"Always wear your sunscreen!" "Don't forget to reapply it every now and then" We have all read this innumerable times in articles and blogs. But have you ever paused to consider why using sunscreen is so crucial? The saying "Less is more" can never be applied to sunscreen. Without this essential item, your skincare routine would be incomplete.
What Is Sunscreen?
Sunscreens are used to shield the skin from the sun's damaging rays. They aid in avoiding sunburn and early ageing. Sunscreens also aid in lowering the risk of skin cancer and skin responses similar to sunburn brought on by some drugs. Sunscreens' active chemicals either absorb ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, keeping it from penetrating the skin's deeper layers, or they reflect it. There are plenty of sunscreens available in the market in the form of Gel, sticks, creams, and lotions.
What Is SPF?
SPF means Sun Protection Factor. It is a unit of measurement of the protection you get from the sun’s UVB rays. The higher the SPF, the better the protection you get. The SPF 15 gives about 93% protection from the sun while SPF 50 can give up to 98% protection from the sun rays. It is recommended to choose sunscreens with SPF 30-50 or higher.
Do note that no sunscreen can provide a hundred per cent protection from the sun’s rays. For complete protection, you need a lot more than sunscreen, keep on reading to know about it.
SPF is the measure of the amount of solar energy that can burn the protected skin. The SPF wears out approximately after every 3-4 hours at most and hence one must reapply the sunscreen accordingly. The amount of sun exposure varies at different times of the day. Usually, the sun exposure is the highest around midday. Thus, a high SPF sunscreen is the safest choice during this time of the day.
What Does Broad Spectrum Mean?
Different types of sun rays reach the earth and among these, UVA and UVB are the primary causes of skin damage. While the former causes skin aging, the latter leads to sunburns. When you buy a broad-spectrum sunscreen, it gives you protection against both types of sun exposure. It is elemental to choose a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection so that your skin experiences optimum protection from all types of sun damage.
Broad-spectrum sunscreen is designed to ensure absolute protection. Sunscreen which provides broad-spectrum protection comes with PA or Protection Grade which is specifically meant for UVA Protection. PA+ to PA++++ indicate the different levels of protection you get from sunscreen.
Choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen is especially necessary for equatorial regions or wherever the sunlight exposure is the highest. Moreover, it has been witnessed that fair-skinned people are more vulnerable to sun damage which calls for high-quality broad-spectrum sunscreen usage.
What Are The Different Types Of Sunscreen?
Unarguably, sunscreen is a quintessential product when it comes to skincare. We all love to be out in the sun, but the harmful UV rays can be damaging to our skin. That is when sunscreen comes to the rescue, as it shields our skin against tanning, pigmentation, and premature aging. In particular, there are two types of sunscreens available in the market namely, mineral and chemical sunscreen.
What Is Mineral Sunscreen?
The mineral or otherwise known as physical sunscreens settles on the skin's topmost layer and blocks the UV rays directly at the surface. They work by making the sun’s rays bounce back in the air. They contain ingredients such as titanium and zinc oxide to facilitate the same. Since most physical sunscreens leave a white cast, they might not flatter deeper/dusky skin tones.
Usually, mineral sunscreens have a thicker texture and accentuate the parts of the skin wherever it is applied or reapplied. It has also been noticed that their effectiveness in combating UVA rays is comparatively lesser than other types of sunscreen. Above all, the mineral sunscreens might not suit the oily and acne-prone complexions due to the creamy finish.
What Is Chemical Sunscreen?
The chemical sunscreens are made with ingredients such as avobenzone, octocrylene, oxybenzone, octisalate, octinoxate, or homosalate. These ingredients aid the sunscreen to work as a sponge and absorb the sun rays. They then convert the UV rays into heat and give it out from the body so they don’t harm our skin.
Notably, the texture and consistency of the chemical sunscreens are clear and lightweight, which makes them suitable for all skin types. Besides, they offer superior protection against UVA and UVB rays and do not require reapplication in shorter intervals.
What Is The Difference Between Mineral And Chemical Sunscreen?
There are a few factors that differentiate mineral and chemical sunscreen. They are listed below:
Protection Tactic: The mineral sunscreen works as a reflector, thus forming a shield or a layer on the skin. On the contrary, a chemical sunscreen effectively absorbs the UV rays, converting them into heat and releasing it from the body.
Consistency: There is a considerable variation between the consistencies of mineral and chemical sunscreens. The former has a creamy thick texture, whereas the latter has a gel-like clear consistency that feels airy-light on the skin.
Suitability: The mineral sunscreens tend to leave a white cast on the complexion due to their denser texture. Hence, they might not blend properly with the skin or they are difficult to reapply. Conversely, the chemical sunscreens are non-sticky and lightweight, making them ideal for daily use. If you have acne-prone, sensitive, or oily skin, the chemicals sunscreens will work well as they do not clog pores.
If you’re looking to incorporate chemical sunscreen into your routine, check out Foxtale’s Cover-Up Sunscreen. It has an SPF of 50+, is a broad spectrum, and PA++++ which makes it suitable for everyday wear. It applies beautifully to the skin and gets absorbed in a few moments, leaving a dewy finish. It’s a boon for dry skin beauties!
What Are The Benefits Of Sunscreen?
1. Avoid sunburning
If you don't wear sunscreen, you run a greater risk of being sunburned. Continuous sun exposure can be quite harmful to your health. This includes skin cancer, early ageing, and a variety of other skin conditions.
2. Tackle the signs of ageing
Your elastin, collagen, and skin cells can become damaged from repeated sun exposure with little to no protection. This can eventually result in early ageing symptoms such as discoloration, wrinkles, fine lines, and a leathery appearance. People who spend time in the sun without protection are more likely to experience photoaging or premature ageing. Thankfully, consistent sunscreen use can avoid these skin problems.
3. Decreases Inflammation
Our skin can become painfully red and swollen when exposed to UV light. For people with skin conditions like psoriasis or rosacea, this can be particularly difficult. Daily use of sunscreen helps to reduce the risk of inflammation brought on by UV rays. Look for a sunscreen with soothing chemicals like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide if you have delicate skin that is prone to redness. Additionally, you should stay away from spray-on sunscreens because they may have harsh ingredients like alcohol that can dry out your skin.
4. Minimize Skin Discoloration
Living with skin discoloration can be challenging, particularly when it develops later in life. These discolored spots, which are often tan to brown in hue, are also known as "sun spots" or "liver spots." Both men and women are susceptible to them, and they frequently manifest on the face, head, hands, and arms. Applying sunscreen frequently throughout the day can aid in preventing the development of these spots on your skin.
How Should You Apply Sunscreen?
1. Apply enough sunscreen-
The recommended amount of sunscreen for your face to receive the best protection is three fingers' worth. Your skin should be fully covered with sunscreen.
2. Spread it evenly-
Apply sunscreen in small dots to your face rather than squeezing a big blob over your hands. This method speeds up and evens out the absorption.
3. Apply your moisturizer after applying your sunscreen-
It's best to apply it properly on clean, dry skin. If you use a zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sunscreen, this is less significant.
4. Always use your sunscreen-
It is believed that sun exposure can occur in most of our mundane activities like sitting by your window.
When Should You Apply Sunscreen?
Applying sunscreen is the final stage of your daily skincare routine before starting any makeup application is a crucial step in making sure you're properly protected from damaging UV radiation.
Apply your sunscreen liberally after washing your face in the morning and before using any skin care products, such as toners, serums, moisturizers, or oils. In the same way that you wait for the first layer of nail paint to dry before applying a second coat to ensure it sets well, sunscreen should also be given some time to settle on your face before applying makeup. Give your sunscreen at least two minutes to absorb into your skin before doing any makeup on top of it. During this period, refrain from touching your face.
Who Should Wear Sunscreen?
By now, we all have understood the importance of wearing sunscreen and the side effects of not wearing sunscreen. But the question is, who should wear it? So, anyone who is under the sun or has direct contact with sunlight must wear sunscreen. This makes it pretty obvious for anyone outdoors to wear sunscreen and also for someone who stays indoors and has a window nearby from where direct sunlight hits you.
How Often Should I Reapply Sunscreen And How?
When you are in the sun for a long time, it is essential to reapply your sunscreen every 2-3 hours. This makes sure you are well-protected from the harmful rays of the sun. Sunscreens fight the UV rays constantly and this makes them break down over time which is why reapplying them is important. If you don’t have any makeup on, reapplying with a good, easily blendable sunscreen is a piece of cake. However, if you have your full-glam makeup on, it is a little difficult to reapply sunscreen. So, what can you do?
One of the easiest ways to reapply sunscreen over makeup is by using spray sunscreen all over. This way neither your makeup gets disturbed, nor is any inconvenience caused. But if you don’t have spray sunscreen, just take some of your lotion-based sunscreen (much more than you usually do) and apply it with your beauty/makeup sponge.
Busting Myths About Sunscreen
Myth 1: People with darker skin tones don’t need to wear Sunscreen
Sunscreen is the single most important product in your skincare routine; it is a game-changer for everybody, no matter your skin tone. However, people still believe that sunscreen is only for fair skin and not dark skin. They believe that dark skin has melanin that is enough to protect someone from the UV rays which is a myth.
Fact: The fact is that although melanin does provide natural protection to some extent, it is not sufficient to prevent the damage and you might still have sunburns. Moreover, UVA rays which are the major cause of wrinkles and premature aging, cannot be blocked by melanin.
Myth 2: You only need to wear SPF when you are outside
One of the myths that disturb us the most is that people believe it is not necessary to wear sunscreen when at home. Since they are not under the sun, they don't need to protect themselves from its rays.
Fact: The truth is, if you stay at a home where you have windows or open gates, from where the sun’s rays enter inside, you need to wear your sunscreen. UVA and UVB rays can easily penetrate glass windows and you do need to wear sunscreen. If you stay in a room for hours from where no sunlight enters, you can choose to avoid it.
Myth 3: I don’t need Sunscreen because my makeup contains SPF.
In order to get enough protection from the sun, experts and dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when indoors and SPF 50+ when outdoors. It has been observed that most makeup products offer up to an SPF of 15 only. Yet, people believe that makeup with SPF is enough for wide protection.
Fact: You need at least half a teaspoon worth of sunscreen in one application to completely cover your face and neck and protect it from the UV rays. Even if your makeup has SPF 50, this is not the quantity that you use while applying it. We use makeup in small amounts but SPF has to be applied in much more amounts to ensure maximum protection.
Myth 4: Sunscreen should be applied only once a day.
Fact: Your moisturizer might last for 6 hours, but your sunscreen only lasts for a couple of hours if you’re outdoors. Hence, reapplication becomes necessary to maintain your skin’s health. Reapplying your sunscreen every 2-3 hours is a good idea as sunscreen breaks down in sunlight and loses its effectiveness, leaving you prone to all the side effects of not wearing it.
Myth 5: Sunscreen provides 100% protection against UV rays.
People believe that wearing sunscreen is enough to protect themselves completely from the UV rays. They believe that it gives them 100% protection against the rays. Even our atmosphere (the ozone layer, known as the Earth’s shield) is unable to protect us from the UV rays completely. How could one think about sunscreen giving us 100% protection from the UV rays?
Fact: No amount of sunscreen can shield us completely; sun protection is a lot more than just wearing sunscreen. Whenever you step outside, make sure to apply your sunscreen 20 minutes before, wear a hat, a scarf, long sleeves clothing, or hand gloves, and your shades to be on the safer side.
Hopefully, by now, we’ve made you realize how important sunscreen is in your skincare routine. Now every time you head out, don’t forget to carry it with you so that you can enjoy being in the sun at the beach and not worry about its harmful effects. Remember, when you Cover-Up, you #SayHiToHappySkin!
The Conclusion
The bottom line is that the sooner you include sunscreen in your routine, the better it is for your skin in the long term. Follow a proper sunscreen routine . The secret- you need to reapply it every two hours, particularly after activities like swimming. But one needs to be careful of how often they go outside. Mere activities like a brief lunchtime stroll could be harmful to your skin. Ensure to carry your sunscreen with you at all times. When feasible, seek out shade and put on wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, or other protective apparel
