Sunscreen is probably the most essential skin care product you own (or should own if you don’t already). Without it, every other effort you’re making for your skin is a waste of time. Slathering hyaluronic acid for skin-plumping? Vitamin C for hyperpigmentation? Retinol for anti-aging benefits? No matter what you do, if you’re not using sunscreen and other sun-protective methods, all your skincare investments won’t matter.
Sunscreens have significantly evolved over the years. From changing formulations to the forms it now exists in spray, creams, makeup, and other types of skincare. Unfortunately, with its evolution has come a lot of myths and misconceptions; some of which even I believed until I started taking sun protection more seriously. To bring clarity about these myths, here are seven that you may (or may not) still believe about using sunscreens:
Sunscreens are not safe
There are an endless amount of sunscreens on the market that are safe to use. Mineral/physical sunscreens are extremely safe as they contain no chemical filters and are not absorbed by the body. These typically have titanium or zinc dioxide in their ingredient list.
As for chemical sunscreens, the ingredient most people have been concerned about is oxybenzone, but there’s no cause for alarm. New research studies are in the works to ensure this ingredient can stay in our sunscreens. If there’s any concern, dermatologists recommend sticking with mineral sunscreens. The only downside is that they tend to apply very thick, opaque, and leave a skin cast; as opposed to chemical sunscreens that are lightweight and absorb into the skin. For most people, it’s a matter of preference, so choose what works for you.
The Darker You Are, The Less Sunscreen You Need
There’s a misconception that people with darker skin don’t need sunscreen. This is a lie that I once believed, and it has also contributed to late diagnosis and lower survival rates of skin cancer in those with deeper skin tones.
While melanin-rich skin offers a little more sun protection, it’s still very much prone to burning but typically isn’t as noticeable on darker skin as it is on lighter complexions. Counting on your skin complexion is not protection, and frequent exposure to UV rays still puts you at significant risk for premature aging and skin cancer. Darker-skinned or not.
Ultimately, wear sunscreen no matter what color you are!
Your Sunscreen Lasts For Years
If you have sunscreen that’s been sitting in your bathroom for more than two years, it’s probably time to throw it out. Just like anything, sunscreens have a shelf life, which means that after opening a tube, its ingredients start to degrade, and potency decreases over time.
After a certain point, it just isn’t as effective as when you first opened it. If the whole point of a sunscreen is to protect your skin, what good is it to retain a product that isn’t maximally protecting you anymore? If you’re frequently and generously applying sunscreen, a 3 fl. oz tube shouldn’t last you more than 2-3 weeks.
A good way to know if it’s time to throw out your sunscreen is simply by looking at the back of the packaging. Most sunscreen products will typically have either an expiration date shown at the top ridge of the tube.
Other sunscreens may have a round jar with a number + M printed (3M, 12M, 24M). The numbers indicate the recommended number of months to use the sunscreen once it’s been opened.
If your sunscreen has neither of these, a rule of thumb that I use is to throw it away if it’s been about 18 months. But, of course, some products last longer, and others may start to go bad much sooner, so use your best judgment.
It Doesn’t Matter What Sunscreen You Use
All sunscreens aren’t created equal, so using just anything won’t cut it. Here’s why:
Some sunscreens only protect from UVB rays and not necessarily UVA rays. UVB rays are the culprit for sunburns and most skin cancers. However, UVA rays also contribute to cancers and are a significant contributor to skin wrinkling.
An SPF 20 sunscreen provides about 20X the protection of not using any sunscreen. The SPF number you see on most sunscreens correlates to UVB rays and tells us how long it would take us to burn (if the product is used correctly). This SPF number, however, tells us nothing about UVA rays.
This is why when shopping for sunscreen, you need to look out for products with the term “Broad-spectrum.” Broad-spectrum means that the sunscreen has been formulated to provide UVB protection AND an equal level of UVA protection.
To paint a clearer picture: If you typically burn within 10 mins, a broad spectrum SPF 20 sunscreen provides 20x10mins of protection. This means 200 minutes of UVA and UVB protection.
You don’t need sunscreen in the house
I know, I know, sunscreen in the house? For the most part, you don’t need to wear sunscreen while you’re home. However, if you work, exercise, or exist near a window during the day, you probably need some level of sun protection. This is because UVA rays can penetrate both cloud cover and glass and easily make their way to us through windows. On the bright side, UVB rays cannot filter through glass.
If you don’t feel like wearing sunscreen in the house, a good way to cheat is to use a daily moisturizer that already has broadspectrum SPF in it. In this way, you can moisturize as usual and also get some sun protection. Tinted glass windows are also another option to filter out those rays that come through; however, it’ll depend on the type of tint used.
You don’t need sunscreen during the winter
The sun doesn’t disappear during the winter, don’t let the cold weather and cloudy skies fool you. Even on a cloudy or overcast day, UV rays are still making their way to earth and can still contribute to skin damage.
Most of us can get away with not using sunscreen during the winter because we’re typically covered head-to-toe in cold gear. However, other exposed parts of us, like our faces, still need sun protection. So don’t neglect to use sunscreen or a moisturizer with SPF on these parts. If you get dry winter skin, sunscreen can also provide an extra layer of moisture to your existing moisturizer.
Applying sunscreen is a daily one and done
I wish we lived in a perfect world where we woke up, put on sunscreen, and were good for the rest of the day. But we don’t. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours when outdoors and right after swimming or sweating.
This is where many of us (especially me) struggle because, with hectic workdays, there’s just no time (and quite frankly, no patience) to keep reapplying sunscreen for what feels like every 5 minutes.
But no matter how badly I want to say that frequent reapplication isn’t realistic, it is! With many companies now catering to sun protection in makeup, moisturizers, serums, it’s pretty easy to find a product that’ll work for your lifestyle. For example, sunscreen sprays that can be thrown in your drawer at work, mattifying sunscreens that don’t leave a greasy feeling, and SPF face powders to touch up makeup during the day.
The challenge for me and most people who wear makeup is reapplying sun protection under an already beat face. The answer is face powders! Here are some powders that double for touchups and sun protection:
Bare Minerals Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15 – $32 (Choose from original or matte)
Supergoop (Re)setting 100% mineral powder SPF 35 – $30 (translucent)
Mineral Fusion Brush-on Sun Defense SPF 30 – $17.99 (translucent)
Paula’s Choice On-the-Go Shielding Powder SPF – $24.65 (translucent)
*Reflects current price as of the date of this blog posting
The higher the SPF number, the more sun protection
I only figured out last year that a higher SPF number doesn’t necessarily mean stronger, longer, or more intense protection. As a matter of fact, higher SPF numbers tend to give people a false sense of confidence, where they feel no need to reapply sunscreen often or take other preventive measures to protect their skin. Research shows that with numbers above the SPF 30-50 range, the difference in protection levels is slightly insignificant. Products within the SPF 30-50 provide adequate sun protection as long as they are properly used. This doesn’t mean that the sunscreens you see in stores with SPF 100+ are false; it just means that regardless of how high your sunscreen’s SPF number is, you still need to reapply often and not get carried away by the number.
This summer, do due diligence to protect your skin by generously and frequently using sunscreen!