We have a love affair with sunscreen at santāl skin. We always say, give an F, wear SPF. Why? Because if you care at all about preventing aging (and let’s be honest, preventing one of the most common forms of cancer), you need to embrace SPF. Which actually stands for Sun Protection Factor, if you’re wondering.
So what are the rules when it comes to sunscreen? We’ve outlined everything you need to know below:
BROAD SPECTRUM IS KEY.
This means your SPF protects against UVA and UVB ultraviolet exposure. This is important because UVA penetrates deeper into the dermis (the living layer of your skin) and contributes to aging. Things like wrinkles, age spots, uneven skin tone, dullness and sagging skin. UVB on the other hand, has a shorter wavelength and is associated with burning. Neither are good and your skin needs protection from both.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES.
Sunscreens provide protection via two different ways: chemically or physically. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays and dispelling the excess energy as heat in our body. On the other hand, physical sunscreens (sometimes called mineral screens) create a barrier that blocks and reflects UV rays. To find out which type of sunscreen your SPF is, look for the active ingredients. There are many different chemical ingredients, with the most common being: Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Homosalate and Oxtinoxate. On the other hand, there are only two physical ingredients you’ll ever see: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. For some skin issues, one type might be better than the other but truthfully, many sunscreens are formulated using a blend of both chemical and physical ingredients.
SUNSCREEN SHOULD BE WORN DAILY.
We are often asked, “do I really need SPF every day?” We get it; most of us aren’t sitting on a beach every day. In reality though, most sun exposure is actually indirect. It’s when we’re in the car driving, walking our dog, watching our kid’s soccer game, or even sitting by a window and this indirect sun exposure adds up. Commit to wearing your SPF daily. Even if it’s cloudy, snowy, or raining.
LOVE THY SPF.
Seems obvious, but the best sunscreen for you is the one you’ll actually wear. Sunscreen can’t help your cause if you don’t commit to wearing it!
Good thing for you, when it comes to sunscreens, we’ve tried them all! Which is great because you can be confident in knowing we are recommending the best ones for you at santāl skin.