As tired as you might be of hearing it, there is a good reason why dermatologists keep repeating it – you need to wear sunscreen products every single day! Even if it is a cloudy day. Even if you’ll be staying inside and sitting near your office window. Sun’s damaging rays are relentless, ever-present and they are causing your skin to age way faster than it normally would.
But even if you are determined to wear your SPF regularly, finding the right sunscreen can be a challenge. Not only that – many people who wear sunscreen every day do not apply it correctly and their skin doesn’t get the protection it needs.
If you are looking for that balance between the efficiency and a lightweight, invisible feeling of the product, you may want to try out Korean sunscreens. They are currently amongst the best in the world, with many glowing reviews and many happy returning customers.
Keep reading to get some useful advice on how to choose the exact product that would suit you best, as well as for a few tips on how to apply sunscreen for optimal results…
What SPF to Go For?
Many people think that sunscreen SPF value tells how strongly a sunscreen protects the skin against the sun. Which kind of is true, but not exactly.
SPF (sun protection factor) actually only tells you the percentage of UVB rays that your sunscreen is capable to block. 15 is the very minimum, but most dermatologists recommend that you use sunscreen SPF of 30 – 50. According to them, these offer enough protection for you to stay in the sun for longer periods of time, but only if you remember to reapply it every 2 hours when necessary.
You Need a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
Though your SPF number tells you how well your skin is protected against UVBs, it says nothing about UVA rays. And UVA protection is extremely important. Though UVB rays cause sunburns and skin cancer, UVA rays are the ones that cause wrinkles, fine lines, and aging spots.
To make sure your skin stays optimally protected, you need sunscreen products that can shield it against both UVB and UVA. And with Korean best sunscreens, you can control that as well. Korean brands use the PA system, which shows the level of protection the sunscreens offer against UVAs. It goes from one plus, which is just a little protection, to four plusses, which are considered to be extremely strong.
If you look at one of our favorite products, Urban Protective Sun Cream SPF 40 PA++, you can see on the label that it offers SPF of 40 and PA++. This is fairly good protection suitable for everyday use, especially with the fact that Urban Protective Sun Cream is a very lightweight, non-greasy product that is easy to wear and offers additional skin-soothing benefits.
Chemical or Mineral?
Whether a sunscreen is chemical or mineral depends on which sun-protective filters it contains. Mineral sunscreens contain active mineral compounds (most often zinc-oxide or titanium dioxide) that shield your skin by physically deflecting the UV rays. Chemical sunscreens contain chemicals (such as oxybenzone or avobenzone) that chemically transform UV rays into heat.
There is no only one answer to the question of whether you should use chemical or physical sunscreens. But some basic rule says that mineral sunscreens are usually less likely to irritate the skin, but they are the ones that leave that whitish cast. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, are much lighter, but they are more likely to cause irritations.
But the good news is that technology evolves all the time. That is what helps the new generation sunscreens to offer that ultimate protection while keeping the products light and comfortable.
Do You Need A Water Resistant Sunscreen?
Water-resistant sunscreens might be a good option for the days when you know you’ll be sweating a lot. For example, on hot days. Or if you will be working out outdoors.
However, these products are not necessarily the best choice for everyday use. They tend to feel sticky and they don’t go well under makeup. It might be a good idea to purchase both regular and water-resistant sunscreen so that you always have the exact product you need on hand.
Moisturizers And Makeup With SPF Are Not Enough!
These days, you can find a lot of moisturizers, primers, and foundations with SPF 15. Though this form of protection would be a great addition to your sunscreen, it is not enough on its own. On a regular day, you still need that SPF 30 or higher to be optimally protected.
Also, keep in mind that if you apply a moisturizer with SPF 15 and a foundation with SPF 15, that does not mean your skin is protected with SPF 30! You still need a “real” sunscreen product.
How Much To Apply?
Just a thin layer of sunscreen won’t do – you need to apply enough so that it can truly be effective and protect your skin. That means that you should be applying two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin. Which is around 1/2 teaspoon for your face and neck.
Also, don’t forget to apply it to the areas that many people forget, such as your lips, back of your neck, around your eyes, lips, and back of your ears, and the tops of your hands and feet.
Don’t Forget To Reapply
You may have the best intentions when you are getting out of your house, applying your sunscreen thoroughly, and protecting your skin. But, unless you remember to reapply it every two hours, your skin will still be exposed to the harmful UV rays most of the day.
We know it bothersome. And easy to forget at times. But, do try to remember and reapply your sunscreen regularly – the beauty and health of your skin depend on it.
