Your mother makes use of one sort. Your coworker, one other. Your sister swears by a model you’ve by no means heard of. And your closest good friend forgot to place theirs on this morning (gasp!).

With so many choices, how do you select the proper facial sunscreen to your pores and skin sort and way of life? At present, we’re answering your commonest questions. From SPF and UV rays to layering and expiration dates, we’ll show you how to discover your new favourite sunscreen and match it into your skincare routine with ease.

What’s sunscreen (and do I really want it day-after-day)?

Let’s begin with the fundamentals: sunscreen is a product formulated to guard your pores and skin from the dangerous results of photo voltaic radiation—particularly UVA and UVB rays. Its essential job is to assist stop rapid injury like sunburn, in addition to long-term results like photoaging and the danger of growing pores and skin most cancers.

Sunscreens use filters that take up, mirror, or scatter the solar’s rays, serving to to defend your pores and skin. However not all sorts of photo voltaic radiation have an effect on your pores and skin the identical manner. A number of the solar’s rays can go via clouds and home windows. Others mirror off surfaces akin to water and snow. And a few could make your pores and skin age quicker than others.

That is the place the kind of sunscreen you select could make all of the distinction. And it additionally makes day by day use important for wholesome, glad pores and skin.

How sunscreen works

First, let’s discuss concerning the photo voltaic spectrum. The photo voltaic spectrum is made up of various sorts of radiation, and a few them may sound acquainted:

• UVA rays: Also known as growing old rays, as these rays are chargeable for untimely pores and skin growing old (photoaging), together with darkish spots and wrinkles. Such a ray is current all yr spherical and may go via glass, reaching your pores and skin whilst you’re at dwelling, driving, or working on the workplace.
• UVB rays: Suppose B for burning, as these rays are the primary explanation for sunburn and DNA injury to pores and skin cells. Their depth varies relying on the time of day, season, location, and altitude.

Broad spectrum sunscreen protects in opposition to UVA and UVB radiation—serving to to cut back the danger of sunburn, photoaging, and most significantly, pores and skin most cancers.

• Blue mild: Reaching us each indoors and outside, we’re uncovered to photo voltaic blue mild day-after-day. Latest research have linked it to the looks of darkish spots or uneven pigmentation, particularly in individuals with deeper pores and skin tones.
• Infrared: Also referred to as warmth rays, you’re feeling the solar’s heat when your pores and skin absorbs this kind of radiation. However it could additionally trigger oxidative injury in your pores and skin—driving the indicators of photoaging.

Some revolutionary sunscreens may assist defend in opposition to blue mild and infrared or warmth injury.

Can sunscreen assist fight pores and skin growing old?

Your pores and skin has a reminiscence, and solar injury provides up through the years. Each time you’re uncovered to UV radiation, free radicals are created. These unstable molecules break down pores and skin proteins and speed up seen indicators of growing old.

Whereas your physique naturally fights again with antioxidants, an excessive amount of solar could cause oxidative stress, resulting in advantageous traces, wrinkles, and discoloration. Thankfully, sunscreen can assist defend your pores and skin in opposition to the photoaging results of the solar—particularly formulation full of added antioxidants.

If I don’t burn, ought to I nonetheless put on sunscreen?

Sure! Sadly, there’s no such factor as “protected tanning” or immunity from the the solar’s results. Regardless of your pores and skin tone, unprotected publicity can injury pores and skin cells, velocity up the pure growing old course of, and improve pores and skin most cancers threat. Do your finest to guard your self with sunscreen and good habits, akin to looking for shade or sporting a hat.

How to decide on a sunscreen

Varieties, textures, and advantages. These are the beginning factors for locating one of the best sunscreen to your pores and skin. Now, let’s dig into every issue.

Which is best, SPF 30, 40 or 50+?

SPF, or Solar Safety Issue, doesn’t measure time—it’s a comparability of how far more safety your pores and skin has with sunscreen than with out. For instance, in case your pores and skin would usually burn after 10 minutes within the solar, an SPF 30 would prolong that point to about 300 minutes, assuming you apply sufficient and reapply commonly.

However there are some things to notice right here. This timeframe is dependent upon your pores and skin sort—honest pores and skin sorts can burn quicker than common. Furthermore, most individuals don’t apply sufficient sunscreen, in quantity or frequency.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends selecting SPF 30 or larger and reapplying at the very least each two hours. Past that, it’s about understanding your pores and skin, the period of time you spend within the solar, and private desire.

In relation to SPF, the quantity issues—however making use of sufficient, and infrequently, issues extra.

Is there a distinction between face sunscreen and physique sunscreen?

The foremost distinction between physique and face sunscreen is texture and formulation. Sunscreen shouldn’t really feel like a chore to put on, and your best option is one you’ll put on day-after-day. For face sunscreens, search for an ultralight emulsion formulation. Go for one which melts into pores and skin simply, with out leaving a greasy residue or white forged.

Which ISDIN sunscreen is best for you?

Tinted versus invisible. Mineral or chemical safety. With so many decisions, crucial factor is ensuring your pores and skin is in good arms.

Search for a sunscreen with broad spectrum safety, excessive SPF, and a light-weight texture that absorbs shortly. ISDIN facial sunscreens test all these packing containers and extra. Let’s discover your excellent match:

360° safety, invisible protection & 12-hour hydration:* Fusion Water MAGIC

This superior formulation boasts broad spectrum SPF 40 solar safety whereas serving to to defend in opposition to free radical injury from blue mild, air pollution, infrared, and warmth. All with a light-weight texture you’ll love sporting.

That is your sunscreen if:

• You’re searching for a hydrating end that works effectively underneath make-up or by itself
• You’d like an invisible, ultralight texture with no white forged, pilling, or greasy feeling
• You’re targeted on serving to to stop your first advantageous traces and wrinkles

Premium all-mineral safety: Eryfotona Actinica

Eryfotona Actinica is an ultralight, all-mineral SPF 50+ sunscreen designed to each defend your pores and skin from solar injury and assist restore current injury. Its traditional, invisible end melts proper into pores and skin.

That is your sunscreen if:

• You’ve observed a number of indicators of solar injury and photoaging and need to soften them
• You’re searching for very excessive SPF protection with an invisible end
• You’d choose a water-resisitant suscreen
• All-mineral formulation are essential to you

Premium all-mineral tinted safety: Eryfotona Ageless

Eryfotona Ageless is an all-mineral tinted SPF 50 sunscreen designed to guard the pores and skin whereas concentrating on current and anticipated indicators of pores and skin growing old because of the solar. It accommodates a strong mix of peptides and antioxidants, together with peptide Q10 and vitamin E.

That is your sunscreen if:

• You’ve observed a number of indicators of solar injury and photoaging and need to soften them
• You’re searching for very excessive SPF protection with a tinted end
• You’d choose a water-resisitant suscreen
• All-mineral formulation are essential to you

Your pores and skin is in good arms: All ISDIN sunscreens are additionally non-comedogenic and dermatologist-tested.

How you can put on sunscreen

Now’s the second. You’ve discovered your on a regular basis skincare ally: the proper facial sunscreen. The following step? Ensure you’re sporting it the proper manner and reapplying typically sufficient.

Ought to I apply sunscreen earlier than or after moisturizer?

Sunscreen needs to be the final step in your skincare routine, so that you’ll apply it after your moisturizer. Right here’s a fast breakdown of a morning skincare routine:

Step 1: Cleanse
Step 2: Apply eye contour cream
Step 3: Apply your serum
Step 4: Moisturize
Step 5: Shield pores and skin with sunscreen

Be sure that to go away a while between making use of your moisturizer and transferring on to your sunscreen step to make sure the product has absorbed appropriately. One other tip? Apply your sunscreen in accordance with the product label and at the very least quarter-hour earlier than leaving the home within the morning or earlier than solar publicity.

How typically ought to I reapply sunscreen?

Reapply at the very least each two hours, whatever the safety issue. And much more incessantly (each 40 minutes or so) whereas swimming, sweating, or after you’ve dried off with a towel. All of those measures depend upon the exercise you’re doing, the depth of the solar while you’re uncovered, and even on pores and skin sort.

What about reapplying sunscreen over make-up? Go for a tinted formulation and a mineral brush for additional protection and safety. 

Does sunscreen expire?

Sunscreen does have an expiration date. However don’t fear, it’s in all probability not any time quickly! 

The Meals and Drug Administration mandates that each one sunscreens will need to have an expiration date. Nevertheless, that timeline solely considers optimum storage circumstances. So if you happen to’re susceptible to leaving your sunscreen in a sizzling automobile, your formulation may faucet out sooner. 

To maintain your sunscreen in tip-top form, keep away from exposing the bottle to extreme warmth or direct solar. And ensure to toss out sunscreen that’s previous the expiration date or exhibits any notable adjustments in coloration or consistency. Right here at ISDIN, we advise that with common use and storage, most sunscreens needs to be used up inside a yr. 

Loving your pores and skin means defending it day-after-day

By way of the years, rain or shine, one of the best ways to offer your pores and skin the TLC it deserves is by maintaining it protected. And sunscreen is your trusty ally alongside the best way. As a result of glad pores and skin is wholesome pores and skin, and wholesome pores and skin is gorgeous.

Reference:
*Information on file. ISDIN, 2025.
Naidoo, Okay., Birch-Machin, MA. Oxidative Stress and Ageing: The Affect of Environmental Air pollution, Daylight and Eating regimen on Pores and skin. In Cosmetics (2017): 4, 4.
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen-patients/sunscreen-faqs

Editorial Group

Our namesake embodies the spirit of embracing life and all its surprise. As wellness journalists, we discover subjects that invigorate the senses and hold curiosity alive. We consider that glowing pores and skin is the results of a wholesome physique and thoughts. Weaving magnificence with science, we goal to encourage you to dwell younger at all ages.