The importance of sunscreens and how to choose the right one for your skin

WHY THE HYPE? It seems like dermatologist, beauty bloggers, and any other skin care enthusiast is crazy about one particular must-have item these days: sunscreen. However, it is for a good reason. As you may already know, sun damage from UV rays can result in some pretty detrimental effects for your skin. So, if you would like to stay away from skin cancer, hyperpigmentation, and skin that looks & feels like leather, then sunscreen is definitely the way to go, especially if you have a paler complexion. As an Asian person, I have a medium olive complexion that tans fairly easily under the sun. Those with my skin-type or darker have a lower risk of acquiring skin cancer and premature aging related to UVA and UVB rays. However, I still make it part of my morning routine to slather on sunscreen on the exposed areas of my skin: face, neck, chest and arms.


WHAT TYPE OF SUNSCREEN SHOULD I WEAR: PHYSICAL VS. CHEMICAL
Several types of sunscreens are available in the U.S. market. Chemical sunscreens, which includes ingredients such as avobenzone, homosalate, and oxybenzone. The very popular Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock is an example of an all-chemical sunscreen. Here are its active ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate (10%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (2.8%), Oxybenzone 6%

I highly recommend this particular sunscreen for people with normal to oily skin types and a budget. As you can see, you can buy a twin pack for $11.99 on Amazon - what a steal for a great product! The only downside to this sunscreen is that it does not contain as many antioxidants as more expensive brands of sunscreen. Also, silica is near the top of its inactive ingredients which for me personally, causes clogged pores and breakouts. Remember though, finding the right sunscreen involves trial and error.

Physical sunscreens contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. They work by deflecting the sun's rays, while chemical sunscreens absorb UVA and UVB rays. There is a lot of information on the difference between the two. My favorite source is at Skinacea where they talk about the stability, comedogenicity, protection, texture and safety of the two different types of sunscreens. Check it out

LOOKING FOR ALL NATURAL OR ORGANIC SUNSCREENS?

Unfortunately, many of these types of sunscreens tailor better to dry skin types because of its high content of oil. I personally love Adorable Baby Sunscreen SPF 30+ ($21.99) for my body because it contains non-nano zinc oxide (24.7%) as its main ingredient. *Whenever you look for sunscreen with zinc oxide, stay away from nano particles because they have been shown to be small enough to sink into your skin and be absorbed by your bloodstream. As you can see from the ingredient list below, this particular sunscreen contains some non-friendly ingredients (oils) for oily, acne-prone skin.

Active Ingredient: Non-Nano Zinc Oxide - 24.7% Ingredients: Grape Seed Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides (from Coconut Oil), Organic Beeswax, Stearic Acid (from Palm Oil), Purified Water

MY HG SUNSCREEN
My absolute favorite sunscreen for my face is SkinMedica Environmental Defense SPF 30 ($34.50). Yes, it is slightly on the more pricey side of sunscreens, but after a long, long period of trial and error, I have finally found my holy grail sunscreen product! Check out these amazing ingredients as quoted by the SkinMedica website:

"Z-COTE® MAX™ → The next generation in zinc oxide (FDA-approved physical sunscreen) provides maximum UVA and UVB protection in a single ingredient. Because it is transparent, Z-COTE® MAX™ is invisible on the skin and won't stain clothing. It is considered skin friendly, and provides long-lasting UV protection.

Octinoxate (Octyl Methoxycinnamate/ Parsol® MCX) → An FDA approved, water-resistant sunscreen that provides excellent UVB absorption that helps prevent sun damage to the skin." (skinmedica.com)

It also includes green tea extract as a potent antioxidant, hyaluronic acid to add locked-in moisture to the skin, and caffeine to destroy cancer-causing cells. I personally find SkinMedica's sunscreen to be fitting for my oily skin because it dries quickly with just the right amount of moisture.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN YOU ARE SHOPPING FOR SUNSCREENS
Like I said before, finding the absolute right sunscreen for you could turn into a long period of trial and error. Before you get frustrated, just remember these simple tips to make your hunt for sunscreen a bit easier:

• Look for the following text: broad spectrum UVA/UVB. You always want to find sunscreen that will block all UV rays for your ultimate protection against the sun.
• Look for at least an SPF of 30, especially if you have a paler complexion. The paler you are, the more help you're going to need from sunscreen. While SPF 15 or 20 may be sufficient for someone with a darker-complexion, buy SPF 30 or higher if you do not tan easily to ensure proper protection from skin cancer.

Good luck!