Types of Sunscreens
Sunscreen creams, lotions, sprays, sticks, wipes, powders… SPF moisturizer, SFP makeup, mineral makeup… BB creams, CC creams, DD creams, cushion compacts… So many options!
There’s been a lot of innovation in recent years. So today, there are more choices than ever. The good news is, sunscreens today are considerably more comfortable and attractive than the thick and sticky sunscreens of yesteryear.
Examples of recent sunscreen innovations:
- dry touch fluids and sprays that instantly absorb into skin
- all kinds of sprays – for beach (water & sand), pool (wet skin), sports (sweat & oil), everyday
- oily or oil-free sprays
- c-sprays that cut through water (for when you’re at the beach or pool and need to re-apply)
- sprays that don’t leave a white residue
- sprays that that don’t spray all over the place (reduce flyaway/overspray)
- mattifying powders
- nanoparticles of Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide that don’t leave a white cast
- even sunscreens that protect tattoos
Types of Standalone Sunscreens:
- Sunscreen cream
- Sunscreen lotion
- Sunscreen stick (looks like a deodorant stick)
- Sunscreen spray
- Sunscreen powder brush
- Sunscreen wipe/towelette
- Sunscreen lip balm
Sun Protection Integrated Into Makeup or Skincare:
- Moisturizer with SPF
- Makeup Primer with SPF
- Foundation with SPF
- Mineral makeup with SPF
- BB Cream (BB stands for Beauty Balm)
- CC Cream (CC stands for Complexion Correction)
What Type of Sunscreen Should I Use?
This is a tough one to answer in general terms, because much of it depends on your lifestyle and personal preference. There is no one right answer. It depends on:
- your skin type – Are you oily or breakout-prone? Then you might want to minimize the number of layers on your skin.
- whether you use makeup – If you wear foundation, you might like the convenience that a BB cream offers (sun protection + makeup in 1 step).
- your lifestyle – How much time do you have in the morning? If you’re in a rush, you might prefer a multi-functional product.
- what other skin care products you’re using – Is there sun protection in the other products you have on your skin?
- climate – How humid is it? If it’s humid, you’ll want something lighter. If it’s desert dry, you’ll need something emollient.
- amount of sunshine – Is it a dark and stormy day? You still need sun protection, but much less than if you’ll be in intense sunshine.
- time of day – Is it early morning? Will you be indoors all day? Will you be re-applying later in the day?
More importantly, you have to like the texture and how it feels on your skin, or chances are you won’t wear it.
Compliance is one of the biggest barriers to wearing sunscreen. Many people just don’t like the way it feels, and therefore end up not wearing it regularly. I agree, it’s messy and doesn’t usually feel great. It also complicates makeup application.
That said, for the best protection, you are better off applying a standalone sunscreen, even if your underlying moisturizer or makeup contains some sunscreen agents.
A standalone sunscreen with the right ingredients offers more protection than a BB cream, SPF moisturizer, or SPF makeup. The amount of sun protection in makeup is usually inadequate.
By the way, don’t forget, it’s not enough for the makeup to say SPF 15 or SPF 30. You need UVA ingredients in there too.
If your skin can tolerate both a daytime SPF moisturizer AND a dedicated sunscreen (i.e. not get clogged), why not use both? UV rays are powerful. Layering gives you added protection.
But if you have a tendency to get clogged pores, have oily or acneic skin, or multiple skin lesions, then you need to carefully consider how many products you put on your skin. A single layer of a multi-functional product, such as a BB cream or SPF moisturizer will likely be better for you.
New Regulations
FYI – manufactures are no longer able to identify their products as ‘sunblock.’ It is illegal as of 2012. If you find one on the shelf labeled as a sunblock, it’s an old product and you should probably pass on it (sunscreens have a 3 year shelf life).
Also, manufacturers are no longer able to say ‘waterproof’ or ‘sweatproof.’ The FDA’s latest rules will only allow claims that a sunscreen is ‘water-resistant.’ And only for 40 min or 80 min.
(Page updated May 2014)