How to choose the best sunscreen
Are you confused on how to choose the best sunscreen? You’re not alone. If you want to know how to protect your skin and health, read on.
Sunscreen over time
Depending on how old you are, there has been somewhat of a progression with sunscreen. When I was a teenager, my parents didn’t tell us to use sunscreen so how would we know how to choose the best sunscreen? All we cared about was getting a dark tan. I would find the lowest SPF (I’m talking SPF 2 or 4) and it would be a suntan oil – with the intent of getting a ‘great’ tan when I should have been looking at other options like a deep, dark spray tan!
As I got older, I started hearing more about the effects of sun exposure on your skin. Wrinkles, fine lines, loss of elasticity – these can all start showing up. So, at this point, I started to pay more attention and I thought I should just buy a higher SPF. I didn’t necessarily put it on as regularly as I should have. As often is the case, we don’t do something until it’s too late. When I started to see the effects of sun exposure on my face when I turned 40, I knew I was late to the party.
In addition, I had a hard time finding the right sunscreen that not only kept my skin safe but also didn’t make me prone to acne breakouts. That meant that I was too embarrassed to wear a bathing suit because of acne breakouts I would get on my body. I would end up covering up my body and then dealing with the acne. Still, how to choose the best sunscreen alluded me.
How to choose the best sunscreen
There are a lot of factors to think about when choosing the right sunscreen for you. Obviously, the first one should be the UVA / UVB protection. Second to that is choosing a product that doesn’t cause hormone disruption and lastly, one that doesn’t cause acne breakouts. Let’s look at each one individually…
SPF problems
You’ve seen the labels on sunscreen that indicate the SPF level of the sunblock, but according to the EWG, you shouldn’t use this information to choose the sunscreen. The reason is that it isn’t the most dependable information, all this according to the Environmental Working Group’s website. This is because the SPF number only tells you how it works against UVB rays (not UVA). UVB rays is the reason for sunburn. The actual number is misleading because studies have shown that the number really isn’t as high as it’s labeled (or as good at preventing sunburn)! This also means that we think we are being protected from sunburn and skin cancer when we’re really not.
UVA rays, on the other hand, contribute to skin cancer and aging of the skin. So, if you’re in your 40’s, you’re probably more concerned about this than ever. If you’re choosing a sunscreen based on the SPF number, you’re not helping your skin stay young. That brings us to the next point – hormone disruptors!
Hormone disruptors in high SPF products
The second issue with high SPF’s is that there are so many chemicals in the sunscreen that it poses a risk due to the hormone disruptors in the product. We really have to read the labels of these products to know what is actually in them. If it penetrates our skin and causes problems, we need to know. Unfortunately, companies aren’t going to label something as an endocrine disruptor. Since hormone disruptors can cause problems like:
I’ve dealt with all of these issues so I know it’s not fun. I was doing it to myself because these products aren’t regulated very well and basically, I was naive. I know better now so I always read labels and I’ve even compiled a skin care ingredient checker to make sure anything I am using isn’t toxic to my body. I do this because I want a healthy body and healthy skin. How to choose the best sunscreen isn’t easy, but it is necessary to pay attention.
How to choose the best sunscreen to avoid acne
Acne is embarrassing and something that anyone would try to avoid. If a product clogs pores, that’s a problem. In my research, I have found a sunscreen that is not only hypoallergenic but also broad spectrum. If a product also includes zinc oxide as an ingredient, you know that they are using better ingredients; however, don’t assume this. One product I’ve been using this season is a Clear Zinc Sunscreen and I have had good results. Of course, I am always paying attention now. When I get new information, I re-evaluate but so far, I do like this sunscreen. See my review here.
Are you choosing the right sunscreen?
Recommended sunscreen
One sunscreen that the Environmental Working Group recommends is 100% Pure Tomato Lycopene Moisturizer, with SPF 20. It contains Lycopene, which in itself carries an SPF of 3 so it does give some protection from UV radiation.
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