There are so many types of sunscreen out there. As outdoor lovers, we spend a ton of time in the sun and to protect ourselves from skin cancer and premature aging, it’s so important to wear it! Some people don’t wear it in the winter, but I wear it all the time. I’ve tried tons of brands and began to wonder what the difference was. I was buying sunscreen based on the texture and how it smelled. I love the smell of Hawaiian Tropic, I liked the effectiveness of Coppertone Sport(but it was too greasy), and the Target brand seemed to be good and cheap too.
I bought a facial off Groupon and decided to try it out. With sweat, dirt, and sunscreen coating my skin on a daily basis with all the road and mountain biking, I was having a lot of blackheads and break outs. I asked the aesthetician about it and she recommended that I use a natural sunscreen because it’s better for your skin. “What does that mean?” I wondered.
I did a little more research on sunscreen and just wanted to share my findings in case you were wondering. Sunscreens come in two categories: natural and chemical. Chemical sunscreens neutralize UV rays once they hit the skin. They take about 30 minutes for absorption. Natural sunscreens create a physical barrier to block UVA and UVB rays and are effective immediately. (zinc or titanium oxide). The downside? A slight white sheer color on the skin for some brands. The positives of natural sunscreen? It’s much better for the skin and there are little to no chemicals absorbed. Some of the active ingredients in chemical sunscreens can effect the endocrine system and have petrochemicals and parabens. I’ve been using a mix of chemical and natural. I’ve also been trying some less harsh chemical sunscreens.
I tried the Alba brand, but I didn’t like the smell.
After that, I tried Beyond Coastal and was really impressed because it had other ingredients that seemed to nourish my skin. It is sunscreen, but it also gave the feel of putting on lotion. I looked further and discovered several different natural oils and antioxidants in the sunscreen. I’ve been experimenting with the Active, which is paraben free and also the natural. I’m really happy with the brand. I went back and used my other sunscreens because I don’t want to waste them, but I notice a difference in how my skin feels after. The Beyond Coastal sunscreen also acted as a moisturizer.
As far as SPF, I’ve read different schools of thought. SPF30 and SPF 45 have been effective for me so far. Sunshine is one of my favorite things, and I’m glad we have a way to enjoy the benefits and have many options to protect ourselves from the detrimental effects.
