The blazing summer months are quickly approaching, which means that it’s time to re-up your sunscreen game. Quick PSA: Even though this summer may sadly look much different than years past (AKA we’re all going to be spending much more time inside), you should still include a quality SPF in your daily skin care routine—in fact, if you ask a dermatologist, they’ll tell you that it’s the most important step.
Regardless of skin tone, sunscreen is a year-round staple because clouds and even windows don’t block all UV rays. Many can still get through and damage your skin. In the short term, that can manifest as hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and even acne. In the long term, UV damage can lead to premature signs of skin aging (fine lines and wrinkles) and cause skin cancer.
Still, the temptation to occasionally skimp on daily SPF application, and especially re-application, is real, which is where powder sunscreens come in handy. Instead of slathering another layer of liquid sunscreen onto your already made-up, sweat-beaded complexion, you can simply dust on a lightweight powder dispensed out of a tube with a built-in brush. Not only will it provide a second buffer layer of protection against UV rays, but powder sunscreens can also help absorb excess oil, even out skin tone, and re-set your makeup. What’s not to love?
Here’s the fine print: Powder sunscreens rely on the mineral SPF ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide (rather than chemical sunscreens), which work on the surface of the skin as a shield to block UV rays.
“For both powdered and liquid sunscreens, the amount of protection, known as the sun protection factor (SPF), depends on how much product is applied,” explains NYC-based dermatologist Marisa Garshick. “In general, people do not apply a thick enough layer of the powder to offer the protection that is on the label,” she explains. This is why powdered SPF should generally be layered on top of liquid sunscreen—on top of your makeup, even—in order to “offer a great extra layer of protection,” Garshick says. Read more
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