How can I get the best out of my sunscreen?
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RealAge answered:The following are six tips for sunscreen use.
- If you’re dark-skinned, choose chemical sunscreens over zinc and titanium formulas, as the mineral-based ones may give you a whitish hue.
- If a sunscreen makes your skin sting, itch, or break out, the likely culprits are PABA, benzophenone-3, or octyl methoxycinnamate; switch to a formula without those ingredients. If you are sensitive to any of these chemicals, switch to any of the zinc oxide or titanium dioxide varieties.
- Apply indoors, about 30 minutes before you go out in the sun.
- Ignore promises of “all-day protection” and “water-resistant,” they are not reliable. Reapply all sunscreens at least every two to three hours and right after you’ve been sweating a lot or swimming.
- There’s an expiration date on sunscreens. Check it and toss old ones (most last up to two years).
- Don’t store sunscreens in the glove compartment of your car -- heat degrades them.
From The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Less Stress, Gorgeous Skin, and a Whole New You by Amy Wechsler.
Find out more about this book: The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Less Stress, Gorgeous Skin, and a Who...
The following are six tips for sunscreen use. If you’re dark-skinned, choose chemical sunscreens over zinc and titanium formulas, as the mineral-based ones may give you a whitish hue. If a sunscreen makes your skin sting, itch, or... More
