A Beginner’s Guide to Sunscreen

With summer coming soon, it’s the perfect time to go through the array of skincare products that are part of your daily routine and switch out anything that might be deemed unfit for the coming hotter seasons. Warm weather usually calls for lighter products and overall gentler options. One of the few items that should be a year-round staple, however, is sunscreen. Not only a necessity for the summer, it should be worn every day, year-round, to fully reap its benefits.

What Is Sunscreen, Exactly?

Physical vs. Chemical

Sunscreen contains active ingredients that help shield your skin from UV radiation. There are two types of sunscreen: physical (mineral) and chemical. Physical sunscreens block the rays before they even penetrate your skin, while chemical sunscreens completely absorb UV light, convert it into heat, then dispel it before it can harm your skin. Which one is better? It depends on several factors such as the protection level, the product texture, and your skin’s sensitivity.

SPF

Each sunscreen is characterized by a different sun protection factor (SPF). SPF determines how well-protected your skin is from UVB rays, which can cause sunburn and can be a contributing factor in developing skin cancer. When considering which product to buy, try to choose one with an SPF 30 or above.

How can I protect my skin from the sun adequately?

How Often Should I Apply Sunscreen?

Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin every day of the year. Ideally, it should be re-applied several times throughout the day — experts recommend every 2 hours. It’s important to keep wearing it in the winter as your skin can still become damaged through sun exposure.

If you aren’t already doing so, it’s never too late to start incorporating daily SPF usage into your routine, especially now that the days are getting longer and the time that our skin spends exposed to the sun is steadily increasing.

You can even purchase these sunscreens from the Eminence skincare line on board:

Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen SPF 30

Tropical Vanilla Day Cream SPF 40

Red Currant Protective Moisturizer SPF 40

What More Can I Do?

For more tips on how to protect your skin from the sun, check out our article here.