Not all sunscreens are created equal. Learn what works and what doesn’t.
In Arizona, we wake up to sunny skies almost year round, so we have quite a constant reminder that every day is a day to apply sunscreen. But the truth is, sunny skies or not, sunscreen application SHOULD be a part of your daily morning routine regardless of whether you live in a predominately sunny or cloudy region of the country. While clouds can reduce some of the sun’s UV rays, they don’t block them. This leaves our skin vulnerable to sun damage (such as brown spots and wrinkles), collagen breakdown, and deadly skin cancers. UVA rays can penetrate clouds, and they can also reach below the water’s surface. Pretty fascinating huh? It shows just how strong those rays are!
UVB rays are responsible for producing a sunburn. The UVB rays also play the greatest role in causing skin cancers, including the deadly black mole form of skin cancer (malignant melanoma).
UVA rays also play a role in skin cancer formation. UVA rays also penetrate more deeply into the skin.
These are the rays that play a large role in premature aging and wrinkles, otherwise known as photo-aging. And here is an interesting fact: There are about 500 times more UVA rays in sunlight than UVB rays.
Traditional sunscreen is more successful at blocking UVB rays than UVA rays.
Let’s talk SPF. Do high SPF sunscreens last all day!?
An SPF (Sun Protective Factor) of 70, or even 100, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s got you covered all day long. SPF numbers are based on how much the specific sunscreen will block UVB rays from damaging your skin over a period of two hours. So regardless of the SPF number, you need to reapply every two hours. Purchase a sunscreen that says ‘Broad Spectrum’ on the label. It will protect you from UVA and UVB rays.
So what SPF should I opt for?
A sunscreen’s SPF doesn’t necessarily need to be at the highest level to be effective. Most often, I see patients either using a high SPF once a day and thinking they don’t need to reapply, or they reapply a layer that is too thin. Anything above 30-50 that is applied regularly is just as good as one with a higher SPF.
Chemical Sunscreen vs Physical Sunscreen
Chemical sunscreen absorbs into the skin and then absorbs UV rays, converts the rays into heat, and releases them from the body. The active ingredients in chemical sunscreens include avobenzone, octinoxate and oxybenzone. Physical sunblock, such as zinc oxide, sits on top of the skin and reflects the sun’s rays. These are mineral-based sunscreens and do not contain any chemicals.
So what kind of sunscreen should I use?!
At DermaPrecision, we are big fans of physical mineral-based sunscreens. So let’s talk about physical sunscreen first!
Physical sunscreen, also known as mineral sunscreen, helps ward off those UVA rays we mentioned earlier. They also help ward off the rays that can come in through windows while driving and can cause pigmentation and the breakdown of collagen.
The ingredients in most of these sunscreens are zinc oxide and titanium oxide, and both ingredients are safe and effective. These ingredients are very safe for all skin types – including our children and babies. Most importantly, they provide the most broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays.
The only downside is they sometimes have a white sheen to them and can be hard to rub in. Fortunately for you – we carry Colorescience No-Show sunscreen – that does not! We also have tinted options for that makeup-alternative with sun protection. Colorescience gives your skin a beautiful look and feel as well!
Now let’s talk about Chemical Sunscreen.
Chemical sunscreens do not sit on the skin or block rays. Instead, they feature active ingredients that absorb UV rays before your skin can soak them up. These chemical UV filters include:
- oxybenzone
- avobenzone
- octisalate
- octocrylene
- homosalate
- octinoxate
But here is the downside, they are called chemical sunscreens for a reason. In recent years, two ingredients were actually banned. They were
- aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
- trolamine salicylate
In 2020, it was found that 6 of 12 active ingredients currently under study by the FDA enter the bloodstream after just one application. These ingredients remain detectable in the blood and on the skin up to 3 weeks later, but they were at concentrations passing the threshold where the FDA considered waiving additional safety trials.
When it comes to sunscreen, either option is better than nothing. But I do love a mineral sunscreen because chemicals on the body and into the blood stream can be avoided when opting for one versus the other.
In my practice, I recommend Colorescience products to all of my patients, because there truly is something for everyone in the line. Options include broad spectrum sunscreens formulated with zinc oxide. This line feels weightless on the skin, and it’s great for all skin types. It is non-comedogenic, sensitivity-free, fragrance-free and paraben-free. It’s SPF for everybody, every day. From sunlight, to pollution, to free radicals, this physical sunscreen line goes way beyond UV.
Let’s touch on a few of my favorites.
Colorescience Face Shield FLEX SPF 50– FLEX is a lightweight mineral sunscreen with tinted color coverage that immediately evens skin tone for a flawless look. It’s a hydrating, antioxidant-rich all-mineral formula that has innovative, iron oxide pigments that develop into a skin pigment matching shade when applied on to the skin.
Colorescience No Show Mineral Sunscreen SPF50- This product is the sheerest-of-the-sheer, all-mineral sunscreen that blends into skin so beautifully you’ll forget it’s there. Its ultra-lightweight formula combines leaves skin feeling velvety soft while protecting from UVA/UVB rays, blue light, infrared light, free radicals, and pollution.
Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush on Shield SPF50- This all-mineral powder sunscreen provides complete protection in one easy to apply and reapply, on-the-go brush. Wear this powder alone or over makeup for daily SPF 50 protection. Plus, it’s water- and sweat-resistant up to 80 minutes and goes beyond UV with blue light, pollution, and infrared defense against premature signs of aging and skin damage.
Colorescience Total Eye SPF 35- One of my favorite products is Total Eye! This 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy with SPF 35 visibly improves the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles while protecting the delicate eye area against photoaging with 100% SPF 35 mineral sunscreen.
So here’s to sunshine and skin protection! You can have both, just make sure you are choosing the best products to protect your beautiful skin and keep you looking and feeling beautiful!
Until next time,
Christina
Always here to help you enhance your inner radiance.
