What Kind Of Sunscreen Is Best For Me?

Do you find yourself second-guessing your sun protection? Wondering if you need to use a separate facial sunscreen? Or questioning whether to use SPF30 or SPF50+? Then this article is for you. Keep reading to find out which sunscreen is the right one for you in 2022.

What types of sunscreen are there?

When it comes to sunscreen, there are two main types or formulas to choose from; physical sunscreen or chemical sunscreen. Here’s an explanation of each:

• Physical sunscreen: More correctly known as mineral sunscreen. This formula works by absorbing 95% of UV rays and reflecting 5% away from your skin.
• Chemical sunscreen: They work by absorbing UV light to protect it from reaching your skin.

SPF 30 vs SPF50+ ?

If you’ve gone sunscreen shopping before, you’ll know there are lots of different sun protection factors to choose from. If you’re looking for sunscreen makeup, you’ll know that the level of protection generally starts at around SPF15. When it comes to face or body sunscreens, we recommend SPF30 or SPF50+. It can be a little confusing to understand how that translates to time protected, but think of it like this. Essentially, it means an SPF 30 would take you 30 times longer to burn compared to if you weren’t wearing that sunscreen. SPF 50 would take you 50 times longer.

Do I need to wear a specific face sunscreen?

Technically, the answer here is no. However, if you’re at all concerned about breaking out whilst wearing sunscreen, or have specific skin concerns, then it’s a really smart idea to choose a separate face sunscreen. Why? Because face sunscreens are designed for the sole purpose of being worn on delicate facial skin. They are generally made considering that the wearer will also use other skincare products and might be using makeup. This means they’re less likely to split under makeup, cause white cast, and you can choose one suited to your skin type (acne prone, oily, dry etc).

Remember body sunscreens can most definitely still be worn on facial skin- you’ll still get the same level of protection but it might cause your makeup to split or white cast as they’re not designed explicitly for facial wear.

Best facial sunscreen for sensitive skin

With that in mind, let’s talk about the best sensitive sunscreen. If you have reactive skin or are prone to getting red, then mineral formulas are generally the way to go. Specifically, we like Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF 50+. It’s a zinc-only mineral sunscreen that doesn’t feel heavy, sticky or uncomfortable on the skin. It’s ultra soothing and sets with a subtle matte finish. Even better, it’s packed with hydrating Pentavitin to keep skin looking and feeling great.

Best facial sunscreen for dry skin

If you’re experiencing dehydrated skin or just naturally have a dry skin type, we recommend investigating a serum sunscreen formula. Try the Queen Screen SPF50+ from Ultra Violette for instant hydration and serious glow. It’s full of Dragosine Plus and Kakadu Plum which has 50 times more Vitamin C than an orange!

Best sunscreen for acne

Are you someone who tends to shy away from sunscreen for fear of further breakouts? If you are acne prone, we totally understand you might be hesitant to apply sunscreen after previous bad experiences. However, it’s very important to make sure you still use sun protection! Consider the Clean Screen SPF30 Sunscreen from Ultra Violette to avoid all breakouts and still protect skin from the sun. It’s an alcohol-free and fragrance-free formula with a super lightweight gel texture.

Feel a little more in control to choose the right sunscreen for you? Remember wearing sunscreen is just one small step to staying protected. Pop on a hat, stay in the shade and wear other protective clothing like sunglasses!