How to Choose a Sun Protection Factor

WHO: Everybody under the sun. WHAT: Broad spectrum, or sun protection; SPF 15 or better; SPF30 or better for an entire day outdoors or overnight. WHEN: Any time of the day; morning, mid-morning, mid-afternoon, evening, or night. THE BENEFITS: Health benefits include reducing cancer risk, reducing chronic exposure to UV rays, and preventing age spots from developing. The best products provide broad spectrum protection from UVA and UVB.

My Experience: I have used many SPF products over the years and they do help to block harmful effects of the sun on my skin. However, my experience with SPF products ends there. It is difficult to shield your skin completely from the sun without wearing sunscreen. This is when I began to become very concerned about my skin. I began to use only products that provided reliable protection from sun exposure while still being very natural and light weighted. I have tried several products, including moisturizers, cleansers, eye shadows, blushers, and lip balm and lip gloss all in one sentence: I continued to use them but only because they provided the coverage I needed.

My Recommendation: I do not recommend using any makeup or facial cream that contains SPF. These products are overrated. The best way to effectively protect your skin from the sun is with the right product at the right SPF level. If you have never been exposed to UV rays or you have sensitive skin, then a lower SPF product may be the answer for you. For example, if you have dry skin, then using a liquid foundation may not be the best way to protect you from the damaging sun rays.

For people with normal skin types, using an everyday moisturizer and sunscreen is the best way to keep your skin protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Liquid foundations work well for those with normal skin types. Using waterproof makeup that contains SPF will provide adequate protection from UV rays for those with oily skin types. And for people with combination or dry skin types, a good daily moisturizer and sunscreen combination will work well for them.

Most sunscreens sold today contain either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These ingredients are typically called” sunscreen” or “physical sunscreens”. However, they contain many of the same chemical agents as the sun’s UV rays. Below, I am going to compare all of these sunscreens to one another to see which is the best at protecting your skin.

Most sunscreens sold today contain PABA (Para Amino Benzoic), which is a by-product of alcohol production. They are supposed to protect you against UVB rays while still being safe for your sensitive skin. However, studies have shown that PABA can be ineffective at blocking UVB rays. Some products may contain only PABA, but none of the products on the market contain zinc oxide, which is the active ingredient that protects our skin from UVB rays.

The best product that I have found for my SPF is a brand named Oxygen Plus. I had been shopping around for a sunscreen that would not contain any zinc oxide, so that my skin wouldn’t develop wrinkles, age spots, or signs of aging, and found this brand very interesting. Oxygen Plus contains no zinc oxide, but does contain the highest SPF level of any sunscreen on the market. It also contains only one third of the amount of PABA, which means that my skin is significantly more protected from the sun’s damaging UV rays.

Now, there are many other sunscreen products out on the market that claim to offer high SPF values, but in my opinion, you really don’t need to buy a high SPF product in order to reap the benefits of your sunscreen. If you use a sunscreen that is appropriate for the season, when you are going to be out in the sun, and that includes the proper amount of ingredients for your skin type, you should see minimal to no changes in your appearance. In my opinion, the best way to buy an effective sunscreen product is by checking the labels of all of your current sun protection products. You will likely find that all of them contain at least PABA.