Types of Sunscreen: What you Need to Know

The sheer amount of sunscreen options available today can be overwhelming. With all these choices available to you, how do you know you are picking out the right sunscreen for your skin? 

Have a fun summer soaking up the sun without worrying about whether or not you made the right sunscreen choice. Below we’ll highlight what you need to know for navigating the all types of sunscreen available to find the perfect sunscreen for you and your skin type.

Definition of Sunscreen Terms

When shopping for sunscreen, there are many terms on the bottle, and in some cases, you might not know what they all mean.  

For example, you might be stressing out over picking an SPF level for your beach trip. When selecting a type of sunscreen, it’s recommended to choose one with an SPF level of 30 or higher. On average sunscreens with SPF 15 protect against roughly 93% of UVB. In comparison, sunscreens with SPF 30 protects from 97% of UVB rays.

Another term you might see quite often when shopping for sunscreen is the phrase “broad-spectrum”. What does broad-spectrum sunscreen mean anyway? Broad-spectrum means that the sunscreen protects from both UVA and UVB rays. It is important to protect from both of these types of rays because both of them are harmful in different ways.

UVB rays affect the top layer of skin and cause problems like sunburn and the possible development of skin cancer. Meanwhile, UVA rays affect the skin on a deeper level and can cause cosmetic problems like skin aging and wrinkling. Besides these cosmetic issues, UVA rays damage skin cells where most skin cancer problems arise. We recommend making sure your sunscreen protects from both UVA and UVB rays to keep your skin safe from both types of these harmful sun rays.

Many Ways to Apply

Not only are there many terms to know when shopping for sunscreen, but there are also many ways you can apply your sun protection. Gone are the days when sunscreen came as a lotion only. One of the many ways sunscreen can now be applied is with a sunscreen brush. 

One of Colorescience’s most popular products is the Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush. Colorescience Sunforgettable offers a brush that easily distributes water-resistant powder that also provides SPF coverage. Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush-on Sunscreen comes in shades such as fair, medium, tan, and deep. Also, pick the coverage that is right for you! There are different types of Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush-on Sunscreen including Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush SPF 50 or Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush SPF 30. Both of these Sunforgettable products offer broad-spectrum coverage.

Another favorite Sunforgettable product is the Colorescience Tint du Soleil Foundation. This tinted sunscreen offers you perfect skin coverage from the sun and coverage of blemishes. The two active ingredients, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, block both UVA/UVB rays.

Or if you are looking for a more traditional sunscreen applied as a lotion for an active lifestyle we recommend EltaMD UV Sport Broad-Spectrum SPF 50. This sunscreen can keep up with all your summer activities, protecting you from both UVA and UVB rays. Also, this EltaMD sunscreen can withstand up to 80 minutes of water exposure. Enjoy your summer activities such as running, beach volleyball, or swimming all without worrying about your sunscreen coverage

Have more questions about picking out the right type of sunscreen? Contact our team at Harben House, and we’ll help with all your skin protection and skin care questions.