Many people spend a long time researching for the best moisturizer, exfoliant in order to take care of their skin. Some of them often skip sunscreen because it has a reputation of being uncomfortable, or simply because they feel that they do not go out in the sun enough for it to be necessary. The truth is far from that, as a skincare routine is incomplete if a good sunscreen is not used.
Why Use Sunscreen?
So, using this product should be another basic step of your routine or just a nice addition. The answer is simple: wearing sunscreen daily is a must for many different reasons.
As with any other product, your final goal is to protect your skin! And this is exactly what sunblock does for you. The first and most important reason, as explained by the Skin Cancer Foundation in this article, is that it prevents skin cancer up to 50%. Also, it helps maintain the skin looking young, away from any sun damage.
This is important for people with high sensitivity to the sun, who can get redness, irritation, or dark spots very easily. Besides, some products with active ingredients may cause a rise in this sensitivity. Sunblock will reduce the appearance of these symptoms and help to protect the skin’s natural barrier.
In addition, its correct and constant use will allow your skin to maintain a healthy state and a healthy appearance, as it will delay the appearance of wrinkles and other ageing signs.
What Does SPF Mean on Sunscreen?
The SPF acronym that appears in sunscreen means “Sun Protection Factor”. It comes next to a number, creating labels such as SPF :
- 15 SPF
- 30 SPF
- 50 SPF
- other SPF
They display the rate at which you would have been affected by the sun if you had not used sunblock.
If you use SPF 15 you will be sunburned 15 times slower than if you were not using sunblock. And if you use SPF 30 you will be sunburned 30 times slower. The same is for SPF 50.
What Ingredients Should Sunscreen Have?
Two different types of sunscreen can be found on the market: mineral and chemical sunscreens. In this article by Everyday Health, it can be seen that they work differently, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. This is because they are formulated with different ingredients and components.
If you have decided to use a mineral sunscreen, the most common ingredients that you will need to look for are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. On the other hand, if you are looking for a chemical sunscreen, you should search for ingredients such as
- avobenzone
- octisalate
- homosalate
- octinoxate
- octocrylene
- oxybenzone
How Do You Apply Sunscreen Properly?
One of the biggest problems concerning the use of sunscreen is that people do not apply it correctly. There are three basic concepts that you need to follow when applying it: using the correct amount, reapplying it when necessary, and protecting our skin all the time.
It can be easy to overlook that you are not using enough sunblock, but it is essential to put the correct amount. If you apply a layer that is too thin, you will not have the protection that you expect. You might think that you are secure when the reality is very different.
Similarly, you should always reapply after 2-3 hours to maintain that protection. If you apply it in the morning and then forget about it for the rest of the day you will be risking the condition of your skin.
Lastly, it is crucial to take care of our skin at all times. This includes using sunblock indoors since UV lights get inside through the windows. It also means using it when it is cloudy because even if you do not see the sun, it does not mean that you are protected from its damage.
Can You Apply Sunscreen Over Makeup?
People who wear makeup may be concerned about how to properly apply (and more importantly, reapply) sunscreen. Putting it on top of makeup, especially of foundation, is very difficult, and perhaps that is part of the reason why those who wear makeup tend not to reapply sunblock during the day. Nonetheless, although the regular lotion-like consistencies are difficult to apply in these specific cases, there are other alternatives that you can use.
Some of the best options are using sunscreen powders or mists, and sometimes you can even find setting sprays that contain SPF. Working with them not only will guarantee that your skin is protected from the sun, but it will also be a good way of retouching your makeup to keep it looking flawless.
Sunscreen Disadvantages
Even though using sunscreen is extremely important for the health of our skin, it also has some inconveniences that need to be pointed out.
One of the main reasons why people avoid it is because they feel greasy or sticky when you apply them. It has been reported in cases of people with acne, that it can sometimes cause worse breakouts or even some allergic reactions.
Also, if you wear sunblock constantly, you will run out of it quickly, which means you will need to buy more, and it can get expensive over time.
Despite those disadvantages, sunscreen should be an essential part of your routine. As its long-term benefits outnumber the possible drawbacks that come with it. The only thing that is left is to look for the one product that works the best for you, the one that makes you feel comfortable. Once you do that, wearing sunscreen will feel like the most natural thing, and it will protect you and protect your skin.
Nonetheless, many of the sunblocks which are produced nowadays contain a mix of both types of ingredients. This makes it quite common to find a combination of the ones listed above in a variety of products.
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