A Few Things I Bet You Didn't Know About Sunscreen

What is UVA and UVB?

As I’ve entered my 30’s I have embarked on wearing daily SPF to help with my ongoing pigmentation. If only I knew more about skincare in my 20’s I would have been wearing SPF but unfortunately, my 20’s revolved around baking in the sun and trying to maintain a tan only David Dickinson would be proud of!

In case you were in any doubt, I am really passionate about skincare as you may have seen from my last Paragon Aesthetics ZO Skin Health Newsletter. I have discovered some interesting facts about SPF that I thought I share with all you lovely Paragon Clients!

Even in the winter, you need SPF to protect your skin both UVA and UVB rays.

What is UVA and UVB?

UVA: Ultraviolet Burning rays- the kind you get in the sun
UVB: Ultraviolet Ageing Rays- this is the rays that ages you and you don’t need to be in direct sunlight to get this. Even when the sky is cloudy …. If it’s light outside your getting those ageing rays. So when choosing a SPF it’s essential to make sure you’re covered for both UVA and UVB rays.

Overtime UV exposure leads to the formation of wrinkles, dark spots and other problem areas all of which can add years to the way you look. Research shows that UV exposure is the reason behind a whopping 80% of skin ageing.

Did you know you can get 2 types of SPF, Chemical or Physical?
Here’s the low down on the difference…..

Chemical Sunscreens are simply chemicals which absorb the UV rays that hit the skin. These types are generally easier to find, and chances are you are using one! Chemical filters offer more coverage against UVA and UVB rays, however, they tend to be more irritating for the skin and generally aren’t good for acne suffers but can work well on darker skin tones.

Physical Sunscreens are reflectors and usually contain zinc or titanium oxide and therefore reflect the UV rays. This is perfect for me being an acne sufferer as it doesn’t cause breakouts. However, due to the reflective nature of these it tends not to be a good choice for those with darker skin tones as can appear rather white on the skin.

The ZO skinhealth stocks a range of both physical and chemical SPFs ranging form factor 30 to factor 50. All of which can be incorporated into your daily skincare routine and blend naturally to sit under make-up with out that dreaded ‘greasy’ appearance. My personal favourite? The ZO skinhealth sunscreen + primer SPF – I love how this physical SPF blends to become a silky primer. Dr. Elle loves the chemical Smart Tone Factor 50 for the bronzed glow and light weight feel.

Its also worth knowing that your SPF in your makeup is not enough. If you wanted the same SPF protection using your makeup you would you’d need to layer on makeup as much as 15 times thicker than you normally would wear in order to get the UV protection promised by the SPF rating on the bottle!

Your SPF will only last for 2 hours, therefore, reapplication required. Now, girls abd boys, I hear your screams…. What if you’re wearing makeup?

Well, thankfully the cosmetic industry has created a powder version of SPF to cover over after makeup applications, all hail the Sunforgettable brush on Sunscreen in factor 50 by Science. So no need to wash makeup off and start again.

Final Tip….
Taking a Vitamin C supplement alongside applying sunscreen can increase the effectiveness of your SPF.

I can help you choose the right SPF for your skin needs.
Feel free to DM me for advice regarding your SPF
Dani 💋