If someone asked us about the single most important thing you should do to keep your skin healthy, radiant, and all-around youthful-looking, we’d scream out loud, ‘‘Wear sunscreen, every day!’’ If you’re one of those people who wants to follow this advice, then we’re giving you a complete lowdown on everything you need to know before buying this beauty essential.
The Complete Guide To Finding The Right Sunscreen For You
Know The Basics
We’ve said it a hundred times, but it bears repeating: sunscreen is an intrinsic part of any skincare regime. It doesn’t just protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays but also helps in tackling pigmentation and premature ageing. Wearing your sunscreen every single day could help you save the money you spend on pigmentation and skin treatments. Yes, you should wear it even when it’s cloudy.
What’s The Deal With SPF?
SPF is the most crucial part when it comes to buying sunscreen. SPF refers to the ability of a sunscreen to block ultraviolet B rays which cause sunburns. Plus, the SPF rating is the measure of the time it would take to get you sunburnt if you were not wearing sunscreen as opposed to the time it would take when you have your sunscreen on. So the higher the SPF, the longer it would take for your skin to develop a sunburn. So if you’re wearing SPF 50, it would take 50 times more time to get burnt than without the sunscreen.
PA+: To Keep Off UVA Rays
PA+ basically refers to the amount of protection grade the sunscreen offers against the harmful UVA rays. From low to extremely high – the rating differs. If you’re buying a sunscreen, anything with PA+++ offers high protection and is good enough.
Broad Spectrum: For Max Protection
As we know there are two types of sun rays i.e., UVA and UVB. UVA rays are responsible for causing age spots and wrinkles while UVB causes burning. Broad-spectrum sunscreens provide protection against both kinds. The measure of UVA is the PA rating that is determined by the plus signs and the UVB is measured in SPF aka sun protection factor.
Non-Comedogenic To Keep Breakouts At Bay
If you’ve acne-prone skin, it’s important to check if the product is non-comedogenic. The term non-comedogenic is labelled on all skincare products that are tested and proven to cause none-to-minimal pore blockage. They are less likely to clog pores, hence resulting in lower chances of breakouts.
Waterproof Vs Water Resistant: What’s The Difference?
Waterproof implies that water does not affect the overall efficacy of your sunscreen while water resistant means that the sunscreen will work for around 40 to 80 minutes post getting wet. However, the truth is sunscreen only protects from the sun for a limited period of time after being exposed to water.
SPF-Infused Makeup: Does It Really Work?
Yes, SPF-infused makeup products are a great addition to your stash. However, the makeup alone won’t be able to stave off the harmful effects of the sun. Why? Because we tend to apply lesser amounts of makeup than the amount of sunscreen we would need for sun protection. Sure, a makeup product with SPF is a great add-on but it’s important to apply a layer of sunscreen underneath your makeup.
Because SPF = BFF!
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