By Aimee Pennington
June 25, 2019
Picking a sunscreen can be tricky . . . that’s because there are so many of them on the market to choose from today. So how do you know what’s going to work? What sunscreen will be good for YOUR skin?! You’ve come to the right place.
Let’s look at three different elements that make up the varying kinds of sunscreen out there. Then we’ll consider a few additional ingredients that would be really wise to consider having for extra protection from the Sun. Finally, we’ll get practical about making that choice.
Chemical or Physical
What does that even mean, great question! It comes down to how the ingredients work to protect your skin. A chemical block absorbs the UV rays & a physical block reflects the rays.
Lotion Or powder
First and foremost, we always recommend using a skincare sunscreen as the last step in your morning routine. Even if your makeup has SPF in it. This is typically a lotion and will provide excellent protection. Powder SPFs usually don’t have as much protection as their, The SPF can be lower & the UVA protection is not as high. Powder SPF’s are great for re-application throughout the day (if you’re in sun all day and need to reapply over makeup) & a good alternative for kids.
SPF
What’s a spif, you say? Well, SPF just stands for Sun Protection Factor. Keep in mind that sun protection factor only measures UVB rays, and for adequate protection, an SPF 30 or greater is recommended, but NOT over SPF 50! Remember: you should be re-applying your sunscreen every two hours when you’re outdoors for extended periods!
And you must always re-apply your SPF when you get out of the water! Look on the label for how long (Jan Marini SPF’s are water resistant for up to 80 minutes)
Additional Ingredients & Factors to Consider
Here are a few additional ingredients to look for in a good sunscreen:
- Extra hydrators
- Antioxidants (for increased free radical protection)
- Oil-control
- Water-resistant ( no sunscreen is waterproof, only water-resistant)
Remember when choosing a sunscreen it’s more about the reapplication than it is about the SPF. You don’t need an SPF above 50 ( FDA now limits maximum SPF ratings at 50) a tan is worse than a burn! No sunscreens are waterproof, they are water resistant.
What Sunscreen Is Best for Me?
Choose a sunscreen that you’ll be willing to wear every day that also meets the criteria of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation.
One big complaint that many new clients bring up about sunscreen is how greasy it can feel. Listed below are some great sunscreens that we 
carry; grease-free! 🙂
Wherever you get your sunscreen, just remember that selecting a sunscreen that you’ll be willing to wear daily is the single most important long-term anti-aging and cancer prevention decision you can make. Keep that skin beautiful by keeping it protected!
- Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant
(My personal favorite is the Antioxidant Daily face Protectant from Jan Marini. I’m the summer I apply it daily from my chest to my forehead and on my hands & arms.) - Marini Physical Protectant
- Powder-me SPF
(jane iredale’s Powder-Me SPF is great for reapplication throughout the day, on your scalp, and awesome for babies, toddlers, and older kids! Our twins used to laugh when we put it on them, they thought the application was funny
) - LipDrink
(More then just a moisturizer for your lips, it’s great UVB protection you’ll want to re-apply!) - HandDrink
Next week’s blog: Catch up with us next week as we dive into creating that sun-kissed look without the harmful rays 
#letsglow
Cover image photo by Irina Gorskaia on Unsplash
Aimee Pennington is the owner of The Make-up & Skin Care Studio in Lodi, California. She has been working as a professional esthetician for over 15 years and is passionate about helping clients reach their skin care goals through education, prevention, proven products, and good old fashioned disciplined routine. Aimee is married with twins. You can follow her on Instagram @thestudioartist_aimee or contact her at info@themakeupstudio.biz
