Wearing sunscreen is essential all year round, it’s summertime—when the days get lighter and brighter and we spend more time outside—that many of us begin to rethink what we’re using on our skin, SPF included. When it comes to sun protection, there is often confusion over things like the best formula to use, or how much you should be applying, and even whether you should be applying it at all. (You should: ignore what you see on some social media accounts.) Vogue asked dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting for the five key dos and don’ts of SPF, so you can absorb that much-needed vitamin D with confidence.
Do: Choose a broad-spectrum SPF
To protect skin against both UVA and UVB light, both of which cause damage to the skin, broad-spectrum SPF is a must. “What’s really crucial when we’re talking about a good skincare routine is blocking the daily UVA rays which are present all year round,” explains Dr Bunting. “They can come through glass and actually form the bulk (95%) of UV light that reaches the earth.”
While UVB is the UV light responsible for the (more visible) burn (and tends to be the one we focus on more because the damage is seen quickly) it’s really important to ensure your SPF protects against UVA too. UVA damage leads to fine lines, pigmentation, uneven skin texture, larger pores, coarsening of the skin, and loss of collagen… all the bad stuff. “Beach holidays aren’t so much the problem. It’s the everyday, half an hour out walking at lunchtime that builds up over the years,” Dr. Bunting adds. A broad-spectrum SPF offers a significant level of protection against both UVA and UVB rays, and should be worn by all skin tones. Fact.
Do: Pick the right type of sunscreen for your skin
Sunscreens fall into two categories: chemical, which are formulas that contain ingredients like oxybenzone that act as sun filters, absorbing UV light to prevent skin damage; and physical, which are mineral-based and commonly contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to physically protect the skin and reflect light away, as well as absorbing it.
The best protection you can get? Dr Bunting says a hybrid of both physical and chemical gives “very good broad spectrum cover from both UVA and UVB rays,” but unfortunately some skin types react to chemical formulations, which are often the preferred formulas because they don’t impart the dreaded white cast over skin. (It’s worth noting that physical ones now do this less, as there has been huge innovation in this sector.)
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