscreen options and make it easier for you to select the one you want.
- If you want to completely avoid the chance of having any white cast on your face, try a tinted face sunscreen. I like using the Elta MD UV Daily SPF 40. The tint is very slight so it won’t look like you’re wearing makeup, but at least you know it’s not a white sunscreen.
- Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects you from UVA and UVB rays.
- Find the SPF range you want. I like to choose an SPF that’s around the 30-50 range and they have worked great for me. I find it gives better and more protection than SPF 15.
- Know your skin type. You can find sunscreens (especially for the face) for dry, normal, combination, or oily skin. Choosing a sunscreen that’s right for your skin type will help prevent you from breaking out and address the skin concerns you have.
- Have a preference. Sunscreens can come in cream, spray, gels, and other formulas. Again, keep in mind that if you choose a titanium oxide sunscreen, avoid the sprays.
Sun protection is key and your skin will thank you later!