Must know Basics about Sunscreen

Hi loves!

It is now summer full on, so like many of you, we have been going to places, mostly for day tours! And Yes! I have something to share with all of you - I have experienced the benefits of summer skin care that I have read and researched about from many reliable literature.

Anyway, I have a long list of topics to do! I am trying to finish and upload them ASAP.

That brings us to today's topic! Many of my friends and followers of my blog asked me on several occasions questions related to summer skin care and the use of sunscreen. I have been telling them facts regarding sun protection and now I think this is high time to discuss and share the topic here! Hope this post will be of help and will motivate you to wear sunscreen if you are not convinced yet!

What is it?

We all know what it is very well. Still let us start with the basic. If you type "Sunscreen" on google search, the definition from wikipedia will pop up first. The definition is fairly easy to understand, so copying right under here:

Sunscreen (also commonly known as sunblock, sun screen, sunburn cream, sun cream or block out and sometimes unhelpfully called suntan lotion) is a lotion, spray, gel or other topical product that absorbs or reflects some of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin exposed to sunlight and thus helps protect against sunburn.

Why and When should use it?

These are interesting questions. Even just before auripra's birth, I used to apply it only during hot summer days and only used to apply once a day! I was so wrong! After I brunt myself during our Cancun tour, from face to toe (even i had blisters on places), i got really scared and did some research myself. I came to know some interesting facts:

We use it to resist bad effects of Ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB) from sun on our skin health. So, it is important to check whether it is a broad spectrum (aka protects skin from both UV rays) when buying. Also, if you are in a humid area, like India, it is better to use a water resistant type. 

We do not use it to protect us from getting tanned. More often we get an even tanning when using a sunscreen, as sometimes they do carry tanning powder. As in India, we do not want to get tanned, we must check and skip the ones which has tanning powder in it.

Even if you are going out in the sun for as little as 20 minutes, you must apply it.

Even on a cloudy day 80 percent of the sun's ultraviolet rays pass through the clouds. So, you must apply it on a cloudy day. Water, sand and snow are even worse! They reflect UV rays, so if you are going into water, or around sand of snow, you must apply it and every 1.5-2 hours reapply it. See the reapplication time of particular sunscreen you are using. 

Harmful Ultraviolet rays can not only cause cancer, it also helps pre-mature aging! So use sunscreen to protect yourself from pre-mature aging too.

Lips get sunburned too, so apply a lip balm that contains sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.

Apply 30 minutes BEFORE going outdoors. Pay particular attention to your face, ears, hands and arm especially those areas you would wear your highlighter because those are the places normally hit by sunlight more often. Use a spray sunscreen for an even application thought out your body, especially for those tough to reach places.

Sun Protection Factor (SPF): is higher number really better?

There is not much if at all, difference between working abilities of, say for example, SPF 35 and SPF 200. According to American Melanoma (the prevalent type of skin cancer) Foundation, "SPF protection does not increase proportionally with an increased SPF number. While an SPF of 2 will absorb 50% of ultraviolet radiation, an SPF of 15 absorbs 93% and an SPF of 34 absorbs 97%." Therefore, I would say, as long as you are using something in between SPF30+ to SPF50+ and applying and reapplying it regularly, You are GOOD!

Why sometimes you feel burning sensation/ irritation after applying sunscreen?

Some of my friends avoid using sunscreen altogether, because they always feel burning sensation or irritation or worse rash. If you are one of them, i would say read through the following.

Yes, there are some active-ingredients (read chemicals)l present in sunscreen that can cause possible skin irritation or allergy, hormone disruption and skin damage that occurs when sunlight acts on sunscreen chemicals. Look for these words: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate etc. Avoid one that contain these. May be only one chemical is causing sensitivity with your skin! I am afraid to say, but, testing out different products is the only way to go! Also, avoid Sunscreen that contain Vitamin A or it's derivative called Retinyl palmitate, this may speed skin cancer.

Believe me, The irritation after using sunscreen is far better than suffering from sunburn! You don't wanna know how sunburn feels and you are listening it from a first-hand experienced person.

How do I apply it?

I personally use and love Aveeno face sunscreen (click here) or auripra's Baby Sunscreen from Neutrogena (click here) for face. And, for full body, I use CVS kids sunscreen (click here).

I normally, after washing my face with cleanser, moisturize it and wait good 15-20 minutes to help it absorb totally into my skin! Next, I apply sunscreen. Yes, I apply comparatively more on my T-zone of my face!

Applying sunscreen on Auripra is a daily fight! Please do share your tips, if you have any!

Hope you enjoy reading this (Looong) post as much as I enjoyed writing it! If you wanna see a post on any particular aspect of summer skin care, please let me know. You can leave a comment here or on thedocndiva facebook page.

If you like this post and find it helpful, please feel free to share it with your friends and family.

Thank you for your visit!

Love,

Oeendree

Image Source: Google Images***

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