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Which cream with SPF will be “that sun remedy” for you and by what signs to determine this, the Healthy-Food website team figured out. Spoiler: the best sunscreen is the one that matches your phototype and is used correctly.
Sunscreen Features
UV radiation has been proven to be the main culprit of photoaging. If today you neglect protection or frivolously approach the choice of a protective face cream, then in a few years it may turn into such problems:
premature wrinkles;
dark spots;
dry skin;
visible vascular network;
expanded pores;
uneven skin texture.
There are two types of radiation that have a negative effect on the skin: UVA and UVB.
UVB rays
They make up only 5% of the entire spectrum of radiation, are responsible for sunburn and provoke sunburn.
UVA rays
They penetrate deeper into the skin without causing visible damage. The damage they cause can accumulate over the years and on one “perfect” day be indicated by hyperpigmentation or a network of wrinkles.
How to choose sunscreen
Before you start choosing, determine your phototype. It depends on the degree of natural protection of the skin, that is, the amount of melanin that is produced in the skin during solar radiation. There are six phototypes in total. The lighter the skin, the weaker its own defense mechanism, which means the higher the likelihood of a burn. The first three phototypes – white-skinned, and therefore practically defenseless – require the highest SPF 50+, representatives of 4, 5 and 6 phototypes – SFP 20 and 30.
Sunscreen is necessary even for owners of dark skin, which tans well, but is not immune from the negative effects of UVA radiation, a provocateur of wrinkles and pigmentation.
What do the letters SPF mean on a jar of sunscreen?
The abbreviation SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is an indicator by which you determine the degree of protection against the negative effects of UVB. The number we look at when choosing optimal protection is how much UVB a sunscreen blocks. The reaction of the skin largely depends on which part of the world you are in, because the activity of the sun, for example, in Africa and the Caucasus is not the same. Means with index:
SPF 15 filters out 93% of UV radiation;
SPF 30 – 97%;
SPF 50 (+) – 98-99%, and this is the maximum.
Recently, a separate label has been introduced to inform consumers about the degree of protection against UVA rays. In accordance with the recommendation of the European Commission, the UVA symbol in a circle is applied to the packaging. This means that the product provides at least a minimum level of UVA protection (1/3 of the UVB protection), which increases with the SPF value.
Sunscreen with SPF50 is the best friend of blond and fair-skinned girls
Determine your phototype
Skin phototypes
| Phototype | Hair, skin, freckles | Burns | Tan |
| 0 | white, albino | always | 0 |
| i | red, milky white, freckles | always | 0 |
II | blond, light, freckles | always | easy |
| III A | blond, light, freckles | often | light or dark |
| III B | brown, dark, freckles | often | light or dark |
| IV | brown, dark | rarely | light or dark |
| V | dark brown, dark | exception | very dark |
| VI | black, very dark | absent | the black |
Sunscreen by skin type
Once you’ve decided on an SPF level for optimal protection, ask yourself: what type of skin do you have? If you know the answer to it, feel free to read on.
Oily skin
Owners of oily skin rely on a light texture with mattifying and anti-inflammatory properties.
Dry skin
She needs a non-greasy cream that is formulated with moisturizing ingredients.
Sensitive skin
The most problematic option, for which, however, sunscreens are produced that take into account the characteristics of reactive skin.
Composition and active ingredients
The main ingredient in sunscreen is sun screens. They are of two kinds.
Physical (organic, mineral). These include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. They reflect the sun’s rays like mirror shields. They can be recognized by the whitish tint they give to the skin.
Chemical (inorganic). We are talking about such complex compounds as parsol 1789, octocrylene and autobenzone. They have the ability to absorb and convert UV rays, providing reliable protection from the sun. Unlike physical filters, chemical filters do not reflect radiation on the surface of the skin, but are absorbed into the skin.
The ideal cream with SPF should not only reflect the rays, but also make sure that the skin feels comfortable and looks decent.
Rules for applying sunscreen
These simple rules will help you enjoy all the pleasures of the beach, protecting your face from the damaging effects of solar radiation.
Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before sun exposure.
This pause is necessary so that a stable sunscreen film forms on the skin. If you plan to apply foundation over SPF, make sure your sunscreen is completely dry so you don’t risk rubbing or smearing it.
Apply the cream carefully, without missing a single millimeter of skin.
According to the regulations, 1,25 ml of cream with SPF should go to the face. With a decrease in the recommended dose, the degree of protection decreases. To be on the safe side, apply two coats of sunscreen, allowing the first coat to dry for the right amount of time.
Update protection regularly.
Do this every two hours on the beach, and as needed in the city. Indoors (unless it is a gym) reapplication is not required.
Rating of the best funds
With a complete understanding of what you’re looking for in an SPF cream, you can start browsing the range to find the best product, one that Healthy-Food recommends.
Sunscreens for oily skin
Mattifying emulsion Capital Soleil Dry Touch, SPF 50, Vichy
Contains 4 types of filters and minerals that mattify the skin.
Sunscreen Mattifying Facial Spray SPF 50/PPD 27, La Roche-Posay
Rescues from oily sheen during the day, protects from sun rays of types A and B, does not clog pores.
Sunscreens for dry skin
Revitalift Filler [ha] anti-wrinkle day cream, SPF 50, L’Oréal Paris
Contains hyaluronic acid, moisturizes for 48 hours and smoothes the skin.
Soleil Bronzer Face Sunscreen, SPF 30, Lancôme
The anti-aging ingredients in the light cream protect the skin from aging, and the high SPF protects against ultraviolet radiation.
Sunscreens for sensitive skin
Ambre Solaire Sunscreen Fluid, SPF 50+, Garnier
Suitable for the face and delicate area around the eyes, contains moisturizing hyaluronic acid, prevents signs of aging.
Ultra-light fluid Anthelios XL, SPF 50+/PPD 42, La Roche-Posay
Reliably protects from the sun, suitable for allergy-prone skin.
Sunscreen for sensitive skin Sheer Mineral UV Defense, SPF 50, SkinCeuticals
This weightless cream with mineral filters leaves no white residue on the skin.