Sunscreen

Sunscreen comes in different forms and values but what is most important is that you don't forget to apply it in the morning before leaving for work and again in the afternoon, most especially before exposing your skin to the sun's rays for more than fifteen minutes. The sunscreen to use should contain a sun protection factor of at least fifteen. It can be applied with your moisturizer or foundation although it is recommended by experts that the sunscreen be applied on the skin before applying anything else.

Sunscreens are classified into chemical sunscreens and barrier sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens permit the ultra violet rays of the sun to reach the skin's surface but prevent its entry, thus avoiding sun damage. They are absorbed in the skin thus the need to apply it at least every three to four hours, like in the morning, noon, early afternoon, and late afternoon. Barrier sunscreens, or the more familiar name, sun block, may contain zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or both. They act as barriers against the sun's rays from touching the skin. They are not absorbed into the skin, thus they last longer and are needed to be applied on the skin just once which is enough for the whole day.

If your skin is sensitive to chemicals, it is advisable that you use a barrier sunscreen instead of a chemical one to avoid any complications. Sunscreen should be generously applied to all areas of the skin exposed to the sun, especially the face and neck areas. Protection from the harsh rays of the sun is needed for the whole day, even if you are indoors since it is also reflected in the mirror, the glass, and such.

Here are some suggestions for using sunscreen:

Sunscreen should be applied at least twenty minutes before going out and twenty minutes after. During strenuous activities that cause you to sweat, or swimming activities, sunscreen should be applied at least every two hours since it might be washed away by the water or sweatWater resistant sunscreens last for only half the time as regular sunscreen, only forty minutes, so the application of sunscreen should be every forty minutes. The nose area needs a double dose of sunscreen since it is the area most prone to skin cancer.Always check the expiration date of your sunscreen. It may have already lost its potency.

You can also use a foundation that contains sunscreen, but experts recommend that you also apply sunscreen before you apply any foundation.