How to Choose the Best SPF to Protect Your Skin?
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and an important reminder to protect your body’s largest organ – your skin! One American dies every hour of melanoma and while sunburns fade. . . skin damage unfortunately lasts. The good news is you can do something about it! Choosing the right sunscreen to protect your skin from skin cancer is key in giving your skin the protection it needs during those long summer days basking in the sun. So, where to start? Today we are laying out our best tips on choosing the right SPF for your skin.
What is Broad Spectrum Protection?
One of THE most important factors when choosing a sunscreen is the rays it protects you from! While all sunscreens protect you from UVB rays (the rays that cause sunburn), not all protect against UVA rays (the rays that cause skin cancer and premature aging). Sunscreens that are labeled “broad spectrum” have to pass a rigorous test and products that are not broad spectrum must label that they do not protect against skin cancer or skin aging (only sunburn). The moral of this story is? Broad-spectrum protection is a MUST.
What is Sun Protection Factor (SPF)?
Did you know that SPF stands for sun protection factor? This acronym is especially important when choosing the perfect sunscreen for your skin. Sun protection like Revision® Skincare’s Intellishade® with SPF 45 will protect your skin from about 98% of the sun’s rays, while also providing a natural looking tint. This age-defying moisturizer is the perfect combination of coverage and protection and is available in Original, Matte or TruPhysical™ formulas, which are great options to have depending on whether your skin is oily, dry or a combination of the two (we can also help you figure this out if you aren’t sure).
Why is Water Resistance Important When Choosing Sunscreen?
This is an important one. Did you know that water resistance does NOT mean waterproof or even sweat-proof? No sunscreens are technically either waterproof or sweat-proof and are not allowed to claim so. Sunscreens are only rated for their water resistance and whether they last 40 or 80 minutes. It’s also important to remember that after swimming, sweating excessively, or every two hours (whichever comes first) you should reapply. Our recommendation? Colorescience®’s Suforgettable® Total Protection™ Brush-OnShield SPF 50. This all-powerful, all-mineral skin shield provides complete protection in one convenient, on-the-go application—alone or over makeup. One of our favorite uses for this brush-on SPF is for kids who are too wiggly to let you apply a cream-based sunscreen. Just one swipe every few hours to their sweet little faces, and the sunscreen struggle is handled!
How to Find the Right Sunscreen for You?
We’ve told you about how you can protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, but how can you prevent that inevitable premature aging? At Timeless Elements, we recommend adding a medical-grade vitamin C serum to your skincare regimen, and we’ve got options! For starters, we love the Revision Skincare® C+ Correcting Complex 30%™ for its protection and correction of the skin-damaging effects of free radicals generated by urban dust and high energy visible light (HEV or blue light). . . something we all need as we see our screen time increase!
We also stock the Obagi-C® Clarifying Serum and for those with hyperpigmentation, it’s an absolute must! This antioxidant, vitamin, and nutrient-rich serum minimizes hyperpigmentation while lightening and brightening your skin and heals free-radical and sun damage without the use of hydroquinone (a skin lightening agent). Lastly, the Epionce® Intense Defense Serum is one of our favorites as a complete skin multivitamin that gets you fast results, safely. The Intense Defense Serum utilizes a non-irritating botanical formula to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while improving skin texture and giving your skin that luminosity we all love.
SPF Recommendations and Skin Care Services in Forest Lake, MN
While more sun exposure during the warmer months is inevitable, choosing medical-grade products to not only protect your skin, but to give you the anti-aging benefits we all crave is one of the best ways you can be proactive with your skin health and appearance. Medical-grade skincare products penetrate the skin more effectively than over the counter products and a small amount goes a long way. . . making them an overall better value.
One way to save even more on these medical-grade products at Timeless Elements Med Spa is through our VIP Membership! VIP Members enjoy one monthly treatment as well as special members only discounts on medical-grade skin care products, BOTOX®Cosmetic, Dysport®, dermal fillers, and more!
To learn more, give us a ring at (651) 464-6444, we’d love to hear from you!