Which sunscreen is the best for my skin?

We all know we should wear sunscreen, right? But with so many on the market, how do you decide which one is best for you?

Broadly speaking, there are two types of sunscreen - Chemical and Barrier Sunscreens. In the end both only work if you put them on in the first place and reapply them as required. Both types of sunscreen reduce the amount of  damaging UV (ultraviolet) light from targeting the skin.  UV light impairs DNA function in skin cells, increasing the risk of skin cancer and premature ageing. 

When I ask my clients if they wear sunscreen, many answer “when I am out in the sun”. Living in regional Australia, I would like to say that most of us are out in the sun, at least briefly, multiple times a day. I personally believe that you should apply sunscreen to your face, neck, chest and backs of hands every day as part of your morning routine- that way you will not be caught out if you inadvertently end up spending more time in the sun.

Chemical Sunscreens

These sunscreens contain a blend of ‘chemicals’ that get absorbed into the superficial layers of your skin to absorb and reflect UV (ultraviolet) light. 

Because a number of different chemicals are used, they can be very light to apply while still affording very good sun protection. One chemical alone is inadequate to provide broad UV spectrum protection, so a blend needs to be used. This has a benefit of making many of the formulations very light to apply, so they ‘melt’ into the skin. 

The negative is that a number of the chemicals are found in urine samples of people wearing them regularly, which would indicate they are absorbed more than just into the surficial layers of the skin.  While there is still debate in Australia about whether this is harmful to our health (getting skin cancer is more harmful!), many people prefer to not use these chemicals in their skin care products. 

The other negative can be the irritation and stinging in the skin - particularly the eyes with sweating. They can also have a strong ‘sunscreen’ scent.

Barrier Sunscreens

These sunscreens form a barrier on the skin that reflects and scatters UV light without absorbing the light or using chemicals that are absorbed into the surface cells. There are many formulations on the market, but most contain a blend of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The pros - they give very good broad spectrum protection and are less easy to wipe off from the skin. They are completely natural and act as skin softeners to protect and nourish the skin, while providing sun protection at the same time. They also have a more neutral scent and are non irritating

The negative is that many formulations are thicker and whiter than their chemical counterparts. There are formulas that are lighter and contain a small amount of skin coloured tinting that makes the cream easier to apply and removes any white appearance. 

So which one is for you? We stock both types at the practice. I am a huge fan of barrier sunscreens and am in the process of trying to compound my own version that is lighter and easier to apply than those currently available on retail shelves. At CWM and Skin we stock Synergie Skin Uberzinc day cream and Uberzinc body sunscreen. These forumations are light, non sticky and blend beautifully into the skin. 

We also stock ASAP moisturising daily defence which is a light, low scent, moisturizing chemical sunscreen that is suitable for all skin types. 

Get in touch with us on (02) 5925 5333 if you have any questions about your skin or to organise an appointment, or book now here.