The Best SPF Products For Your Skin Type

Using SPF in your daily skincare routine is the best way to protect your skin from irreversible damage. Even if you aren’t spending the day in the sun, you are likely still getting sun exposure. Think about it: you have natural light coming in through your windows at home or in the car, and if you walk outside for even a few moments you are directly exposed to the sun.

If it’s daytime and you can see outside, it’s because of the sunlight! Even rainy, cloudy, gloomy, winter days are filled with UV rays.

And we all know that we should avoid getting sunburns, not only because they are painful, but because they cause real and lasting damage to the skin.

It’s healthy and natural to have some sun exposure, after all, we need it to create vitamins in our bodies. The problem arises when we have repeated sun exposure, every day, for years. This is when we can see the sun creating hyperpigmentation, wrinkles and fine lines, and in severe cases, cancer.

SPF OPTIONS

There are a few different avenues for blocking the sun’s harmful rays.

For any SPF lotion or skin care product you are choosing, you should look for one that has a minimum of SPF 30 and is broad-spectrum, meaning it blocks both UVA and UVB rays. It’s suggested to use SPF 50 if you plan on being in the sun for more than 3 or so hours, or if you’re going to be in the sun for many days in a row.

If you’re swimming or will be sweating, it’s important to reapply every 2 hours no matter which kind of sunscreen you have in order to ensure continuous protection. You can also look for products that are water-resistant.

If you’re not doing anything in particular, a tinted SPF or a spray you can reapply during the day is beneficial.

Combine more than one UV protection method for the best results!

Mineral SPF

Mineral sunscreens have the active ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect your skin from the sun. These minerals naturally protect against both UVA and UVB, meaning every mineral sunscreen offers broad-spectrum protection.

When you think of mineral sunscreen, you might think of a thick, white, goopy paste that leaves a white layer behind. Thankfully, new formulations of mineral sunscreen are now available which means less or no white tint left behind, as well as good absorption and no sticky, greasy residue.

Mineral products work immediately since they are designed to sit on top of the skin, but it’s best to apply them a few minutes in advance so they can dry before you expose them to water.

Zinc oxide and titanium oxide are not harmful for the body and are less harmful to aquatic environments than the active ingredients in chemical sunscreens.

Chemical SPF

There are many chemicals that can be used to absorb the sun’s rays and transform them into heat within the skin. The most common chemicals used for SPF are avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone.

The chemicals absorb into the skin rather than sitting on top, and they absorb the UV rays before your skin cells do. The absorbed UV energy is converted into heat via a photochemical reaction, which is dispersed through the skin back into the air.

You must apply chemical SPF at least 20 minutes in advance so it can settle into the skin and work properly. You must also reapply every 2 hours because the chemicals in the sunscreen get used up when they create those UV-absorbing reactions.

There is some debate about the safety of some of the active ingredients in a chemical sunscreen. These chemicals can also cause harm to the environment, especially coral reefs. So, if you’re going to be swimming in a natural body of water, you will want to choose a mineral SPF instead.

UPF Clothes, Hats, Parasols, and Sunglasses

Another way of protecting your skin from UV rays is by physically blocking the sun with clothing or shade, which is often forgotten when talking about SPF!

First of all, when talking about clothing, the term UPF, or Ultraviolet Protection Factor, is used rather than SPF.

Like SPF, the higher the rating, the more protective the clothing is. So, look for a UPF of at least 15 for adequate protection.

UPF clothing is made with tighter-woven threads than your average materials so they physically block more sunlight from even reaching the skin. You can buy specially-made UPF clothing, but many items you probably already own will do the trick, too. 

Denim, wool, canvas, and many synthetic materials have a tighter weave than, say cotton. If you can see through the weave, it does not have a very good UPF, if any. You’ll also want to choose darker colours, because the dye makes the fabric more opaque which blocks the sun better than lighter colours, which are more transparent.

Hats, caps, parasols, umbrellas, and anything else that creates shade is also a way to reduce the amount of UV rays hitting your skin. It’s not nearly as comprehensive as SPF or UPF, but it’s more effective than nothing.

You should also remember to wear sunglasses whenever possible to protect the eyes and eyelids from the sun, too!

Which sunscreen is right for you?

Since there are really only two different types of SPF skin care products (mineral and chemical), you just need to know which one is a better match for your skin.

Acne-Prone, Dry, and/or Sensitive Skin

These skin types are better suited for a mineral sunscreen. Since the product stays on the skin’s surface more than it absorbs in, there is less of a chance of the product irritating the skin and causing more oil production and acne. For acne-prone skin, getting a mineral sunscreen that is non-comedogenic (pore-clogging) is the most important thing.

Dry skin is better suited for a mineral sunscreen that also contains a moisturising element like aloe. Chemical sunscreen tends to be very astringent which can make dry skin worse.

Oily Skin

Some mineral sunscreens can exacerbate oily skin. Many people with oily skin choose chemical SPF because it soaks into the skin, leaving a non-greasy feeling behind.

However, more and more mineral sunscreens are being made all the time so there are a lot of options made especially for people with oily skin types! You’ll need to find one that doesn’t contain excess oils and mixes well with existing skin oils. 

Normal Skin

Once again, normal skin has the least amount of worries. If you have normal skin, you likely don’t need to think too much about which product to choose.

Many people choose mineral sunscreen over chemical sunscreen if they can help it because of the possibility that some of the chemical SPFs may be harmful to the body and the environment.

Skin Conditions

If you have any skin conditions or skin issues, you’ll likely want to stick with mineral SPF because it is less irritating and offers more direct sun protection. Especially if you have a condition like rosacea which worsens with heat, mineral and physical sun protection is a better solution than a chemical sunscreen.

If you have skin issues that prevent you from wearing SPF products, use UPF clothing in conjunction with staying in the shade as much as possible.

All Skin

Every skin type benefits from sun protection, no matter what kind it is. Remember, the best sun protection is the kind you actually use!

Just be sure to always clean off all SPF at the end of the day because leaving any product on for too long can cause irritation and acne.