If you are on a hiking trip, taking long drives, or going to the beach, you should always have sunscreen on and with you. Applying them to your skin should prevent sunburns, and early skin aging, and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
But before snapping up any sunscreen lotion from the store, please first consider the right sunscreen. Here are some helpful tips:
Know your skin type
A rule of thumb before buying sunscreen is to know your skin type. Here are two ways to find out:
Use blotter paper
Place sheets of blotter paper over your cheeks, nose, and forehead. Press them firmly against the skin for a few seconds. Then hold the sheets to the light. If they’re translucent, you have oily skin. If it’s not, then you have dry skin. If one sheet is dry but the other is translucent, you have a combination of dry and oily skin.
The wash-and-dry test
Clean your face using a facial cleanser. Pat your face dry with a clean blanket, and observe for 30 minutes. If you feel tightness around your face after washing, you have dry skin. If your cheeks, nose, or forehead are shiny, you have oily skin. If you have only a shiny forehead and nose, you have a combination of dry and oily skin.
Choose from 2 kinds of sunscreen
Once you know your skin type, you should now choose one of the two kinds of sunscreens available in the market.
Physical sunscreens
Physical sunscreens, or mineral sunscreens, contain minerals that can be layered on top of the skin, creating a barrier that reflects the sun’s rays while keeping the skin hydrated. Physical sunscreens are perfect for those with dry skin as well as those with sensitive skin.
It’s strongly recommended that a non-greasy physical sunscreen that moisturizes, soothes, and nourishes skin be used for water-based activities and for daily use.
Chemical sunscreens
Water-based chemical sunscreens contain organic filters such as octinoxate, oxybenzone, and avobenzone that absorb UV radiation. It also dries quickly, leaving a light feeling on the skin. Chemical sunscreens are suitable for oily skin. However, avoid these sunscreens if you have sensitive skin.
It’s strongly recommended that you use a water-based chemical sunscreen with a quick-absorbing formula offering deep, long-lasting moisture for your skin and protection against skin aging, dryness, and sun damage.
If you have a combination of oily and dry skin, it’s highly recommended that you use sunscreens that hydrate your skin but do not leave a heavy, greasy feeling, which would be a perfect base for your summer makeup.
Sunscreens as part of a bigger skincare regimen
Sunscreens, whether physical or chemical, provide your skin with temporary UV protection. Once you know what sunscreen suits your skin type, you should be able to avoid the risk of getting those nasty, stinging sunburns.
However, you should also adopt other preventive measures to keep your skin healthy and protected all year round. These are: Staying hydrated; staying indoors as much as you can between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; wearing protective clothing and accessories, such as an umbrella, while outdoors, and; installing UV-filtering blinds for your windows.
