8 Common Sunscreen Myths Explained
Do I have to wear sunscreen indoors? Are moisturisers with SPF sufficient?
It might seem that the past two years spent working (and dining) from home thanks to COVID-19 has given us a hall pass to go without a few things like bras, wax appointments, brow tweezing, and maybe even sunscreen and SPF.
SPF? Come on, if we were indoors for the most part, why would we need sunscreen? What about this – the moisturiser that I use comes with SPF15 and that should be enough for indoor use, right? Well, the truth Is you do need to slap on an actual sunscreen even if you are indoors for the entire day.
Didn't know that? You're not alone! Here are eight common SPF and sunscreen-related myths and questions debunked and answered.
"The best type of sunscreen is one you will wear every day," says skin scientist Dr Michele Squire from Qr8.
"Physical sunscreens contain titanium dioxide and or zinc oxide, whereas chemical sunscreens contain a combination of UV filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone. Both prevent UV rays from harming the skin.
However there is a myth that chemical sunscreens do this by absorbing UV, and physical sunscreens reflect the UV. This isn't completely correct as both absorb UV energy and convert it into heat energy which then dissipates from the skin."
Not quite. It's recommended to do five things – Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek. Slide!
So, slip on covering, clothing, slop on your SPF, slap on a hat seek some shade, and slide on sunglasses if you're exposed to sun all day.
Yes. If you want to avoid wrinkles, pigmentation, loss of skin elasticity, dark patches and skin cancer then you should wear it every day.
It only takes 15 minutes of exposure to burn your skin and damage your skin cells.
Q: How many pumps or drops of sunscreen do I need to apply?
It depends on the formula. However, a teaspoon is recommended for your face.
Skin scientist Dr Michele Squire from Qr8 says, "A teaspoon for your face, neck, chest and ears is what you need to apply to get the same SPF that's advertised on the bottle. And reapply it several times throughout the day."
Sometimes a hydrating sunscreen can replace your daily morning moisturiser but for the most part, says Ava, "It's the final step in skincare, after moisturisers and right before make-up."
Q: Does wearing high factor SPF prevent me from getting vitamin D?
No."For most people, adequate vitamin D levels are maintained through incidental sun exposure," says Dr Squire. "This is because sunscreens don't filter all UVB (even SPF 50+ only absorbs 98 per cent of UVB) so a few minutes in the sun is enough for adequate vitamin D levels."
Q: Do I need to reapply, and if so what's the best way to do it if I'm wearing makeup?
Yes! You need to reapply every two hours if you're in direct sunlight.
Use a sponge to dab it on over the top of your foundation, and make sure you use a patting motion, rather than rubbing or dragging.
For the best finish use light-weight formulations rather than anything too thick.
Broad spectrum SPF 50+ is the recommended factor to ensure adequate coverage.
SPF 30 is good too, but anything that's 15 and below, forget about it!
Oh and don't even think you'll get the appropriate protection with a foundation or moisturiser "with SPF" – it's not the same and you'd have to apply a tonne to get the adequate SPF protection.
Text: Bauer Syndication