Research shows 90 percent of wrinkles are caused by the sun’s UVA light and sun damage is the #1 cause of premature aging in women and men. The best Oil free sunscreens provide broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB-sunburn) protection. Look for either zinc or titanium minerals in your sunscreen.
This is arguable, of course. But even dermatologists we’ve read tout La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Lait SPF is the best sunscreen in the world. I’ve read many who say they use it themselves. Why does this sunscreen work so well? Because of the chemical “Mexoryl,” well-known all over the world to protect skin from wrinkle-causing UVA rays. (Most sunscreens only protect against UVB rays). How good is Mexoryl? “It produces a product which gives us almost perfect protection against sunshine,” said Dr. Vincent DeLeo, chairman of dermatology at Columbia University to ABC News.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL tinted creme was created just for the face. Unlike the lait version (No. 1 above), the tinted creme won’t cast a white pall over the face. Plus, it’s SPF 50+ so you know you’re being protected. Dermatologists agree you need at least 30 SPF to protect the face from the sun. There’s some debate over whether super high numbers can be trusted, but I have worn this religiously and have yet to sunburn. Downside: The price. At $ 47 this is pricey, but the product does go a long way and it’s small enough to fit into a purse (sunscreen must be reapplied throughout the day if you are out in the sun). While I wish it was a little more product for the money, a few pea-sized dots will do you.
We told you about the best Oil Free sunscreens for the face. But what about the body? California Baby products are organic and natural and aren’t just for babies. It offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection and is also waterproof. I love that you won’t get any bad chemicals or fragrances, which makes this sunscreen ideal for people with allergies and sensitivities to certain ingredients found in many storebought sunscreens.
Extra tip: Sunscreen isn’t only for the face. We read in O magazine that dermatologists report seeing too many women with hands, necks and chests that looked 20 years older than their faces. These women were diligent to keep their faces out of the sun but forgot to protect their hands, necks and chests as well.
Dermagenics wins the best facial moisturizer with SPF round because it’s not full of nasty chemicals that are absorbed into the skin, yet it still provides excellent protection from UVA and UVB rays. It is pricey. But when it comes to your skin and your health, it’s worth it.
Oil free, protective, moisturising fluid
A light, oil free emulsion with a rapid spray application, for a protected and a perfect suntan.
NUCLEIC DEFENCE
Guinot sun care contains Nucleic Défense, the first ever sun care formula to harness the power of DNA to protect against sun damage. UV flters do not provide a uniform protection against all of the sun’s radiation but leave ‘windows’ on the skin surface where UV rays can penetrate, causing damage to the nuclei of the epidermis’ cells.
Guinot sun care products provide triple-power sun protection by combining marine-based DNA with UVA and UVB sun filters and Heliotropine®, which encourages production of a protective layer of melanin, reduces pigmentation spots and aids tanning.
Together, they form a protective barrier between the epidermis and the sun that closes the ‘windows’ and absorbs and neutralises the sun’s damaging UV rays.
We are all agreed by now that everybody needs sunscreen to protect against sun damage, premature aging and skin cancer. However one group is loath to follow the “every day, rain or shine” rule. Understandably, folks struggling with problem skin tend to be more concerned about breakouts than wrinkles or sunspots, and their reluctance to use sunscreen daily may be compounded by their unfortunate experiences with sunscreen worsening their acne. Sadly, it is quite true that certain ingredients in sunscreens can aggravate acne.
What most people don’t know is, zinc oxide is actually good for acne.
Sunscreens and Acne
According to this blog author sunscreens cause acne. While this is true to a certain extent, the real culprit is not sunscreen per se, but the ingredients within the sunscreen formulation. The most common culprits are listed below.
Waxes
Most wax-based sunscreens are very greasy, and can clog pores and contribute to acne.
Titanium dioxide
Non-nano TiO2 can clog the pores, and both non-nano and nano versions of TiO2 can be inflammatory due to their propensity to release free radicals. The blogger cited above makes the common mistake of lumping titanium dioxide and zinc oxide together as pore cloggers– zinc oxide does not clog pores, and it has the advantage of being an anti-inflammatory, so it is actually good for acne.
PABA and oxybenzone
A study appearing in the journal Dermatitis says “Although allergy to sunscreen represents a small proportion (
Even if they are not allergic, acne sufferers should stay away from products that may trigger inflammation, as inflammation is one of the primary contributors to problems with breakouts.
Oil-free sunscreens
Though recommended by many dermatologists for the acne-prone, I believe oil-free sunscreens cause more problems than they solve because 1) it is wax, not oil, that clogs pores, 2) oil-free sunscreens often have a mile-long list of chemical ingredients, including parabens and fragrances in addition to oxybenzone, that may trigger inflammation.
Acne and the Sun
While it is often suggested that UV exposure may be helpful in treating acne, this study dispels the myth. Its conclusion was: “The results did not verify the common belief that ultraviolet radiation is highly beneficial.” By contrast, the negative effects of UV exposure on skin are well-documented.
How to shop for sunscreen if you have acne-prone, oily skin
Now that you are ready to follow the rain or shine rule, oily skin or not, here are a few recommendations for finding a sunscreen that will not aggravate breakouts.
1) Don’t look for an oil free label, but instead read the ingredients to see if it contains a wax like beeswax as one of the ingredients. Too much wax guarantees it will be greasy, but oil-free does not guarantee that it won’t be. 2) Choose zinc oxide over titanium oxide for its beneficial, anti-inflammatory effects.
3) Avoid PABA or oxybenzone. Other chemical ingredients like the cinnmamates or Parsol which have not been associated with allergic reactions may also generate free radicals and thus contribute to inflammation.
In summary, the ideal for acne-prone skin is a non-nano zinc oxide sunscreen in a non-wax base. Using tinted versions that help conceal breakouts will encourage you to use it every day.