As the days get hotter and the sun is shining in all its summer glory, it’s important to protect your skin. Sun protection is key to keeping your skin looking young and healthy. There are key essential items for any summer holiday, including sunscreen. However, finding the right sunscreen can be tricky because of the many options you have to select from. To help you out, here are six top tips on choosing the right sunscreen for you:
- Opt for a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection.
Does your sunscreen state that it offers broad-spectrum protection? Well, note that there are two types of UV radiation that can potentially harm your skin. The first one is UVA which penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB rays and can cause wrinkling, discoloration, and other signs of aging when left unprotected for a long time. The second one is UVB which can cause sunburn, premature aging, and other skin cancers. To protect your skin from these two types of radiation, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has ingredients like antioxidants or vitamin C as they help neutralize free radicals generated by the sun.
- Select a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
The sun protection factor (SPF) is the measure of how well sunscreen shields your skin from the sun. For instance, if you were to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 20 and stay in the sun for 10 minutes, it would take 20 times longer to burn than without UV protection. The best way to choose a sunscreen is by selecting one that has an SPF of at least 30 or higher. This means that your skin can be protected from the effects of the sun for at least 30 times longer than if you were to be in the sun without protection.
- Look for a waterproof sunscreen.
Are you planning on spending some quality time in the water? If yes, then look for a sunscreen that is waterproof or lasts long when exposed to seawater. You could even go ahead and read the label on the sunscreen and check if it mentions any specific terms for people who plan on spending time in the water. A good example is a sunscreen that says “water-resistant” or “very water-resistant.” Products that fit this description can stay effective even when you’re in the water, though they may have to be applied more frequently as opposed to regular sunscreens.
- Avoid sunscreen with toxic ingredients.
Many sunscreen products contain ingredients that are potentially harmful to the skin. Examples of such ingredients include parabens, retinyl palmitate, homosalate, octinoxate, and oxybenzone. These chemicals have been linked to health conditions like allergic reactions, hormone disruption, and even cancer when they seep into your body through your skin. This is one reason why it’s important to choose a sunscreen that is free of toxic ingredients.
- Opt for a sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Another important thing to look for is the active ingredients that are in your sunscreen. For instance, many sunscreens rely on chemicals with a high SPF whereas there are others that use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as their main active ingredient. Both of these inactive ingredients have been shown to effectively block your skin from a large portion of the sun’s harmful UV rays. As such, when choosing a product with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as its primary ingredient.
- Check the expiration date of your sunscreen.
While it’s important to protect yourself from the sun each and every day, not all products can deliver a high level of protection for as long as you need them to. A good example is a sunscreen that has an expiration date within two years of its production. As such, it’s always good to check the expiration date of any sunscreen product that you plan on using. This will ensure that your skin is well-protected from harmful UV rays throughout the whole day. Simply put, if a certain sunscreen has expired, don’t use it!
Conclusion
As you can see, it is easy to find a great sunscreen that’s right for you. All you have to do is think about your unique preferences and the kinds of activities that you enjoy each day during summertime. From there, it won’t be hard to find a quality product that will help provide your skin with the protection that it needs.
