Does Your Sunscreen Actually Protect Your Skin from the Sun? (Decoding SPF)
Your Sunscreen’s Actually Detrimental to Your Health. Yes, You Read that Right.
Hello, my fellow skincare junkies! I hope y’all are in great spirits with glowing, healthy skin!
It’s a delight to see y’all again.
I wanna start this blog with a very simple question.
Does your sunscreen actually protect your skin from the sun?
Sure, you’re already aware of the risks UV light poses to your skin.
You also know what not wearing sunscreen at all can do to your skin or say what not wearing the right sunscreen can do to your skin.
When it comes to shielding yourself from the sun, it’s not just about picking any random sunscreen off the shelf, just for the sake of it. Not only do many SPFs fail to meet the protection claims on their labels, but they’re often formulated with harmful ingredients. Do you know what those ingredients are…?
Lemme Guess your answer to the question that I asked you before, and that’s that you yourself are not sure if your sunscreen protects your skin enough from the sun or not.
Well, no worries about that. That’s what I am here for, and that’s exactly what we are going to be discussing today.
Here are 5 things that can help you choose the right sunscreen that actually protects your skin:
Does your sunscreen contain these Chemical Sunscreen filters?
There are two types of active sunscreen filters. These are chemical sunscreen filters and physical sunscreen filters.
Chemical sunscreen filters: active sunscreen ingredients that absorb UV rays just like a sponge are called chemical sunscreen filters. These include avobenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, oxybenzone, etc.
You should avoid these ingredients at all costs, as there is insufficient data about these ingredients being safe in sunscreen, as per the FDA. The worst thing about them is that they enter your bloodstream and breast milk and cause hormone disruption. So avoid them at all costs. Read more about this here.
Mineral sunscreen filters (physical sunscreen filters): other active sunscreen ingredients are mineral sunscreen filters. They deflect the UV rays from your skin, just like a mirror. These ingredients include zinc oxide (best in creams only; avoid in sprays and powder sunscreens) and titanium dioxide. These are safe to use as they do not get absorbed into your skin; they just stay on the surface.
Does your sunscreen have SPF 30 or higher?
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is a measure of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UV rays.
Many manufacturers tend to artificially inflate the value of SPF by adding certain anti-inflammatory ingredients.
So, instead of relying on brands, calculate your own sun protection factor.
Here’s how you can do it on your own.
Every 1% of zinc oxide in your sunscreen gives you 1.6 SPF units, while every 1% of titanium dioxide gives you 2.6 SPF units.
That means a 20% zinc oxide sunscreen gives you SPF 32.
So, if your sunscreen has a minimum of 20% zinc oxide and 5% titanium oxide, it’d be SPF 45. That works out, as you need a minimum SPF of 30. Read more about this here.
PS: SPF measures protection only against UVB rays, not UVA (the culprit behind skin cancer). So, look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Read more about UVA and UVB rays and SPF.
Does your sunscreen provide enough UVA protection?
As we discussed above, SPF only measures protection against UVB, not UVA rays. But using broad-spectrum sunscreen can save you.
Most sunscreens are good at filtering out UVB rays but are inadequate against UVA. So, using sunscreen that contains zinc oxide becomes a must. As it provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
Never use sunscreen that only contains titanium dioxide, as it is better at protecting against short-wave UVA and UVB rays than long-wave rays.
More about zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is here.
Does your sunscreen contain at least 20% Zinc Oxide?
As we learned in the previous point, zinc oxide is a must-have ingredient in your sunscreen, but having an adequate amount of zinc oxide in your sunscreen is also something to keep in mind when you go shopping for sunscreen the next time.
There should be a minimum consideration of 20% zinc oxide in your sunscreen. That means you’ve got two options for getting SPF 30 or higher (as per our sunscreen calculator that we learned above).
20–25% Zinc Oxide OR 15–20% Zinc Oxide + 5% Titanium Dioxide
So, the next time you’re scanning the sunscreen labels, make sure it has these minimum percentages of ingredients to make sure it is actually going to protect your skin against those sneaky sun rays.
Download my FREE CHEAT SHEET and master the art of layering different skincare products effortlessly. Your radiant skin awaits!✨
Does your sunscreen have Polyunsaturated oils, Fragrance and Silicone?
Polyunsaturated oils are argan, safflower, grapeseed, soybean, and almond oils, which are harmful because of their instability in the formula. So, you should try to avoid these ingredients altogether, or make sure they are not in the first five ingredients (the lower the ingredient mentioned in the list, the lower its percentage in the product) of your sunscreen.
Silicones are occlusives, and you might have a hard time completely washing them off, and they may remain stuck in pores, which, in turn, may break you out. Read more about silicon.
I don’t think that not using fragrances even needs an explanation. They are just for aesthetics and may irritate your skin. If you are anything like me, you are allergic to fragrances. Then, please avoid them at all costs; otherwise, get ready to sneeze uncontrollably and itch your eyes all day long. They are just terrible. I hate them.
So, there you have it. Now, whenever you go shopping for sunscreen the next time, you know exactly what to look for.
If you liked reading this article or gained any value from it, then please give it a clap — not one or two, but fifty (just kidding). I would really appreciate your feedback in the comments. You can also connect with us on Pinterest.
KEY MESSAGE- Wearing sunscreen is important. But wearing the right sunscreen is even more important.
Guess what’s even more important than wearing the right sunscreen? It’s reapplying your sunscreen every 2 hours.
Before you leave, some FREE GOODIES for you.
If you liked what I wrote, you can also follow me on Pinterest for daily skincare inspiration and on Twitter for real-time skincare discussions.
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter where I share small and actionable tips for radiant skin right in your inbox.
Download my FREE CHEAT SHEET to get the flawless skin of your dreams. Your radiant skin awaits!✨
Read My Ultimate Skincare Guide for Beginners:
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional skincare advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
