The sound of the waves crashing the beach, indulging in adventurous water sports, working on them vacay tan lines, sitting under a giant umbrella sipping on a cold beverage–ah, isn’t that what summer is all about? Well, 2020 disagrees. But if this is the only scenario that makes you reach for a sun-block, I’m afraid to break it to you, ladies, but you’ve been doing summer (and skincare) all wrong.
The sun can harm us in more than one way, at more than one location. Did you know that wearing sunscreen is important every day, even as we work from home, to protect from the harmful rays emitted by laptops and mobile phones? Think of it as a protective screen from all your screens. And with the screen time multiplied manifolds, thanks for home quarantine, the importance of SPF cannot be emphasised enough. If you haven’t been already, it’s about time you pay a daily visit to your sunscreen, just as you do to your moisturiser, and make SPF your BFF.
But with an overwhelming number of options available in the market, how to choose the right one for you? Read on to find out!
Also Read: Importance of Sunscreen
How To Choose The Right Sunscreen For You
Along with moisturizer, you need to slather sunscreen all over the body even if your moisturizer claims that it has SPF or sun-protecting agents in it. A sunscreen’s consistency is thicker than that of a moisturizer and it contains the required UVA and UVB protection which a body lotion doesn’t. After all, it is the damn Ultraviolet A and B rays that are responsible for sun-related skin issues such as ageing, sunspots, and sunburns. So, here’s how to choose the perfect sunscreen for you.
Know Your Skin Type
What is your skin type? Is it oily, dry or sensitive? The first step is to know your skin type and buy products that are suitable to it. Here’s how you can find the perfect sunscreen according to your skin type:
Oily skin: Look for a sunscreen that is marked ‘non-comedogenic’ as those are specifically formulated to not cause clogging of pores. If you’re acne-prone too, this will do the job the best.
Dry skin: If you have dry or flaky skin, look for a sunscreen with hydrating or moisturizing properties such as in ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It’ll not only protect you from the sun but also keep dryness at bay.
Sensitive skin: If you have sensitive skin, use mineral-based sunscreens which include titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide as these will not sting you.
Can We Apply Talcum Powder After Sunscreen
Look For Broad Spectrum
Look for a sunscreen that has ‘broad spectrum’ written on its label. This implies it will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. As mentioned earlier, the UV rays are responsible for skin woes such as wrinkles, sunspots, sunburns, and even allergies in some cases. The pluses in the front define how broad is the sunscreen’s broad spectrum such as ++ or +++.
Pay Attention To SPF
If you have no clue why SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is important, allow me to put some light on it. SPF is a measure of how much UVB can be filtered out. We suggest using a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 or higher. But remember, no sunscreen in the world is enough to protect us from the sun’s wrath. It’s advised to reapply it after every few hours to stay protected at all times.
What’s The Best Type Of Sunscreen?
As long as your beloved sunscreen is doing the job for you, it doesn’t matter what type of sunscreen you should be favouring. There are a plethora of options when it comes to different types of sunscreens, based on the formulas, such as gels, lotions, sprays, and even sunscreen pills. The thing to remember here is–a sunscreen is only effective if you use it right and reapply it every couple of hours. As for the formula, you can pick whichever one you prefer.
Also Read: Waterproof and water resistant sunscreens
Have a beautiful (read protective) sunny day ahead!
Read More –
How to Apply Sunscreen in Hindi
How to apply sunscreen on face
Difference between Sunscreen and Sunblock
Featured Image: Pexels
