Sunscreen is not just for the summers, it is an everyday essential for your skin. Our skin is our largest body organ and it’s incredibly important to take care of it. Especially in the summertime, where the UVB rays are usually harshest as we spend so much time outside in the heat. There are thousands of different types of sunscreens to choose from these days and it can feel overwhelming to make a decision. Sun exposure in harsh UV rays is not something to take lightly, so it’s incredibly important to figure out the best sunscreen for ourselves, especially one with a high SPF. Moreover, sunscreen also aids against premature aging.
Here are a few things to take into consideration when it comes to facial sunscreen:
Skin Types
Firstly, shopping for sunscreen is a lot like shopping for skincare. Your skin type matters. For instance, do you have oily skin? Maybe you’ll want to opt for a matte or gel option. Dry skin? Go for a dewy summer glow! A lot of the newer sunscreens are tinted, which is great because it’s like wearing a bb cream that has SPF and evens out your skin tone. But you’ll want to do some research on each of those, to make sure they are right for your skin type. There’s nothing worse than dry patches or a product that is too oily.
Mineral Vs Chemical
Secondly, there are two different types of sunscreen: mineral and chemical. Chemical sunscreens are formulated to use chemical filters to protect your skin from damaging ultraviolet rays. The ingredients in this type of sunscreen will absorb the rays before they hit your skin and you will not get a white cast from these sunscreens. While mineral sunscreen actually physically blocks ultraviolet radiation. It’s also known as physical sunscreen for this purpose. Furthermore, these primarily include ingredients like Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide, which is why we sometimes get a white cast. It’s really all about preference! If you’re having trouble making a decision, let’s break it down further!
Mineral: Gentle but can be more difficult to spread or absorb.
Chemical: Can be irritating for sensitive or oily skin. Best for days where you aren’t outside a ton near harmful UV rays.
Needs
When I say needs, this goes along with skin type. What does your skin need or what are some problems you are facing? Dark spots? Sensitive skin? Try sunscreen that has skincare in it! A lot of options out there now offer Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, vitamin c and other skincare benefits to help you achieve a healthy glow and as well as healthy skin. They even make CC cream that has SPF in it! I know it’s an extra step in your skincare routine, but it really is integral in decreasing your risk of sun damage and protecting you from the sun’s rays!
SPF
What is SPF? It stands for sun protection factor. So, the higher the SPF, the more UVB protection. You should wear sunscreen every single day of the year, but the SPF should definitely be higher in the summer months. To make sure you have adequate protection from the sun, it’s safest to stick with 36 SPF and higher.
I’ve listed 15 of the best sunscreens to make your skin glow, below! Let me know which are your favorites!
This post was originally published June 17th, 2022*
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