Acne-prone skin: Look for the words “non-comedogenic” or “won't clog pores". Allergy-prone skin: Avoid sunscreen that contains fragrance, parabens, or oxybenzone (benzophenone-2, benzophenone-3, diosybenzone, mexenone, sulisobenzone, or sulisobenzone sodium).
To know if sunscreen is effective, look for the SPF number on the bottle. SPF stands for sun protection factor. The higher the SPF number, the more protection the sunscreen provides.
First of all, you should choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. If you want the highest protection, choose SPF 50+. If you're happy with a lower protection, use SPF30+. Don't forget to choose a sunscreen that's water resistant if you'll be swimming.
If possible, sunscreen use should be avoided in babies younger than 6 months.
Due to the health concerns associated with oxybenzone, EWG recommends consumers avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone. Octinoxate is a non-mineral UV filter.
The best sunscreen ingredients — zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. When it comes to choosing a sunscreen, Dr. Davis recommends two mineral ingredients — zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are the main ingredients in many physical sunscreens and provide effective, long-lasting protection from both UVA and UVB light.
Acne-prone skin: Look for the words “non-comedogenic” or “won't clog pores". Allergy-prone skin: Avoid sunscreen that contains fragrance, parabens, or oxybenzone (benzophenone-2, benzophenone-3, diosybenzone, mexenone, sulisobenzone, or sulisobenzone sodium).
SPF values do not reflect a product's ability to protect from UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB rays, and are associated with skin aging and cancer, such as melanoma. SPF values are also unreliable because the test method that companies must use to determine a product's value is imprecise.
When choosing a sunscreen, Dr. Silva advises looking for broad-spectrum protection, a minimum SPF of 30, mineral-based ingredients, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic formulations, water resistance, and a suitable texture.
Why You Shouldn't Wear Sunscreen Every Day. If you were to use sunscreen every day, your body would continuously absorb any chemicals it contains, potentially much faster than your body can filter and excrete them.
However, those seeking the safest products in the US market should look for physical, also known as “mineral,” sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. That's because “there are fewer concerns about absorption and safety”, says King.
When UV levels are below 3, sun protection is not recommended, unless you work outdoors, are near reflective surfaces (like snow), or outside for extended periods.
To find out how effective your sunscreen is, you will apply sunscreen to a clear plastic sheet and hold it in front of the UV sensor. If the sunscreen blocks the UV light, the UV meter readings should decrease. The more the UV readings decrease, the more effective the sunscreen is in blocking the UV light.
We recommend using any sunscreen that is labelled broad spectrum, water-resistant and SPF30 or above. Interestingly, SPF50 offers only marginally better protection from UV radiation than SPF30 filtering out 98 per cent of UV radiation compared to 96.7 per cent blocked by SPF30.
BP-3 and OMC are two common sunscreen ingredients that are also known to have endocrine-disrupting potential 8. While they are mainly used as UV filter in sunscreens, they are also prevalent in air, drinking water, cosmetics, fragrances and plastic packagings, providing additional routes of exposure to humans 9.
For instance, regarding short-term impacts, using sunscreen without moisturizer won't cause any harm. However, experts advise not to skip the use of moisturizer when applying sunscreen in the long run, as it can affect the skin. The use of moisturizer will improve protection and assist in delaying the aging process.
Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before exposure to UV in order to create the intended protective barrier. It should be applied liberally and evenly to clean and dry skin.
Although no sunscreen was allergen-free, several products contained a minimal number of low-prevalence allergens. The most common low-prevalence allergens were chemical sunscreen ingredients avobenzone, octocrylene, and oxybenzone, and the most common high-prevalence allergen was fragrance.
Hence, choosing a mineral sunscreen over a chemical one would be the best bet. Wondering why? Chemical sunscreens generate heat and can cause skin irritation for people with sensitive skin types. People with combination skin, i.e., an oily T-zone and dry cheeks, can benefit from both chemical and mineral ingredients.