- What to evaluate in sunscreen
- Is it necessary to apply lip balm?
- When to apply the protector
- How Sunscreen Works
Sunscreen is a very important part of daily skin care as it helps to protect against the ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the sun. Although these types of rays reach the skin more easily when it is in the sun, the truth is that the skin is in constant exposure, even if indirectly, through the windows of the house or the car, for example.
Even on cloudy days, when the sun is not strong, more than half of the UV rays manage to pass through the atmosphere and reach the skin, causing the same type of injuries that they would cause on a clear day. Thus, the ideal is to use sunscreen daily, especially on parts of the body that are not covered by clothing.
One of those parts is the face. That's because, unless you wear a hat all the time, your face is the part of the body that is most often exposed to UV rays, which not only increases the risk of skin cancer, but also ages the skin, leaving it drier, rough and wrinkled. Thus, knowing how to choose a sunscreen for your face, and using it every day is very important for your skin's health.
What to evaluate in sunscreen
The first characteristic that should be evaluated in a protector is its sun protection factor, also known as SPF. This value indicates the potency of the protector, which must be greater for the face than for the rest of the body, since the skin is more sensitive.
According to several skin cancer and dermatology organizations, the SPF of the face protector should not be less than 30, and this value is indicated for darker skinned people. For people with lighter skin, the ideal is to use an SPF of 40 or 50.
In addition to the SPF, it is important to pay attention to other factors of the cream such as:
- It must contain more natural ingredients, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, than chemical components, such as oxybenzone or octocrylene; Have broad spectrum protection, that is, protect against both UVA and UVB rays; Be non-comedogenic, especially in the case of people with acne or easily irritable skin, as it prevents the pores from becoming clogged; It must be thicker than the body protector, to create a greater barrier on the skin and not be easily removed by sweat.
This type of characteristics can be observed in the main brands of sunscreen on the market, but there are also several moisturizing face creams that contain SPF, which can be a good substitute for sunscreen. However, when the day cream does not contain SPF, you must first apply the moisturizer and then wait at least 20 minutes before applying the facial sunscreen.
It is also very important not to use sunscreens after the expiration date, since, in these cases, the protection factor is not ensuring, and may not protect the skin properly.
Is it necessary to apply lip balm?
Facial sunscreen should be applied to the entire skin of the face, but should be avoided over the most sensitive areas such as eyes and lips. In these places, you should also use your own products, such as solar lip balm and SPF eye cream.
When to apply the protector
Face sunscreen should be applied early in the morning and, ideally, 20 to 30 minutes before leaving the house, so that it can be absorbed properly before exposing the skin to the sun.
In addition, whenever possible, reapply the protector every two hours or whenever you dive into the sea or pool. On a daily basis, and since it can be complicated to apply sunscreen so often, care should be taken with UV exposure, such as wearing a hat and avoiding the hottest hours, between 10 am and 10 am 4 pm
How Sunscreen Works
The sunscreen can use two types of ingredients to protect the skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays. The first type is the ingredients that reflect these rays, preventing them from reaching the skin, and include zinc oxide and titanium oxide, for example. The second type is the ingredients that absorb these UV rays, preventing them from being absorbed by the skin, and here are included substances such as oxybenzone or octocrylene.
Some sunscreens may contain only one type of these substances, but most contain a mixture of both, to provide extra protection. Still, the use of a product with only one type of these substances is perfectly safe against injuries from UV rays.
