Temperatures are rising and summer vacations are upon us. With the beach beckoning, it’s very important to find the proper sunscreen to best deal with the sun all the while taking care of your skin. The best way to protect yourself from the scorching sun is to stay out of the sun. However, most people enjoy the sun too much to completely avoid it. Plus, sun exposure is essential for us to get vitamin D. So the next best thing you can do is to wear sunscreen. But with so many types of sunscreen to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you?  Below are 5 essential tips to keep in mind while choosing the right sunscreen.

1)Know Your Skin Type

Oils, creams, lotions, milks, wipes — every brand offers different ways to protect your skin against the sun. More than the type of product though, what really matters is the solar protection factor, which needs to be picked based on skin type.  People with white or fair skin, those with freckles and redheads should look for an SPF of 50+, while those with light skin and blonde hair, with or without freckles, but who can develop a bit of a tan under the sun should opt for a high protection in the 30-50 SPF range. Light skinned people with brown hair but who tan easily should go for an SPF of 15-25, as should darker-skinned people.  SPF 15 blocks 93 percent of UVB rays while SPF 30 blocks 97 percent of UVB rays.

2)SPF Or PA?

Get at least SPF 30 for your UVB protection and at least PA++ for your UVA protection! Sunscreen with good SPF will help in battling the harmful sun rays effectively.

3)Ensure both UVA and UVB

UVA rays cause pigmentation and photoageing, while UVB rays cause tanning and skin cancer. It is vital to get broad spectrum coverage that will block both these types of harmful rays. For UVB protection, look for the SPF symbol, and for UVA look for the PA symbol!

4)Check The Ingredients

Check the list of ingredients on the flip side of the package. Make sure your sunscreen doesn’t contain oxybenzone as this hormone disrupt or harms the skin and causes allergic reactions also. Choose a sunscreen that is water-resistant or the ones that come in gel form. Most sunscreens are cream based and make your skin look cakey, oily and suffocated. Do a patch test of some of the available brands before buying one.

5)Check The Manufacturing Date

The newer the sunscreen, the better the efficiency of the product. The components in the sunscreen have a tendency to break down very easily. Hence, it is important to buy a sunscreen with an early manufacturing date.

If you normally burn in about ten minutes, SPF 15 multiplies that by a factor of 15. This means you could go 150 minutes before burning. Always apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before stepping out in the sun and repeat every 2 hours in case you are exposed to the sun. A regular sunscreen routine will ensure that your skin stays supple, fresh and healthy. It is highly recommended to use a sunscreen in the summer months as your skin is highly prone to sun damage during this time.

 

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