Wearing sunscreen has lots of benefits, and if you spend your money on skincare and still do not wear this product then trust me you are wasting your money. Well, if you do not want to think: “I do skincare but my skin does not care” then you should probably start giving more importance to this worthy product regardless of the season and age.

If you are just starting your skincare journey and have never used one, here is your comprehensive guide to choosing the best sunscreen this season:

1. Consider SPF

SPF stands for “sun protection factor”. In simple terms, SPF is the amount of protection sunscreen can provide against UVB rays. When buying a sunscreen look for SPF between 15 to 50, this should do the job.

The choice of SPF also depends on where you live and your lifestyle. If you live in a hot region and have to go out on daily basis you should look for SPF above 30.

But here is the plot twist, “the higher the SPF, less the difference". That means you can pay more for a higher SPF, let us say 90 but it will almost give you the same protection as SPF 50. So, spend your money wisely.         

2. Broad-spectrum

U.V rays are made up of UVA rays which cause aging and UVB rays which cause sunburns. Choosing broad-spectrum sunscreen will ensure that you get protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

3. The star ingredients

Everyone buys their skincare based on the main or the star ingredient and their need. By the way, my favorite star ingredient is "niacinamide”. But do you know that sunscreen has star ingredients too?

When you buy your sunscreen next time look for the following ingredients: ecamsule, avobenzone, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, sulisobenzone, or zinc oxide. If your sunscreen has at least any one of them, it should do the job.  

4. Skin type

What work for others might not work for you that is because everyone has different skin. Remember to always buy sunscreen according to your skin type. If you have dry skin look for something moisturizing. If you have acne-prone skin look for non-comedogenic sunscreen. If you have oily skin look for powder or gel-based sunscreen.

5. Personal preference

Last but not least, you should buy sunscreen based on personal preference about formulations. There are tons of different types of sunscreen available nowadays. Some are with a white cast, some are transparent, some are tinted, and so on. So look for what you like. For example, if you do not like to wear heavy makeup every day, using tinted sunscreen can solve the problem. If you have hyperpigmentation, a small amount of white cast in your sunscreen can blur it. If you want to apply makeup on top of your sunscreen, you should go for gel-based or creamy formulas to blend your makeup easily.

Conclusion

Remember, skincare is all about trial and error and it may take some time to figure out your holy grail products. Until then, keep on trying different sunscreens and protect your skin so you can age gracefully.