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When buying sunscreen, don't forget to check the labels on your sun-protection! SPF must be above 15, with ONE of the following ACTIVE INGREDIENTS, and that meaning they should be at the top of the ingredient list, or over 2% in concentration.
Active Ingredients
Also, don't buy expensive sunscreens (above 20US dollars a bottle) unless you can feel comfortable about applying it freely, frequently, and generously. Sunscreens only provide the protection indicated on the packaging when you apply it heavily, generously, liberally and repeatedly! In lab tests they use about 2 ounces (whole shot glass) of sunscreen for a whole body application.
Ideal SPF
Go with a Lower SPF number. 15-25 is ideal, giving good protection without exposing the skin to too high a concentration of sunscreen agents, which despite protecting against UV rays, are all irritating chemicals. SPF only means the length of time (not degree) of protection against UVBs, so there is no way of knowing how much protection you are getting against UVAs if you are totally dependent on the SPF number. SPF30 should be the high limit; anything beyond that will discourage reapplication, which is essential to ensure UVA protection. The SPF number only tells you how much UVB protection there is. The active ingredient and its concentration are the only things on the label that can tell you about the product's UVA protection factor.
No Active Ingredient Means Bad Product
Those packaging that say UVA/UVB Broadspectrum Sunblock when the ingredient list doesn't contain one of the above three NECESSARY UVA blockers, ARE NOT PROTECTIVE AGAINST UVA. The label can say that it does, because certain UVB blockers like oxybenzone can block a TINY bit of UVA, and thus they can include it on the packaging. However, MOST OF THE UVA will be UNFILTERED and will enter your cells to wreak havoc if you do not have AVOBENZONE, ZINC OXIDE or TITANIUM DIOXIDE defending your skin.
How to choose between the three?
Avobenzone
It is least greasy (but this doesn't guarantee that the entire product mixture will not be greasy), lightest and most absorbent. It is perfect for cosmetics uses, being completely invisible. However, it is the most reactive of the three chemicals, and reacts with your skin cells to form protective barrier INSIDE your skin, thus some people can be irritated by it. Usually sunscreens with avobenzone should include a lot of anti-irritants, antioxidants and moisturizing agents so that skin can reap the benefit of UVA protection without getting too irritated.
Furthermore, an avobenzone sunscreen MUST be reapplied frequently, because according to several medical studies, avobenzone is photosensitive. It reacts to protect skin, and degrades overtime during exposure to sunlight. Another thing to watch out is that avobenzone does not block UVB. So if you want to avoid tans, burns, freckles, and certain types of skin cancer, you still need to make sure there are UVB ingredients in the sunscreen. If your sunscreen has a SPF number indication, it has UVB ingredients.
Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide
These are generally and mistakenly considered non-reactive and better for sensitive skin. However, they can still be irritating because they are minerals and they actually still react with skin to form an absorbent barrier against UV rays, because this is how sunscreens and sunblocks work. Only old-school, pure, thick, nasty looking zinc oxide pastes block out sun by acting as physical barrier.
Most of the sensitive skin sunscreens on the market rely on ZnO and TO2 for UVA blockage, perhaps because these two minerals are more broadspectrum than avobenzone. ZnO and TO2 can actually protect against both UVA and UVB, thus minimizing the need for potent and irritating UVB chemical sunscreen agents. But be prepared!! mineral based sunscreens are often heavier and denser than avobenzone sunscreens. They could feel oilier and cause breakouts due to tendency to clog up pores, and the less refined, less up-to-date formulations will leave a white cast over your face.
Anti Aging, Anti Inflammatory, and Acne Treatment Skin Care Research by Skin Geek
Active Ingredients
- Avobenzone or Parsol 1987
- Zinc Oxide
- Titanium Dioxide
- Only one or a combination of the the above ingredients in active concentration will give you the minimum protection necessary from broadspectrum UVA radiation. UVA is the UV that causes wrinkles. Without those three ingredients, the sunscreen's SPF only indicates protection against UVB, the UV that causes sunburns and pigment formation.
Also, don't buy expensive sunscreens (above 20US dollars a bottle) unless you can feel comfortable about applying it freely, frequently, and generously. Sunscreens only provide the protection indicated on the packaging when you apply it heavily, generously, liberally and repeatedly! In lab tests they use about 2 ounces (whole shot glass) of sunscreen for a whole body application.
Ideal SPF
Go with a Lower SPF number. 15-25 is ideal, giving good protection without exposing the skin to too high a concentration of sunscreen agents, which despite protecting against UV rays, are all irritating chemicals. SPF only means the length of time (not degree) of protection against UVBs, so there is no way of knowing how much protection you are getting against UVAs if you are totally dependent on the SPF number. SPF30 should be the high limit; anything beyond that will discourage reapplication, which is essential to ensure UVA protection. The SPF number only tells you how much UVB protection there is. The active ingredient and its concentration are the only things on the label that can tell you about the product's UVA protection factor.
No Active Ingredient Means Bad Product
Those packaging that say UVA/UVB Broadspectrum Sunblock when the ingredient list doesn't contain one of the above three NECESSARY UVA blockers, ARE NOT PROTECTIVE AGAINST UVA. The label can say that it does, because certain UVB blockers like oxybenzone can block a TINY bit of UVA, and thus they can include it on the packaging. However, MOST OF THE UVA will be UNFILTERED and will enter your cells to wreak havoc if you do not have AVOBENZONE, ZINC OXIDE or TITANIUM DIOXIDE defending your skin.
How to choose between the three?
Avobenzone
It is least greasy (but this doesn't guarantee that the entire product mixture will not be greasy), lightest and most absorbent. It is perfect for cosmetics uses, being completely invisible. However, it is the most reactive of the three chemicals, and reacts with your skin cells to form protective barrier INSIDE your skin, thus some people can be irritated by it. Usually sunscreens with avobenzone should include a lot of anti-irritants, antioxidants and moisturizing agents so that skin can reap the benefit of UVA protection without getting too irritated.
Furthermore, an avobenzone sunscreen MUST be reapplied frequently, because according to several medical studies, avobenzone is photosensitive. It reacts to protect skin, and degrades overtime during exposure to sunlight. Another thing to watch out is that avobenzone does not block UVB. So if you want to avoid tans, burns, freckles, and certain types of skin cancer, you still need to make sure there are UVB ingredients in the sunscreen. If your sunscreen has a SPF number indication, it has UVB ingredients.
Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide
These are generally and mistakenly considered non-reactive and better for sensitive skin. However, they can still be irritating because they are minerals and they actually still react with skin to form an absorbent barrier against UV rays, because this is how sunscreens and sunblocks work. Only old-school, pure, thick, nasty looking zinc oxide pastes block out sun by acting as physical barrier.
Most of the sensitive skin sunscreens on the market rely on ZnO and TO2 for UVA blockage, perhaps because these two minerals are more broadspectrum than avobenzone. ZnO and TO2 can actually protect against both UVA and UVB, thus minimizing the need for potent and irritating UVB chemical sunscreen agents. But be prepared!! mineral based sunscreens are often heavier and denser than avobenzone sunscreens. They could feel oilier and cause breakouts due to tendency to clog up pores, and the less refined, less up-to-date formulations will leave a white cast over your face.
Anti Aging, Anti Inflammatory, and Acne Treatment Skin Care Research by Skin Geek
