Using sunscreen as an adult is essential for your skin health. Just like when you are buying sunscreen for your kids, you should also be mindful when buying sunscreen for yourself. It's important to know what kind to buy for your specific skin type.
First, it's necessary to discard any of last year's sunscreen. These lotions and sprays DO expire, making them less effective or causing them to not work at all. It's also important to keep your sunscreen stored in a cool, dry area to maintain its effectiveness.
When shopping for sunscreen you should opt for a broad-spectrum, which protects against UVA (prematurely ages your skin) and UVB rays (burns your skin). Next, choose one with an SPF of at least 30, that's also water resistant. Even if you won't be in water, if you are outdoors it will also protect your skin while sweating. If you will be conducting an intensive outdoor activity, it is recommended that you choose an SPF of at least 50. There is no scientific evidence showing that higher SPF's offer any more protection than lower numbers. The suggested recommendation is a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 50.
Try to stick with a lotion rather than a spray or stick. Spray sunscreens tend to be inconsistent and ineffective because typically no one applies the spray heavy enough to reach the SPF level stated on the bottle. Stick sunscreens can be good for the face, but require at least four layers to achieve effectiveness.
When it comes to chemical or physical sunscreens for adults, the choice is yours. For children, physical sunscreens are recommended. You can read more on that here.
Top Sunscreen Picks For Adults
Protecting your skin while out in the sun is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Keep your skin safe this season with one of the dermatologist recommended sunscreens above.