How much do you spend on sunscreen vs how much you spend on Botox, fillers, full coverage foundation, concealer, powder, retinoids, anti-aging skin care creams/lotions, toners, eye creams……
Crickets…
Funny that we research and spend thousands trying to cover up or reverse sun damage, but do we wear sunscreen daily…? I mean there is sunscreen in my makeup right….
It would take something crazy like 10-15 pumps of your foundation to give you the SPF protection it claims…..10-15 pumps…… Yeah, no…
Sunscreen should be the most important part of our skin care regimen
It is well known that sunscreen can prevent skin cancer, as well as aging effects from the sun…….This needs repeating….. PREVENTS wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots. THIS my friend is the anti-aging product we should be focusing on!
So it’s time to educate yourself and find what will work for your skin, what you will love, and what you will ACTUALLY WEAR DAILY.
If you love your sunscreen, you will be more likely to wear it.
Sunscreen Terminology
Physical Sunscreen
- Zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide- this is what makes it white. However newer sunscreens no longer give that white cast
- You can get clear, tinted, matte, etc and not look like you just put Bullfrog all over your face.
- Physical sunscreens are also called mineral sunscreens.
- Physical sunscreens sit on top of your skin and deflect the sun rays off of your skin like a shield.
- Better for sensitive skin.
- Preferred sunscreen for children (6 months or older).
Chemical Sunscreen
- These are absorbed into the skin (rather than sitting on top like physical sunscreens).
- Allows sun rays to be absorbed then converted into heat.
- Ingredients like oxybenzone, avobenzone, or octinoxate. (Note that some people may have irritation with these.)
- Since it absorbs into the skin, more lightweight.
- Typically found in cosmetics.
SPF
- Sun Protection Factor
- Look for 30 or above (SPF 30 blocks about 97% of sun rays. SPF 50 blocks about 98%. With only a 1% difference, SPF 30 is really all you need).
Broad Spectrum
- Ability to protect against both UVA (aging sun rays) and UVB (burning sun rays).
- Both of these can cause skin cancer, burns, dark spots, wrinkles/fine lines, etc.
- Not all sunscreens are broad spectrum, so this is important to look for.
- Zinc oxide is an ingredient capable of protecting against both UVA/UVB.
Remember: UVA rays (“aging” sun rays) pass through windows. This means you can get wrinkles from inside your car or house! UVB rays (the sun “burn” rays) are blocked by glass.
UVA rays (“aging” sun rays) pass through windows
Recommendations
1. Elta MD
Probably the number 1 most popular, most recommended sunscreen on the market. So obviously I had to try it.
And I love it. There are tons of options including dry skin, sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, tinted, clear….the list goes on. And I hear they are all great.
I use the above sheer and lightweight moisturizing one for “normal, combo, or post-procedure skin” with transparent zinc oxide. This has recently replaced my (beloved) cerave moisturizer in the mornings and my makeup does great. (However if you are going to use both, apply the sunscreen as the last step before makeup.)
It’s SPF 40, fragrance free, paraban free, noncomdegenic (doesn’t clog pores), sensitivity free, contains hyaluronic acid……yeah…..kind of hard to beat this one so I’ve stuck with it.
2. Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment
This stuff is expensive. I got a tiny sample jar last year off Amazon just to try it (and I still use that same bottle….a little goes a long way!).
Y’all…. worth every penny. If anyone ever finds a dupe for this, let me know because otherwise I’ll keep breaking the bank with this one (but hey…..it’s cheaper than botox!).
This stuff is green, but goes on neutral and matte. I don’t typically wear this under makeup. This is for my “no makeup days”. (Honestly I probably wouldn’t have “no makeup day” outings if it weren’t for this stuff.) It corrects redness……..whatever it does, it looks like I’m walking around with a snapchat filter all day. It completely evens out my skin tone.
It’s SPF 30 and is a physical sunscreen with both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
…which is all great…..but even if this was just a tube of lard or dog poop, I would still wear it on my “no makeup days” for its “snapchat filter” effects.
3. Cerave
It wouldn’t be a proper skin care post if I didn’t mention Cerave. I use the invisible zinc, lightweight, oil-free, SPF 50 sunscreen.
The great thing about Cerave is that it contains ceramides (part of what makes up our protective moisture barrier). This also contains niacinamide which helps with whitening/brightening and soothing out redness.
Some people are sensitive to Niacinamide. I break out with Cerave’s AM lotion which contains this ingredient (and I initially blamed niacinamide), but I haven’t had issues with the sunscreen. So you may want to patch test it before using full force.
This is more my beach day, pool day, sweaty, and/or swimming sunscreen. It’s a physical sunscreen with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. It is water resistant. It does feels heavy and has a white cast, so I don’t prefer to use this under my makeup. However it is somewhat matte, which I like. This is my go-to “enjoying the summer sun day” sunscreen!
Sunscreen FYIs
Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen. We need about a shot glass size (1oz) to cover our bodies.
Apply 15 minutes prior to sun exposure.
Reapply every 2 hours. If swimming/sweating, reapply immediately after.
Don’t forget your lips!
Or your scalp!
If no expiration date, most are good for about 3 years.
If you are using any actives (retinA, salicylic acid, etc), be extra diligent about using sunscreen.
Find a sunscreen that you absolutely LOVE and WEAR IT! Decide whether physical vs chemical is best for your skin type. Ensure that it is at least 30 SPF. And put it back on the shelf and walk away if it is not broad spectrum!
And if you still get wrinkles….there’s always Botox. 😉
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