If there was one beauty advice that I wish someone told me in my teens era, it's would be the importance of sunscreen!
Back in my primary and high school days, the only time I see people using sunscreen was during sports day or a swimming gala at school where we would be outdoors for majority of the time. We would all smother ourselves in the iconic Nivea blue bottle of sunscreen over our entire body. I also have to mention the two worst features of those sunscreen... stickiness and white cast!
Plus no one told us that sunscreen are meant to be reapplied throughout the day and especially if you have had sun exposure.
As the years go by, the sun spots on my face also increases which has made me develop a late but good habit of reapplying sunscreen throughout the day. I have always struggled to find one that works well with my combination skin. The Western brands available in the market are all too oily, even if they specify that it is an oil-free formula. It is only in the past five years or so that I have discovered Korean sunscreen which has been a game changer in my skincare routine and it also does not make me blot my oil every 30 minutes!
Another new discovery I made in the recent years is that there are two types of sunscreen, physical and chemical. Both have their own unique benefits but let's break down the differences between the two.
Physical Sunscreen
Physical sunscreen are also known as mineral sunscreen. It works as a physical barrier on your skin that shields and reflects off UV rays. Physical sunscreen offers immediate protection as it doesn't need time for absorption.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|
Protects your skin from broad spectrum, shielding your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays |
It is not water or sweat resistant so need to be reapplied more often |
| Formulated to be gentle and suitable for all skin types especially sensitive skin |
The formula tend to be thicker and is normally hard to spread evenly |
|
Offers your skin immediate protection as it does not need time to absorb |
Tends to leave a white cast on skin and may not be suitable for individuals with a darker skin tone |
Chemical Sunscreen
Chemical sunscreen does not sit on the skin like physical sunscreen but instead they absorb it into the skin, converting UV rays into heat which they body releases. Chemical sunscreen need time to be absorb into the skin so it is recommended that you apply it at least 20 minutes before sun exposure.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|
Protects your skin from broad spectrum, shielding your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays |
Some may not be water or sweat resistance but it is also recommended to reapply throughout the day (but less times than physical) |
| Lightweight in texture and can be spread evenly on skin and due to its lightweight texture, it's also easily absorb by the skin |
Need to apply at least 20 minutes before sun exposure |
|
Suitable for all skin types as it does not leave a white cast |
Can include harsh active ingredients that may not be suitable for sensitive skin |
Both types of sunscreen offers protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays so it is up to you which one your skin enjoys the most. The most important thing is just to remember that both physical and chemical sunscreen need to be reapplied throughout the day to offer enough protection to prevent skin cancer, sun spots and premature aging.