Use the right sunscreen for your face

Before deciding to spend money on a bottle of sunscreen, you should carefully study the factors to make sure it is suitable for your skin.
Some sunscreens are specially formulated for the face or body. However, both have the same effect of protecting the skin from UV rays – the cause of sunburn, premature aging and skin cancer. Insiders.

Many facial sunscreens are formulated to reduce oiliness and are often more expensive than body products. “But the higher price doesn’t mean it offers better protection,” says Kimberly Jerdan, a board-certified dermatologist in the US. Here’s her advice on how to choose the right sunscreen for your face. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen When buying any sunscreen, there are two main signs to look for. Make sure the bottle says “broad spectrum”. Also, choose one with at least SPF 30. Choose a sunscreen that says “broad spectrum”. Photo: UChicago Medicine. Broad spectrum means the sunscreen protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays cause premature aging, wrinkles and dark spots, they penetrate deeply and can damage the skin’s collagen. Meanwhile, UVB rays mainly damage the surface of the skin and cause sunburn. Both UVA and UVB can cause skin cancer. SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is an indicator of how much UVB radiation a sunscreen can filter out. SPF 30 sunscreen blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays. A higher SPF provides only a small amount of additional protection and needs to be applied frequently – every two hours. SPF does not measure protection from UVA rays. That’s why you need to make sure your sunscreen has a broad spectrum label to get protection from both. “Higher SPF sunscreens tend to be a bit more expensive. So I’d recommend saving money and just getting into the habit of reapplying every two hours,” says Jerdan. Based on how oily or dry your skin is Finding the right sunscreen can take some trial and error because everyone’s skin is different. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, Joyce Park, a dermatologist in the Bay Area (California, USA) recommends looking for creams labeled “non-comedogenic”. Because they will not clog pores, reducing the risk of acne. Pay attention to choose the right ingredients for your skin type. Photo: Tsww. Park also recommends sunscreens that contain niacinamide. This is a B vitamin that improves the appearance of the skin and reduces sebum production. For dry skin, she recommends looking for moisturizing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or glycerin. Apply sunscreen before makeup Currently, foundation creams also include SPF 30. However, they are often not applied much when wearing makeup. This limits sun protection. “Studies show that people don’t wear enough SPF makeup to get skin protection benefits,” says Dr. Park. So we recommend applying sunscreen to your face before applying makeup. Facial sunscreens are formulated to create different foundations – mist, matte or tinted. So it’s guaranteed to fit into any makeup routine.” Apply sunscreen before applying makeup for full protection. Photo: girlstyle.com Physical sunscreen for sensitive facial skin There are two main types of sunscreens, physical and chemical. Both protect the skin from UV radiation, they just contain different ingredients. It is these different ingredients that will help you choose the right sunscreen for your face. Physical sunscreens are formulated with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These are great options for people with sensitive skin because they are hypoallergenic. Another reason mineral sunscreens are ideal for the face is that they reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation and melasma. Jerdan says chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s rays, so they can warm the face. Therefore, for those who are prone to tanning, it is best to avoid them. “Physical sunscreens can sometimes leave a thick layer of powder on the skin,” says Park. “But over the years, products have improved a lot and that’s no longer the case.” People with sensitive skin should use physical sunscreen. Photo: NBC. Chemical sunscreen Chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s rays instead of reflecting them back. Jerdan advises patients with sensitive skin to “say no to benzones”. Avobenzone and oxybenzone commonly found in chemical sunscreens can cause allergic reactions. However, not all chemical sunscreens are based on these ingredients. The product still works fine if you are not allergic to it. Chemical sunscreen ingredients are also controversial due to a recent study conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Results showed that these compounds were absorbed into the skin and detected in the blood at levels above the FDA recommended threshold. However, this does not mean that chemical sunscreens are unsafe, researchers and dermatologists stress. Chemical sunscreen will still work as long as you’re not allergic to it. Photo: Freepik.