SPF is our BFF! | Let's GLOW Podcast

I know we've talked about it a little bit on previous episodes, but I really want to dig in and debunk some common misconceptions and explore the best type of ingredients, based on your skin type and hopefully help you to decide, which Products are best for you. So let's get glowing. First things first, what exactly is SPF? SPF stands for sun protection factor. It's a measure of how well a sunscreen will protect your skin from harmful UVB rays.

These are the kind of rays that cause sunburn and contribute to skin cancer. But the use of SPF really is not just about preventing sunburns. It's also about protecting your skin from long term damage. This includes premature aging, wrinkles, sunspots, all the things. did you know that UV exposure is responsible for up to 80 percent of our visible signs of aging. That's right. Those fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation. Those can be attributed to the sun for in a big way.

So protecting our skin with SPF is one of the best things we can do to maintain a youthful glowing complexion. So come on 80%. That gets my attention. I hope it gets yours too because that is a big deal. A big misconception I hear a lot of is that higher SPF means better protection. So let's use an example. Many people think that an SPF of 100 offers twice the protection of SPF 50, but really that's not the case.

The SPF 50 will block about 98 percent of the UVB rays while the SPF 100 blocks 99%. So the difference is super minimal and really no sunscreen can block 100 percent of UV rays. What's more important is how you reapply and apply the SPF and what you choose as ingredients.

So the higher SPF values can sometimes actually give us a false sense of security, leading people to stay in the sun longer without reapplying, which is a huge no, no. the next misconception I hear so much is you only need sunscreen on sunny days. While UV rays can actually penetrate through the clouds and windows, windows of your house, the car, your skin is actually exposed to them even on cloudy or rainy days. Indoor lighting can also emit UV radiation.

So make sunscreen a daily habit regardless of the weather. For those of us who spend a lot of times indoors, but near windows or under fluorescent lights, we'll dig into these different types of, UV exposure due to blue light, in another episode, because it's really compelling and there's a lot of great new research coming out about that. Next up, here's one that also is, huge misconception is that darker skin tones don't need sunscreen. While darker skin tones.

Do have more melanin, which offers some natural sun protection? They're still susceptible to UV damage, including sunburn, hyper pigmentation, or sunspots and an increased risk of skin cancer. Everyone, regardless of skin tone should actually wear sunscreen. It's actually a myth that people with darker skin are immune to the sun's harmful effects. In fact, because skin cancer can be harder to detect on darker skin, it's crucial to use protection.

Next up, this is a biggie, biggie, biggie makeup with SPF is enough protection. No, many people believe that using makeup with SPF is sufficient to protect their skin. Now, it's awesome to have that extra layer of protection in your makeup, but most the time the SPF usually isn't enough on its own. The amount of foundation or powder you would need to apply to achieve The SPF on the label is so much more than people think.

And the makeup with SPF is truly a bonus, but not a replacement of your regular sunscreen. So really I love that we're all choosing powders and. BB creams and foundations with SPF, but just know that it's not a hundred percent coverage. And think about, think back to that 80%. That's enough to like, seriously, get me to change my ways. which thankfully I did a long time ago. okay, so moving on, let's talk about choosing the right SPF for your skin type.

Now that we've cleared up those misconceptions, let's chat about this because now all sunscreens are created equal and the best one for you truly depends on your skin's unique needs. So first up, let's talk about oily and acne prone skin. We want to look for sunscreens labeled as non comedogenic, which means non acne causing and oil free ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are great because they actually sit on top of the skin surface and they don't clog your pores.

I love a gel based sunscreen for. acne prone skin as well. and then also looking for products with a matte finish. This can help control shine throughout the day. For dry skin, hydrating sunscreens with ingredients like my favorite hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides can help maintain those moisture levels. Cream based formulas are often most nourishing for dry skin. You might also look for sunscreens that double as moisturizers to keep your skin hydrated and protected.

My sensitive skin beauties, mineral sunscreens, again, with that zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are less likely to irritate your sensitive skin. Avoid sunscreens that have extra fragrances, alcohol, Preservatives like parabens, these can all cause major reactions and flare your skin up like crazy. We do not want that. look for products labeled as hypoallergenic or formulated for sensitive skin. Another tip is that you can use baby sunscreen if you have really sensitive skin.

These are formulated super gentle and they still work just fine on adult skin. For combo skin, a balanced formula that provides moisture without being too greasy is key. Let's look for lightweight lotions or fluid sunscreens that offer hydration but do not clog pores. Products with both hydrating and mattifying properties can help to manage combo skin. My absolute sunscreens is Elta MD. I'm Really, really obsessed right now with this product, they have that's the 46 clear tinted.

I actually use it in place of cover up or foundation. it's got a tint that kind of matches most skin tones. And I love that it comes in a deep version also for those of us out there who have even darker skin naturally. So you don't have that like white paste look, but it gives just enough coverage where it looks like you have a little bit of makeup on without being cakey. And I love that for summer.

Let's dig a little deeper into some top ingredients to look for that are often added to these sunscreens. Now, like I talked about before, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, these are physical blockers and considered mineral sunscreen. They sit on top of the skin and reflect the UV rays. They're great for pretty much all skin really. but especially sensitive skin and they provide a broad spectrum protection. They're also less likely to cause this irritation compared to chemical sunscreens.

these types of mineral sunscreens are also known as, being reef safe, which is, where we're not having this depletion of coral reefs, this, Stuff is safe on marine life. So this is definitely my go to is to go with something with, the zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, because, when you're swimming in the ocean or lakes, you're not going to be emitting that chemical that can damage, plants, marine life, all the little creatures that live in the water we love.

chemical sunscreens will often have ingredients like, homosalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone. these are chemical filters that absorb UV radiation and dissipate the heat instead of with the mineral sunscreens. It's not. Absorbing the heat. It's actually deflecting the heat. So that's where the difference is. And, these chemical sunscreens, they are effective, but they can often cause irritation and sensitive skin and they are not reef safe. bottom line, you have to use what's best for your skin.

Other great ingredients to look for that are often found added into sunscreen formulas are antioxidants, ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea extract can help to protect your skin from free radicals and environmental damage. Antioxidants not only boost the effectiveness of your sunscreen, but can also provide additional skin benefits like brightening and firming. So, you know, I'm all about this. I, I love my antioxidants, um, and hello, brightening affirming. Yes, please.

Uh, next we love to see a good niacinamide. This is actually another way of saying vitamin B3. this can help with redness, inflammation, even out skin tone, making an excellent addition to your sunscreen. Niacinamide is. Also known for its soothing properties, which can benefit all skin types, especially sensitive and acne prone skin. And if someone's got, redness issues, maybe you've been diagnosed with rosacea or have that blanket redness we call Kupero skin, niacinamide products or B3.

actually be great for your skin. Of course, hyaluronic acid known for its hydrating properties. Hyaluronic acid helps to keep the skin plump and moisturized. sunscreens with hyaluronic acid are particularly beneficial for dry and dehydrated skin. when you're choosing a sunscreen, it's crucial to look for sunscreens that are in the broad spectrum protection range. This means the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

UVB rays are the ones that cause sunburn, and I always think, okay, UVBB for burn UVA rays, they penetrate deeper into the skin and cause premature aging. So I think UVAA for aging. A broad spectrum sunscreen will protect you from both types of rays, ensuring comprehensive coverage, but make sure to check your label, to make sure it offers broad spectrum protection. Now, let's talk about applying our sunscreen properly. because we can spend a ton on the most bougie sunscreen.

It's a pretty bottle, all the things, great ingredients. But if we're not using it correctly, it really doesn't do anything for us. So let's talk about this. We for one want to make sure we're applying enough. So how much is enough? For your body, I recommend using about a shot glass worth of sunscreen. and of course everyone's size is different. If use about two ounces and you're like, okay, I ran out. Just. Use some more. It's totally fine.

You don't have to spread that around, for your face, a nickel size amount is typically, where we're at with most people and don't skimp on the amount. we want to make sure we're protecting our skin properly. Now reapplying is important too. reapplying every two hours. Or immediately after swimming or sweating, even water resistant sunscreen needs to be reapplied after being in the water or sweating heavily. And don't forget the easy to miss spots.

So these are areas like your ears, your neck, the tops of your feet, backs of your hands, eyebrows. We miss the eyebrows a lot. I know I've burnt my eyebrows to a crisp and I don't know why. I just don't put sunscreen there, but I typically don't. also the part of our hair. I have burnt myself on the top of my head so many times. So just a teeny tiny bit, it, tiny bits will not make your hair super greasy or anything. layering products is important as well.

Apply your sunscreen as the last step in your skincare routine before any makeup Hopefully you're using a good moisturizer Let that moisturizer absorb in first and then apply your sunscreen and then your makeup if you do wear makeup look for foundations and powders that do have that SPF for the added extra layer of protection, but not relying solely on the makeup SPF, because like we talked about, it's just not enough to provide the adequate protection on its own.

And again, remember the best sunscreen is the one you use consistently. Protecting your skin from UV damage is one of the most important things you can do for your overall skin health and in your beauty regimen. Before we wrap up, I want to touch on a couple of different forms of sunscreen available and their benefits, creams and lotions. So these are the most common forms and they're great for dry skin and they provide additional moisturizer.

They're also easy to apply evenly ensuring thorough coverage. Gels are super ideal for our oily and acne prone skin beauties. These are lightweight and non greasy. They absorb quickly and oftentimes will leave a matte finish, and this is perfect for under makeup. Sprays are super convenient for on the go application. They're easy to use. But this can be tricky to apply evenly, make sure and rub them in after spraying to ensure full coverage.

They're great for reapplying throughout the day too, especially areas like the back. I always keep a spray SPF in my arsenal, because my husband is super terrible about SPF. So I kind of sneak attack him with the spray. At least I know he's getting something because I would not be a good skin representative if I wasn't, at least trying to get my husband to use his SPF properly. Okay, next up are sticks. stick SPFs. are really nice for targeted application.

They're great for the face, the ears around the eyes. They're, mess free and can be really ideal even for applying SPF to children. And, powders also are a great way to use your SPF. I, and this, you'll see with cosmetic SPF add ins, they're good for touch ups throughout the day, especially those with oily skin. They can be applied over makeup, and this is a great way to, apply without disturbing your makeup look.

particularly they're handy for those T zone, Areas because they had a mat, they have a mattifying effect tinted sunscreens. My favorite, these are fantastic for providing a bit of coverage by also protecting your skin from the sun tint in sunscreens can even out your skin tone and reduce the appearance of redness, hyperpigmentation or sunspots. And offer you the protection. And again, my favorite Elta MD tinted. I use the 46 right now, but there's tons of different formulas. tons. okay.

So before we totally wrap up, I want to recap, with a few more myths that I see floating around and clear those up because sometimes, these myths have people thinking like, Ooh, maybe this isn't for me. Maybe I should just forgo it and roll the dice. because this one myth is prevalent. That sunscreen causes vitamin D deficiency. Now, while it's true that sunscreen can reduce the production of vitamin D minimally, you can still maintain healthy levels through diet and supplements.

The benefits of sun protection far away the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Plus, you don't completely need to avoid the sun. Just be smart about your exposure. the next myth is that sunscreens are all the same as you hopefully learned in this episode, this couldn't be farther from the truth.

Sunscreens come in different formulations, varying ingredients tailored to your skin's different skin types and concerns are really, the full spectrums out there for you, depending on your skin type, your goal, choosing the right one for your specific needs is crucial and optimal for skin health and protection. Next up is that sunscreen is only for summer.

Now that it's super important to use year round because those UV rays, so remember UVB is for burn, UVA is for aging, and we're exposed to these year round. they can penetrate through clouds and glass. Protecting your skin from the sun damage is a year round commitment. incorporating the use of SPF into your daily routine, is really crucial. Lastly, water resistant sunscreen doesn't need to be reapplied? No sunscreen is completely waterproof.

Water resistant sunscreens offer protection while you're swimming and sweating, but they still need to be reapplied every 40 to 80 minutes, and absolutely after you get out of the water or you're done with your activity. Always use your products according to the instructions as well. Now I want to dive into some questions from some listeners that I've received, about SPF and some protection. This is a great question. How do I avoid the white cast that some sunscreens leave on my skin?

The white cast is often due to those minerals in the mineral sunscreens like the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. I prefer to look for formulas with these in it, but to look for a sheer or the tinted versions like those Elta MD ones I've been using. these can help to reduce this effect. additionally, newer formulations are coming out and are more sophisticated and less likely to leave a noticeable white cast. And this is so important to when we have, our darker skin tones.

No one wants to walk around with. a weird hue to their skin, due to the sunscreen. So definitely look for those sheer versions, the tinted versions, lots of great products coming out. Can I use the same sunscreen for my face and body? of course you can use the same product. And it's often better to use sunscreen formulated for your face, though, if you have a choice. Facial sunscreens are typically lighter and less greasy. This makes them more comfortable to wear under makeup.

Body sunscreens can be thicker. They may clog pores if used on the face, unless they are labeled as non comedogenic. But definitely, if you have one bottle, just use it everywhere. Using it on your face is better than nothing. Okay, this is a great question. How can I reapply sunscreen over makeup? This is a common concern that I hear a lot. So you've gone through your steps. in the morning with your cleanser, your toner, your serum, your moisturizer.

You've applied your SPF after that and before your makeup. Now you're going about your day. Let's talk about this. So you can use a powder that has SPF in it. Or spray sunscreens are really great. There are spray sunscreens designed for reapplication over makeup. these products provide a convenient way to maintain sun protection without disturbing your makeup. Especially if you're one of those. Lovelies that do the whole contouring and everything. I am always amazed by that.

Um, everyone who can do that stuff. I love it. I had my makeup done recently by a super talented makeup artist and she did all the contouring and I'm like, oh my gosh, we have a problem now. Like, I need to figure out how to get you to do my makeup every single day because it changed my face. Um, I digress, but simply, carry these things, these powders or your sprays to touch up your makeup throughout the day.

in your purse, or if you have a bag that you carry with you all day, it's a really great idea. And you just know that you're doing your skin right and your future self will thank you. Remember. 80%. Okay. So remembering, what are the biggest keys I want you to take away is the best sunscreen is the one you'll use consistently. Protecting your skin from all the UV damage is one of the most important things you can do for your overall skin health and your aging process.

that's all for today's episode of let's glow. I hope you feel more empowered and informed about SPF and how to protect your skin. If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with your friends. A link to some of my favorite sunscreens and my contact information can be found in the episode description. Remember glowing skin is always in until next time, keep glowing and living your best skin life. Produced by Brand|Sound Podcasts.