As aestheticians, we get asked a lot of questions about skincare, especially during the hot summer months. We’ve put together a list of the top most commonly asked summer skinc are questions and then combined our knowledge to provide easy and simple explanations. Enjoy!
What does sunscreen actually do? Depending on the type and its ingredients, sunscreens either absorb or reflect the rays from the sun that are harmful to your skin.
What does “SPF” mean? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This refers to the amount of time you can stay in the sun before you start to burn. While this can vary depending on your skin type, on average it is usually about 10 minutes. So let’s say you have a sunscreen with an SPF of 50. You would take the number 50 and multiply it by 10; this would give you 500 minutes of protection in the sun (about 8 hours.) Keep this in mind the next time you go to purchase a sunscreen.
If I buy waterproof or sweat-resistant sunscreen, do I still need to reapply? Yes. Reapplying sunscreen is still vital, since the sunscreen comes off as you sweat, even if it’s sweat resistant. As a rule of thumb, you should re-apply your sunscreen every hour regardless of how long you’re outside or what the weather looks like.
Do I really need to wear sunscreen even if I’m inside most of the day? Absolutely! What people do not realize is that we receive UVA and UVB damage just from walking to our mailbox every day and from driving our cars (sun damage can occur to the skin even through glass.) We can also receive damage to our skin from something called HEV rays, which come from the electronic devices that we use every day. There is even something called infrared-A waves (heat waves) that penetrate deeper into your skin and cause more damage.
What’s the good news about sun protection, you ask? Applying sunscreen is easy and fast, and we have some incredible options to tell you about!
SkinMedica Total Defense and Repair SPF 50: This sunscreen contains a blend of powerful antioxidants including vitamin C and green tea. This advanced formula helps your sunscreen to shield your skin better from UVA, UVB and Infrared-A waves. What’s more, it not only protects your skin from damage but also has anti-aging ingredients that aid in smoothing out fine lines and texture as well as evening out skin tone.
ZO Smart Tone SPF 50: This broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against UVA, UVB and HEV rays that cause damage to the skin. It contains “color beads” that are designed to blend in to most skin tones, creating a natural tint on the complexion. This formula also contains fractionated melanin, which helps to shield against HEV rays that come from the electronic devices we use every day. Just remember: “Smart Tone protects against your smart phone!”
Colorescience Sunforgettable Loose Mineral Powder Sunscreen SPF 50: This is a highly refined mineral sunscreen that provides safe, non-irritating protection from UVA and UVB rays. It is unique to most sunscreens, since it comes in a self-dispensing powder brush form, and has a natural sheer tint offered in a variety of different shades. What’s great about this product is that it comes in a matte or shimmer finish so that you have the option of a non-shiny look or a luminous look.
At Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery, we have six knowledgeable medical aestheticians to choose from and five different locations throughout the Jacksonville area for your convenience. Come and see us at any of our offices for a complimentary skin care consultation!
