Sunscreen is set to become an important factor (see what I did there?) of our lives in the next few months; with any luck, the weather will start getting better and the sun will be shining. While this is something to look forward to, it will also become even more important to take good care of ourselves and, in particular, look after our skin. Sunscreen takes less than five minutes to apply, and, thinking long-term, can help us prevent things such as skin cancer, so here is a guide to help you choose the best sunscreen for your skin type.
It’s very important that we take care of the little ones in our lives, and this includes when applying sunscreen. Due to their having sensitive skin, it’s essential that you do some research and make sure that you buy a sunscreen which has been formulated especially for children. The last thing you want is a child having some sort of allergic reaction because the product you used was too harsh on their skin. With this in mind, look out for sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, is water-resistant and has ‘broad-spectrum’ on the label (this means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays).
Just as with children, it’s equally important that we look after our elders! As sun exposure can encourage ageing of the skin, it’s still very important for older people to wear sunscreen. Those with limited mobility may find it difficult to reach certain parts of the body, such as our backs, so in this case, a spray-on sunscreen would be ideal.
When we’re suffering from acne, we’re often self-conscious, so the last thing we want is for a product to come along and make it even worse. The key to getting a good sunscreen for acne-prone skin is to look out for two phrases: oil-free and non-comedogenic. This means that, fingers crossed, the product won’t contain ingredients which will only clog your pores more. You’ll likely end up with some sort of water-based sunscreen, but remember, this isn’t a substitute for any acne treatment products you’re using! Make sure you apply these first, and wait until they’re fully absorbed into your skin.
This might sound kind of obvious, but those of us with dry skin definitely benefit from using moisturising sunscreens. You might not even have to go out and buy any sunscreen – many everyday moisturisers actually already have SPF in them. Either way, you’re going to want to use either a cream, lotion or ointment to ensure that your skin stays as hydrated as possible under the sun.
I, for one, have very fair skin, and for me it’s definitely too risky to not wear sunscreen – too often I have been transformed into a lobster, or even worse, a Squashie. Seeing as I’d rather not have to go through that embarrassment again, I’ve done a fair amount of research into choosing the right sunscreen for fair skin. I learnt that an SPF of 30 or higher is absolutely essential, as well as ensuring that you are reapplying the sunscreen at least every two hours. As long as you follow both of these rules, you’ll hopefully be able to avoid the lobster look for years to come.
If you have darker skin, you may ask yourself what is the point of wearing sunscreen when you know you’re unlikely to burn. I’m afraid this isn’t the case. You may not seem burnt, but the sun will still be harsh on your skin, and even tanning is the result of sun damage. Perhaps you might be worried that the sunscreen you use will show up white or ashy on your skin, but luckily there are loads of new products out there which are micronised (meaning that they will blend into your skin easily). And don’t forget to look for a product which is ‘broad-spectrum’ and has a high SPF factor!
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