How to Choose the Right Sunblock for Your Skin

by Vince Care on Nov 07, 2022

Protecting your skin from the sun is one of the essential components of skincare and the most potent defense tool for premature aging.

Continuous exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin damage such as wrinkles, suntans, sunspots, and skin cancer.

Sun damage is cumulative, meaning that the damage to the skin caused by the sun's UV rays increases.

Besides environmental pollution, ultraviolet exposure is one of the reasons that lead to premature aging.

Things to consider choosing the Sunblock for Your Skin

When choosing a sunscreen, factors to take into consideration include the following:

Choose Broad Spectrum Sunblock
Go For an SPF 40 or Higher
Consider Your Skin Type
Sunscreen Spray, Lotion, Stick, or Gel
Water Resistance
Quality of Ingredients

1. Choose Broad Spectrum Sunblock

Broad-spectrum sun block means that the product protects against UVA and UVB rays. It is essential for skin cancer prevention and protecting the face from sun damage and premature skin aging.

Previously, people thought sunscreen with an SPF of 15 provided sufficient UV protection in most situations. But this thinking has changed over the past few years. Today's best facial sunscreen should have an SPF of 30+ to protect the skin from UVA, UVB, and IR radiation.

2 Go For an SPF 40 or Higher

When choosing the best sunscreen for the face, choose a high SPF of 40 or higher that absorbs quickly into the skin, like sunscreen gel SPF 50, especially for oily skin. It would help if you always protect yourself from harmful UV rays regardless of skin tone.

The same goes for the body, especially if you spend the most time in the sun. Always apply sunscreen on your ears, neck, hands, and feet, as the skin is significantly thinner and prone to burning.

Sunblock with SPF 30 is estimated to allow 1/30 of the sun's rays to pass through the skin. Sunscreen with SPF 50 allows 1/50 of the sun's rays to pass through the skin. So choose your sunscreen wisely.

3. Consider Your Skin Type

Consider your skin type when choosing sunscreen. If you have dry skin that doesn't do well in the sun then it would help if you had sunscreen doubles as a moisturizer.

If you have oily, acne-prone skin, a specific sunscreen for oily skin recommends because it will be water-based rather than oil-based, so a sunscreen gel recommends for oily skin.

If the skin is sensitive and prone to irritation, avoid products containing alcohol, preservatives, fragrances, and oxy benzone. Those with darker skin tones who tan easily may find they don't need to use sunscreen, however, like sunburn, a tan results from DNA damage from exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays.

4. Sunscreen Spray, Lotion, Stick, or Gel

Well, it's entirely up to your preference whether you want to use a lotion, spray, stick, or gel. The most important thing is how you use it and how much you use it. If you use a sunscreen spray and want to apply it to your face, spray it on your hands and then apply it.

5. Water Resistance

When choosing a sunscreen for sensitive skin, ensure the product is water-resistant. Sunscreen manufacturers cannot legally claim an SPF product as waterproof.

A water-resistant sunscreen means you'll be protected while swimming, but you'll need to reapply when you get out. For best protection, apply a layer of sunscreen every 40-80 minutes.

6. Quality of Ingredients

The ingredient list is one of the essential things in choosing a sunscreen. Most sunscreens are made with lab-made chemicals, but if you want to moisturize and protect your skin, look for natural ingredients, oils, and extracts.

Sunburn damages the outer layers of your skin. It is an inflammatory response to receiving too much ultraviolet radiation from the sun. It can cause redness, inflammation and, in extreme cases, blisters and peeling. If you are facing sunburn issues then you must read the best ways of how to treat sunburn

What Does Sunscreen Do?

Sunscreen uses active ingredients to filter out ultraviolet (UV) rays before they reach your skin. UV rays from the tanning beds and sun can cause skin cancer and additional signs of aging.

Sunscreen comes in gels, creams, sprays, and powders form that you apply directly to your skin. People who use sunscreen regularly:

1. Lower risk of skin cancer:

Skin cancer is widespread cancer nowadays. Daily use of sunscreen with an SPF of 15 can reduce your risk of skin cancer. You can reduce your risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 50 percent. And you can reduce your risk of the most common skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, by 40 percent.

2. Younger-looking skin:

The sun's UV rays damage the skin and cause wrinkles and dark spots. Regular use of sunscreen reduces and prevents these effects.

Types of Sunblock

Here we are going to discuss three types of sunblock:

Chemical Sunblock
Physical Sunblock
Hybrid Sunblock

1. Chemical Sunblock

Chemical sunscreens use active ingredients to absorb the sun's rays, convert them into heat, and then release the heat through the skin. They contain one or more ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone, Tosylates, octocrylene, homosalate, or octinoxate.

They are lighter and sheerer but can be irritating if you have acne-prone or sensitive skin. So, if your skin is healthy enough, we recommend using chemical sunblock’s.

2. Physical Sunblock

Physical sunblock creates a physical barrier that reflects UVA and UVB rays away from the skin. And because it sits on top of your skin, we recommend physical sunblock for those with sensitive skin types.

Physical sunblock contains active ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, and more and more brands are creating products that are easy to apply and look great. Although it works immediately upon application, it is prone to wear off more quickly than chemical sunblock.

3. Hybrid Sunblock

Hybrid sunscreen describes an SPF that contains both physical and chemical sunscreen actives. It combines the UV-reflective properties of physical activity and the UV-absorbing and transforming abilities of chemical actives into a formula that prevents skin damage in the most effective way possible.

Offering the same coverage as a physical sunblock and as light as a physical sunblock, it's perfect for those with oily skin.

Conclusion

Sunscreens contain labels of an SPF factor linked to UVB rays. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measures how well a sunscreen will protect the skin from UV rays. The sun's rays emit invisible UV rays that can feel on your skin.

Choosing the best sunscreen for the skin and avoiding common mistakes when buying sunscreen can be overwhelming with so many products on the market, but with these tips, you'll know what to look for.

Sunscreen is an essential part of a skincare regimen that includes seeking shade, avoiding UV tanning, and wearing protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

By educating yourself, you can confidently choose a sunscreen that will meet your specific needs, provide you with the best protection from the sun's harmful rays, and help ensure you use it regularly.