We need sunscreen cosmetics not only on vacation and not only in the south. If during the day you are not in the sun for more than 30 minutes - there is no need to use creams with filters. But if the time spent in the sun is longer, or you are going to rest outside the city or in the park, in an outdoor cafe, then regardless of the time of year it is necessary to provide skin with protection from sunlight. You can get sunburned in April, May or September. To harm the skin, even a small amount of harmful ultraviolet radiation is enough, the consequences are serious enough: premature aging, impaired regeneration and even cancerous diseases. So it’s better to be safe than not being protected enough.
The principles of choosing sunscreen cosmetics
Sunscreen for the face is chosen, like all other cosmetics, based on the type of skin. There are no restrictions for normal skin - choose according to your own preferences. For dry - the best option would be milk or cream with a dense texture and a large number of moisturizing components. For oily or combination skin, gel or fluid is more suitable.
There are two types of protective equipment: with a shielding and blocking effect. It is better to purchase a blocking sunscreen for the face. This type of cream contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide - a fine powder that reflects rays. These cosmetics are generally hypoallergenic and highly effective.
Shielding creams contain chemicals that often cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, before using them, it is necessary to test for the presence of allergies: smear a small area of the skin on the inner surface of the forearm with cream and hold your hand in the sun for 20 minutes. If itching and redness appeared - the cosmetic product is not suitable for you.
When choosing a sunscreen for your face, pay particular attention to the SPF (sunscreen) factor. The higher this indicator, the higher the degree of protection against ultraviolet radiation and the more time that can be spent in the sun without harming the skin. When determining the optimal protection factor, you need to consider the color and tone of the skin - the lighter your skin, the more effective the protection should be (the higher the SPF value):
- For those who have very pale skin with freckles, light gray or light blue eyes, you need to choose a cream with a factor of at least 40-50.
- For those whose skin is fair, but their eyes are darker, you can use cosmetics with an SPF of about 30.
- For owners of darker skin and medium blond, brown hair, a sunscreen with protection up to 20 is suitable.
- For owners of dark skin and very dark hair, SPF10 is optimal.
These indicators are relevant for those who rest on the Black Sea coast or on the Sea of Azov. If you are located to the north - the SPF value should be reduced by 10 units, if to the south - increase by 10.
After the skin is tanned, its ability to independently block the effect of ultraviolet radiation will increase, it will be possible to apply sunscreen for the face with a lower SPF (lower by 10-15 units).
Remember that you need to apply sunscreen makeup 25-30 minutes before going out in the sun - it begins to act only after absorption. Do not rub intensively - this reduces the efficiency by 30%, just wait until the sunscreen is absorbed. Reviews of those who used cosmetics with protective filters indicate that the incidence of age spots that appear when exposed to the sun is reduced, the skin does not burn, does not peel and does not blush. With the right cream, drying and dehydration are not observed, the tan lays evenly and there is no feeling of tightness after sunbathing.