You are bombarded with these terms time and again – sun safety, skin cancer, skin aging, sun burns, UVAs, UVBs and more! You’re confused, anxious, and mind boggled- What kind of sun protection is good for you and your loved ones?
Here is a quick roundup of 4 sun protection tips that will help you choose right:
- Should I be using a Sunscreen or a Sunblock? A sunscreen is a chemical blocker that filters the sun’s rays while a sun block is a physical / mineral blocker that doesn’t let any of the sun’s rays touch your skin, like a strong barricade. Use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide containing sunblocks instead of chemical sunscreens which typically contain ingredients that end with –ate, –ene, or –one, such as homosalate, octocrylene, or oxybenzone. The active ingredients present in your sun block are pretty much similar to those in your baby’s diaper rash cream
When choosing a sun block look for ones that are devoid of artificial fragrances, parabens, and retinyl palmitate. - My sunblock is goopy, difficult to apply, thick, and feels like toothpaste! Is your product’s feel, thickness and ease more important to you than effectiveness and safety? A little effort on your part goes a long way in keeping you and your loved ones sun-safe. There are some pleasing picks available today. Find the ones that work for you.
- What SPF should I use? It’s recommended that you should use SPF30 and above . There are many healthy options with lower SPF’s but they aren’t keeping you safe from the sun rays. When we apply an SPF 15, in reality we get protection of 6 or 7! This is because we don’t apply the needed amount on our skin- it’s usually less
- How do I apply? You’ll need a shot glass of sunblock; 2 tablespoons to cover your skin from head to toe. One more teaspoon for your face. Apply your protectant onto dry skin 30 minutes before you step out. Apply before dressing up paying special attention to often missed areas like your ears, the base of your neck, your feet, and the back of your knees. Reapply your protectant every 2 hours or immediately after you swim or towel dry.
Worship the sun with precaution and safety. Be Sun Safe, Be Skin Happy