Sunscreen: how to choose a good sunscreen?

best sun cream
best sun cream for oily skin
best sun cream for dry skin
best sunscreen for sensitive skin

How to choose between a chemical or mineral UV protection cream? My opinion

It's not an easy choice, but I'll summarize for you:

Organic sunscreens often have a better texture than mineral sunscreens, which is why I recommend chemical sunscreens for people with acne-prone skin, oily skin or dark skin, as organic sunscreens are less likely to be whitening.

We can also recommend mineral protections for children and babies. Mineral products can qualify as organic. However, their main drawback is that some filters tend to irritate facial skin.

That's why when you have a bad reaction to a sunscreen, I advise you to check what the sun filters used in the composition, some of which are better known than others for causing irritation, such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, enzacamene and octocrylene.

Mineral sunscreens can be recommended for people with sensitive skin or melasma. The major disadvantage of mineral filters is that they leave white marks on the surface of our skin. If you want to limit white marks, I advise you to buy a tinted mineral cream.

SPF and UVA UVB protection index: My opinion

Now let's take a look at the other criteria to consider, and in particular the protection factor. You need to choose a sunscreen that really protects you from UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays reach the deeper layers of the skin and are responsible for premature aging of the dermis. They cause premature skin slackening known as solar elastosis, so if you're concerned about skin slackening, you know what you have to do. They also play a role in the appearance of skin cancers. UVB rays attack the superficial layers of the skin, causing sunburn, tanning and delayed hyperpigmentation, and are responsible for most skin cancers.

The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) indicates protection against UVB rays, and I recommend a minimum of 50. For UVA rays, there are several indexes: the famous UVA logo indicates that protection against UVA rays is at least a third of the SPF, but there is also the PPD, which ranges from 2 to 50, and the PA, which ranges from 1 to 4+.

The texture of UV protection creams: My opinion

The benefits of sun protection are enormous over the long term, but it's not always easy to incorporate sunscreen into your skin care routine. facial careThe texture may be too oily or, on the contrary, dry out the skin.

In fact, to achieve a more matte finish, manufacturers tend to use powders that absorb excess grease, such as silica, zinc oxide or iron oxide powders. The other possibility is to use alcohol to make the texture of sunscreens lighter. The advantage of alcohol in a suncare formula is that it considerably lightens the texture.

What's more, silicone tends to give sunscreens a matte, slightly blurred appearance. Also, be careful with fluid textures: the temptation is not to apply enough sun cream, as it spreads too easily and you risk not getting the sun protection you need. For your information, here are some filters that provide the best textures: TINOSORB S, UVINUL A PLUS, UVINUL T150, MEXORYL

But to sum up, my advice is to use a sunscreen with the right texture for your skin. You can also find a milk, oil, mist or spray texture.

Mineral filters, of which there are two, are called zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They're also known as physical filters, because they act by reflecting part of the UV rays, but also by absorbing UV rays and transforming them into energy, like organic filters.

How to choose the right sunscreen?

A lot depends on what you want from it, your skin type, whether you prefer a light or thick texture, and whether you prefer Asian or European creams. In this guide, I'm going to give you the keys to understanding how sun creams work, so you can choose your ideal sun cream. And, of course, I'll also give you my recommendations for the best sunscreens on the market. best sun creams in Europe and Asia.

Asian sun creams

My sunscreen recommendations for oily skin

Sunscreens for oily skin should be light, with a very fluid texture. Old-fashioned, pasty sunscreens should be avoided at all costs. You can read this guide to learn more about best sunscreens for oily skin.

My sun cream recommendations for dry skin

Sun creams for dry skin are often moisturizers with UV protection. Of course, I advise you to choose a minimum SPF 50. You can read this guide to find out which best sunscreens for dry skin.

My sun cream recommendations for sensitive skin

It's hard to find a non-irritating sunscreen for sensitive skin, as most sunscreens contain potential irritants. You need to choose an SPF 50 and test.

You can read this guide to learn more about best sun creams for sensitive skin.

Sunscreens:

At present, only 28 UV filters are authorized by European regulations. There are two types of filter: organic and mineral. Organic filters are so called because they have a carbon atom in their composition. They absorb the UV rays arriving on our skin, which they then convert into heat.

As you can see, it's hard to make sense of it all. What we can see is that a significant number of filters are fat-soluble, which makes the composition of light sunscreens difficult.

Buying a European, Asian or US sunscreen: My opinion

The main problem with French sunscreens is that they often use the same sun filters, such as octocrylene or avobenzone, which can cause irritation, and European sunscreens often tend to be too moisturizing. But rest assured, I've selected the best French creams for you.

Asian sunscreens are designed for everyday use, not for the beach. Asians are accustomed to layering and don't want too heavy a sunscreen, and the humid climate doesn't lend itself to it. So Asian sunscreens are really designed for everyday use.

In the USA, one of the only authorized organic UVA filters is avobenzone, and this filter is less stable than the Tower of Pisa, meaning that manufacturers are obliged to stabilize it with other UV filters or with anti-oxidants such as vitamin E.

I'm going to introduce you to sun creams that are matte or brighter, tinted or white, some of which are more suitable for darker skin and others for lighter skin tones, and there's something for every budget. Low prices and high prices. What's more, I'm going to introduce you to products that can be found simply in a drugstore, and Asian sunglasses that can be ordered online.

Products can be ordered by internet delivery. Stock levels are displayed on the seller's website. Don't forget to protect your face and body from the sun, with clothing, especially for babies and children, and to limit exposure to the sun. The marques presented : La Roche Posay, Avène, bioderma photoderm, biosolis, acorelle.

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