What types of skincare products with SPF are available? Do they make the grade? It is important to be safe in the sun. Whether you are enjoying a sunny day or driving to and from work, the sun can be damaging to your skin. You should always use products with SPF ratings to protect your skin from sunburn and anti-aging.
SPF is the Sun Protection Factor. This number let’s you know how effective the sunscreen will be at protecting you from the sun’s damaging rays. Higher SPF ratings protect your skin against UVB radiation.
Many people mistakenly take the SPF ratings to mean how long they can stay on the sun. However, SPF ratings do not reflect how long you can be exposed to the sun. They are an indicator of sun exposure. Your skin absorbs energy from the sun. This can be affected by the time of day, skin type, sunscreen, and other factors.
The latest sunscreens protect against a broad spectrum – UVB/UVA rays. UVB rays are the rays that cause sunburn and lead to skin cancer. These rays were the original ones targeted by SPF products. Many products now consider UVA rays because of the aging effects it has on the skin.
Benefits of Products Containing SPF
Daily use of anti-aging products and other beauty products containing SPF is as important as using a sunscreen every day. It will decrease your chances of skin cancer in the future. This only holds true if you are using the correct SPF for your skin type. Fair skin individuals will need higher SPFs such as 30 while darker skin people can use an SPF 15.
Moisturizers containing SPF are an excellent choice to keep your skin radiant. The SPF combined with the moisturizer gives you an extra layer of protection and will help in the prevention of such skin problems as sun spots. It will give needed moisture to your skin and lessen the appearance of wrinkles and age spots.
Individuals with oily skin shy away from SPF products. In the past, products containing sunscreen have caused their faces to breakout. Today, new products are available that are gentle to the skin and non-oily. They do not clog the pores and do not cause breakouts. If you have oily skin, look at product labels for a non-comedogenic sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF.
Sun Protection Everyday
Protecting your skin from the sun does not mean having to applying thick and heavy creams to your face and body every morning. In fact, you can get excellent everyday protection from your cosmetics.3
Your skin ages every time it is exposed to the sun: driving to your child’s school, enjoying a day at the beach, even sitting by a sunny window. Everyday sun exposure adds up. It causes your skin to age and get wrinkles. It may get a leathery appearance. Most damaging, you may develop skin cancer from sun exposure.
One of the best products for everyday sun protection is a moisturizer containing SPF. Choose a moisturizer labeled broad spectrum that protects against UVA/UVB rays. You will find the following ingredients in some moisturizers: zinc oxide, Parsol 1789, ecamsule, octocrylene, and avobenzone.4
Parsol 1789 is a sunscreen agent that blocks a broad range spectrum of UV rays. It is highly recommended for people with fair skin or who are outdoors a lot. It will help minimize the effects of aging and sunlight.
Special eye creams are available for the delicate eye area that contain SPF. This area is very susceptible to sun damage and you should apply eye cream with SPF every morning.
Foundation offers another level of defense against the damaging rays of the sun. Choose a foundation with an SPF that suits your skin type. Foundations are normally available with SPF 8 to SPF 30. Top off your foundation with powder with SPF protection. The powder has pigmented talc particles that offer their own protection and it also helps set the foundation and moisturizer – keeping it put during the day.5
Lips are another area that need constant vigilance. Your lips have very little melanin and you must protect them with SPF containing products. You can choose lipsticks with SPF or, if you do not like color, a lip balm with SPF. The average rating for a lipstick with SPF is 15. There are numerous new glosses with SPF that glide on easily.
Don’t Overdo It
With so many protective products available there may be a tendency to overdo! The products are packaged in lovely boxes and claim to accomplish magical results. Let’s get real. Skin care products containing SPF are your best line of defense against skin cancer. They offer some anti-aging benefits. Beyond that, the results depend on your skin type and how you use the product.
In order to purchase the correct regime of products you have to know your skin. You skin will change as you age. It will change with the seasons. If you have dry skin in the winter it may become oiler in the summer when the weather becomes more humid.
The products you use must also work with any medicines you take or any medical conditions you have. Some medications you take may raise your sensitivity to the sun. If this occurs you will need to use more protection when going outside.
References
1 Best Sunscreen: Understand sunscreen options. (2011). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved at: www.mayoclinic.com/health/best-sunscreen/MY01350
2 Ibid
3 Sun Protection and Makeup. (2011). The Cancer Foundation:
www.skincancer.org/sun-protection-and-makeup.html
4 Sunscreen shopping tips.(2011).Mayo Clinic. Retrieved at:
www.mayoclinic.com/health/health-tip/HT00483
5 Sun Protection and Makeup. (2011). The Cancer Foundation:
www.skincancer.org/sun-protection-and-makeup.html
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