Sunscreen is one of the most important steps in a skincare routine so I wrote a guide to sunscreen because finding the right sunscreen for you can be confusing. Sunscreen is kind of like working out. Initially, you hate sunscreen when you start using it, but then you come to love it because it is so good for your skin! Here’s what you need to know about sunscreen:

The Two Different Types of Sunscreen

Mineral

Mineral sunscreens reflect UV rays away from the skin’s surface. Mineral sunscreens use titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to protect the skin. Mineral sunscreens are great for those with sensitive skin, however, they often cause a white cast which can be annoying for those with darker skin tones.

Chemical

Chemical sunscreens absorb the UV rays so they don’t penetrate deeper into the skin and damage it. Chemical sunscreens are formulated with the ingredients oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. Chemical sunscreens don’t typically have a white cast and they absorb easily into the skin. The only downside of chemical sunscreens are that they can be irritating to those with sensitive skin.

UVA vs. UVB Rays

UVA– Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays are longer wavelengths of light that can cause premature aging such as wrinkles and sagging skin. UVA rays are able to penetrate through windows.

UVB– Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are shorter wavelengths of light that cause sunburn.

*Both UVA and UVB rays are harmful to the skin and can cause skin cancer, premature aging, and dark spots.

*The term “broad protection”, means the sunscreen protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.

SPF

SPF stands for sun protection factor. Here’s a quote from the Skin Cancer Foundation that explains SPF, “The SPF number tells you how long the sun’s UV radiation would take to redden your skin when using the product exactly as directed versus the amount of time without any sunscreen. So ideally, with SPF 30 it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you weren’t wearing sunscreen.”

Most dermatologists recommend using sunscreen with an SPF between 30 and 50. Sunscreens with SPF higher than 50 are unnecessary and don’t protect your skin much more than a lower SPF. 

How to Use Sunscreen

Sunscreen should be worn everyday even if you are spending the day inside. Windows block UVB (rays that cause burning), but UVA rays can still penetrate through windows and contribute to premature aging. Sunscreen should be applied after your moisturizer fifteen minutes before sun exposure to give it time to absorb into your skin. 

If you are spending any time outside, you need to reapply sunscreen every two hours. Even if you’re using a higher SPF, it doesn’t protect your skin for longer. It can be quite tricky to reapply sunscreen over makeup, but Supergoop makes a setting spray with SPF and Colorescience makes a powder SPF that makes reapplication easy. 

How Much Sunscreen Do You Need

Dermatologists recommend a ½ teaspoon of sunscreen for your face and a shot glass for your body. To easily measure enough sunscreen for my face, I like to use the three finger method I learned from reading the Fifty Shades of Snail blog. At first, it felt like I was putting a lot of sunscreen on my face, but if you’re using a Korean sunscreen, it absorbs easily without feeling greasy.

*The sunscreen in your foundation is not enough sun protection to keep your skin safe. Using 2-3 pumps of foundation does not equal ½ teaspoon of the sunscreen needed to protect your face!

My Favorite Sunscreens

I know I’ve talked about this before on the blog, but I hate Western beauty sunscreens. They are so greasy, it’s no wonder no one wants to wear them. Korean and other Asian beauty sunscreens have a nice lightweight texture that absorbs easily into the skin. My favorite sunscreens are the Bioré watery essence (review), COSRX snail mucin sunscreen (review), and the Purito green centella sunscreen (which I am currently using). The other good thing about Asian beauty sunscreens is that they’re super cheap!

*For body sunscreen, I love the Alba Botanica natural sunscreen SPF 45 which claims to be reef safe. This sunscreen is moisturizing without being greasy and it doesn’t have that icky sunscreen smell.

I hope this complete guide to sunscreen was helpful! I know a lot of the terms can be confusing when shopping for a sunscreen so I wanted to make a guide so that they’re easier to understand.

Do you wear sunscreen everyday? What is your favorite sunscreen?

Sources

Skin Cancer Foundation

UNC Health Talk

Cerave