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If you were only allowed one product to use for your skincare, which would you choose? Ask any expert and you will be surprised to hear that this is one aspect that most skin experts agree upon unanimously. The most crucial product for your skin care is a good quality sunscreen. Sunscreen should be the one thing that you include in your skincare all year round regardless of the weather. Regular use of sunscreen is essential in your battle against the development of fine lines and wrinkles, and other skin problems over time. Daily use of sunscreen is also instrumental in preventing skin cancer.
Which Sunscreen Formula is Best
Deciding which sunscreen formula is better or safer for your skin has sparked a lot of discussion amongst skincare experts? As a rule of thumb, you should opt for a good quality broad spectrum sunscreen product like Cerave or Cetaphil of an SPF of at least 30 for everyday use. Most sunscreens have two types of base ingredients in their formulas.
The first type are chemical ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which counteract the damage caused by ultraviolet light from within after being absorbed into the skin. These formulas are often lightweight and are easy to apply on the skin. They are transparent once applied. However, these chemical components can cause reactions and irritate sensitive skin. Oxybenzone has also been flagged by many as being a high risk and high hazard ingredient and raised many health concerns.
The second type are physical ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which prevent ultraviolet rays from entering the skin forming a layer on the top of the skin. You will only face it when you patio is not enclosed. This layer that deflects the harmful UV rays pose very little risk of irritation or any other health concerns. However, such formulas don’t apply as clear as others and leave a grey or whitish tint on the skin, which is more apparent on people with darker skin.
Usually the best choice to make when selecting sunscreen is one that has a combination of physical and chemical components in the ingredients. This way the skin gets the protection from UVA and UVB rays.
How to Apply Sunscreen
Consider the following steps the basic rules of applying sunscreen.
- You should always apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun.
- If you are in the sun for prolonged periods, make sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours.
- If you are using chemical sunscreens, make sure you apply it directly to clean skin.
- If you are using a physical blocker sunscreen, apply it after the rest of your skincare products, but before makeup.
- Use a dime sized amount of sunscreen to cover your face, and roughly two tablespoons of sunscreen for the other exposed areas of your body.
Final Words
Our obsession with tanning is unhealthy. We must remember that sun exposure in excess is not good for us. Having skin that is fried to an inch of its life is not a good look and it is not healthy either. Wearing clothing that will cover your exposed skin and using sunscreen even under clothing is a good idea. Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer found in Americans and sun exposure is the biggest culprit. Skin is like all other organs, and we need to take care of it. Protection from the sun is the best thing you can do for it.
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