PhotoLena Lee
TextLena Lee Makeup Artist
If you apply sunscreen properly and do it right, sunscreen will help slow skin aging, even your skin tone, and prevent new spots from appearing. More than that, sunscreens have a whitening effect on the skin. It should not be underestimated. Let's follow Lee to understand more about the types of sunscreen and how to choose it properly!
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, while taking public transportation, I got used to observing people's makeup looks. A few days ago, I found someone started to apply makeup on the train of MRT, and I realized that people have no more mask-wearing currently.
Summer is coming. My elder sister, a bare-faced-orientation lady who neither applies makeup nor uses a skin moisturizer, currently starts to inquire me about what sunscreen she needs to apply. So, today I'd like to share with those who get in touch with sunscreen for the first time. Let's talk about how to choose your sunscreen properly!
UV radiation splits into two primary types:
Ultraviolet A (UVA): UVA rays can penetrate clouds and glass to cast into indoor space and go through the car's windshield. UVA is a long-wave UV that penetrates deeply into the skin and reaches the dermis to cause skin aging and wrinkles.
Ultraviolet B (UVB): The ozone layer or clouds absorb 90% of the UVB. UVB can penetrate the skin's outermost layers.
The label of a sunscreen product would be SPF 30, SPF 40, or SPF 50. These numbers mean how long they can protect your skin. Usually, I'd recommend choosing a sunscreen product with at least SPF30+.
The Way to Use Sunscreen
As long as sunlight reaches, UV radiation is present all year round whether you're in the house or not. We know that UVA can penetrate glass. So, please apply sunscreen even if you're at home.
If you have an all-day outdoor activity, it's better to reapply sunscreen at least every two hours to ensure adequate protection. Usually, the simplest way is one teaspoon of sunscreen application. Or you can try two fingers of sunscreen, the currently most popular measurement method abroad.
Types of the Sunscreen
Basically, sunscreens have three types – chemical, physical, and mineral types. The most obvious differences are how these sunscreens work and the compounds or ingredients they contain.
In short, physical or mineral sunscreen mainly contains the compounds or ingredients such as titanium, dioxide, zinc and oxide. These compounds create a skin barrier to reflect UV radiation and prevent it from penetrating the skin.
Chemical sunscreen's active ingredients include avobenzone, octinoxate, and oxybenzone. Chemical sunscreen can absorb UV rays, convert them into heat, and release them. There's another type of sunscreen, a physical and chemical mixed one absorbing and reflecting UV radiation.
Each type of sunscreen has its strengths and weaknesses. The best sunscreen for you will be the one you keep using year-round. People have various skin types, and undoubtedly, the sunscreen texture they prefer differs. Wearing sunscreen all seasons and making it part of your daily skincare routine will be the key to protecting your skin successfully!
Lena Lee
Lena Lee is an honorary graduate from Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver, Canada. The school is ranked among the top beautician institutions in the world. She is a freelance professional make up artist residing in Taipei, Taiwan.
Lena has worked with many publications, designers, and runway shows. Her clients are big brands, media producers, designers, and independent photographers.
Her style is consider to be simple and elegant. Using this approach, she is able to captivate the subject's true beauty and convey the underlying message. Classical musicians and elegant movie starlets of old Hollywood are strong influences that are shown in Lena's work.
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