When it comes to buying a sunscreen it can be so confusing! Not only are there so many brands to choose from, but now you have to choose what to avoid such as ingredients that maybe carcinogenic or toxic, formulas that contain nanoparticles, chemical or physical block and what about the SPF rating??
So here's some information about these questions to help you decide.
The following active ingredients should be avoided
- avobenzone,
- benzophenone
- homosalate
- oxybenzone
- octinoxate
- octyl-methoxycinnamate
- padimate O
- para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and octisalate.
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are good as long as they are nanoparticle free. Nanoparticles can be easily absorbed into the skin and cause free radical damage.
CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL SUNSCREEN?
The difference between chemical sunscreen and physical is that chemical sunscreens absorb the UV rays from the sun and can actually degrade in light. Because they absorb into the skin they can cause problems such as hormone disruption. A physical sunscreen is zinc and because its thick it acts as a physical barrier on the skin and reflects the UV rays.
NOW FOR SPF...
I'm going to use the more popular levels of SPF's to show you what percentage of UVB rays they filter out-
SPF 15 filters out 93%
SPF 30 filters out 97%
SPF 50 filters out 98%
And SPF 100 filters out 99%.
Best thing to remember is that you need to reapply every 2 hours and again once you have been in water or the sea.
If you have fair skin and red hair, you are more likely to burn faster than others.
Sunscreen is not your only form of sun protection. Grab yourself a nice big floppy wide brimmed hat, wear a long sleeved top and sunglasses and try to avoid being in direct sunlight between the hours of 11am to 3pm. This is when the sun is highest in the sky and the hottest.
Here are a few of your beauty essentials that have an SPF included:
This last one goes without saying on a hot day, (Cocktails! Just kidding!) hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink plenty of water!