Wondering what’s the best sunscreen to use for kids, your face, or swimming?
We cover all three, and more in this post, so keep reading for the answers
You’re here to learn about sunscreen, so let’s play a quick game. Out of the following 3 statements, which ones do you think are true?
- High SPF sunblock works the best
- You don’t have to reapply waterproof sunblock
- All sunblock works the same
Surprise, every single one of those statements is FALSE. But odds are, you’ve probably heard at least one of them before.
And that’s because the reality is, a lot of us have been misled about sunscreen and how it works. Yes, of course it protects you from skin damage. And you should absolutely wear it whenever you’re outside or swimming.
But what makes one sunscreen better than the other?
And how do you know what offers the most protection if high SPF alone doesn’t measure that?
Those are the exact questions we’ll be answering in the next few lines. So if you want to get helpful sunscreen tips, and learn the truth about SPF ratings, keep scrolling.
What’s The Best Sunscreen For Kids, Your Face, and Swimming?
Why use sunscreen? | The benefits of using sunscreen
- Protects your skin against harmful UVA and UVB radiation from the sun.
- Helps prevent sunburns
- Keeps skin looking healthy by slowing down the formation of wrinkles
- Easy to use and affordable protection against the sun
- Decreases risk of 3 different types of skin cancer
- “[Studies suggest that] sunscreen protects against all three of the most common skin cancers: squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. The degree of protection that sunscreen provides is directly related to the degree to which ultraviolet radiation is associated with the formation of the skin cancer. For instance, in prospective studies of sunscreen, the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma is reduced the most—as much as 40% over four years.” – Harvard Health Publishing
Which SPF sunscreen is best?
For anyone in need of reliable protection from the sun, dermatologist recommending using at least 30 SPF sunscreen. Sunscreen with 30 SPF blocks about 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays, which works great for protecting against sunburns.
Understanding what SPF measures
The sun emits two types of radiation when it shines down on us :
- UVB radiation – causes sunburns
- UVA radiation – penetrates skin deeper, causes premature aging and severe skin damage
Exposure to both types of radiation increases your risk of skin cancer drastically. Luckily, sunscreen works to help protect you from that.
SPF ratings measure how much protection sunscreens provide against UVB radiation (sunburn protection).
But what SPF doesn’t measure is how well a sunscreen protects against the far more lethal, UVA radiation.
So beware, just because a sunscreen has a high SPF, doesn’t mean it’s fully protecting you.
For full protection against both UVA and UVB radiation, choose sunscreens containing either 3% avobenzone or 15% zinc oxide. Both of these ingredients offer the much needed, extra protection against UVB rays.
How to choose the best sunscreen for kids & babies
For babies and small children, using a gentler, more hypoallergenic sunscreen can be a great choice.
Look for 30+ SPF sunscreens with fragrance-free, paraben-free, dye-free, and phthalate-free formulas, that contain at least 15% zinc oxide. These are some of the best sunblock options for kids, as well for adults with sensitive skin or allergies.
How to choose the best sunscreen for your face
Choosing a sunscreen for your face is a little different than choosing one for the rest of your body.
Why?
Because the skin on your face is some of the most sensitive skin on your body. And since you don’t want to get burned, or clog your pores with an oily product and breakout, it’s important to choose the right sunscreen for the job.
When it comes to your face, it’s often most effective to choose a moisturizing lotion with broad spectrum SPF protection. These lotions are specially formulated to be gentle and pore-friendly, while also shielding you against harmful UVB and UVA rays. The same rays that age your skin, dry it out, and permanently damage it.
So why not gets two things done at once, by using an SPF moisturizing lotion that keeps your skin hydrated and protects it from sun damage?
How to choose the best sunscreens for swimming
In most cases, sports sunscreens work best for swimming. These formulas are non-greasy, and designed to offer you a bit more water resistance than regular sunscreens.
But if you don’t want to get burned, you’ll still want to reapply every 2 hours. Because even “waterproof” sports sunscreens need to be reapplied for the most effective protection.
Related: 40 Must-Play Swimming Pool Games For Kids & Adults
5 Sunscreen Tips For Summer
- Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours for consistent, all day protection
- Choose at least 30 SPF sunblock
- For the best anti aging and skin damage protection, wear SPF whenever you’re in the sun
- Dermatologists recommend mineral sunscreens for sensitive skin
- Use hats, sunglasses, and clothing to shield against the sun
