There are plenty of sunscreen options in the market today and with all the advertising and marketing it gets harder and harder to decide what is best for you and your skin.
One has to choose a sunscreen that is best at blocking harmful ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation that cause sunburns, wrinkles, and certain skin cancers.
Before purchasing a sunscreen, you need to ask yourself the following:
What is my skin type?
Oily / Dry / Combination / Sensitive
This will help you decide on the consistency of the sunscreen
Oily: fluid / spray / gel
Dry: cream / lotion
Combination: fluid / spray
Sensitive: hypo-allergic & fragrance free
How much sun exposure do I get in a day?
1 - 2 hrs ( I get to work and stay there till evening)
3 - 5 hrs (I run errands and spend a large amount of time in the sun)
> than 6 hrs ( Outdoor job / play a lot of sports)
This will help you decide on the SPF factor.
The SPF factor determines how long you can be in the sun without getting burnt. On average a SPF pf 26 is recommended. and re- application after 4 hrs is mandatory.
If you get more than 3 - 4 hrs of sun exposure in a day, apply a SPF of 50 and above.
Regardless of the SPF, sunscreen have to reapplied after 4 hrs
How much to apply?
The lab tests for SPF grading is conducted using 5 ml / 1 teaspoon full of the product.
In reality we only apply a pea size or a 25 paise coin size which is about 1.5 - 2 ml
So effectively we are only getting half the SPF of protection unless you apply 1 teaspoon of the product on the face.
Hence it is recommended to use a higher SPF daily
What label to look for?
Remember to look for a broad spectrum SPF as this covers UVA & UVB.
Which areas should I apply the sunscreen on?
Apply the SPF to all exposed areas - face, ears, neck, hands and feet for total protection.
These are some tips to help you with choosing a suitable sunscreen
I have oily skin, which brand sunscreen do I choose. Earlier you recommended Neutrogena, but it doensn't have gel base.