I love the sun and my blog URL is a testament to that (La hija del sol means child of the sun in Spanish). I don’t think I can live in a place where the sun doesn’t shine and smile on me at least once a day. No matter how busy my work day is, I always make sure that I can take a quick stroll out in the sun to clear my head.
But of course, we all know that too much sun exposure is harmful. Long unprotected exposures put us at risk of skin cancer. At the very least, it ages us faster than normal. So we should always remember to protect our skin from the sun.
Yes, we can wear hats or long sleeved clothing, or carry an umbrella every time we go out. But the sun’s rays can penetrate clothing and bounce off surfaces like pavements or vehicles. Also keep in mind that UV rays penetrate cloud cover. The best way to protect your skin is to put on sunscreen.
But not all sunscreens are created equal. What exactly should you look for in a sunscreen?
SPF rating – the sun protection factor indicates how long before the skin burns when using sunblock as opposed to the amount of time it takes without sunblock. So SPF 15 means the skin will take 15 times longer to burned by UVB rays than without sunblock.
UVA/UVB protection – To ensure that we are protected against both UVA and UVB rays, we should use sunblock with at least SPF 15 and any of the following UVA blockers:
- avobenzone
- oxybenzone
- titanium dioxide
- zinc oxide
- ecamsule
Read your sunblock’s label — terms like broad spectrum, multi spectrum and UVA/UVB protection indicate that the product provides protection against both rays.
Aside from the above important factors, you also need to take your skin type into consideration. If your skin is sensitive, you might have to shop around for a bit for a suitable sunblock without fragrance or with a lighter texture. I think Belo skincare makes a gel sunblock.
My personal favourites are:
Clinique Super City Block SPF 40 – I am a big fan of Clinique products and this is my daily sunscreen. Even if my primer, BB creams, and makeup all contain SPF, I always make it a point to pat this sunscreen after my AM skin care products. The makeup goes on after. This product is also double duty – it is a sun screen that works well as a makeup primer too. It is oil free and can be used around the eyes.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Waterlight Lotion SPF 50 – I use this for the face and body. I love it even better than the other Neutrogena variant because of its light texture. It is not sticky and is easily absorbed by the skin. This was my savior during that 2km noon time trek going to Kabigan Falls in Ilocos Norte.
Basic sun-savvy guidelines
- As much as possible, stay out of the sun between 10am to 4pm
- Cover up with clothing, or use an umbrella
- Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day, no matter what season of the year. For extended exposure to the sun, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Apply sunblock to your entire body 30 minutes before sun exposure. How much should you put? The equivalent of 1 shot glass should be enough protection for the entire body. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
Wherever you are — be it the beach or the city, sunblock is your best friend. Slather it on then go out and enjoy your Philippine summer, knowing you are well protected.
mary an
Do y ou use both the Clinique and Neutrogena at the same time? Which goes on first?
catchan1980
Hi Mary An! No, I don’t use them at the same time. The SPF protection of each is high enough to be used alone ^_^