You can have all the fun in the sun with the right sunscreen.
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Mineral Sunscreens are your best choice.
Mineral sunscreens contain ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They block and reflect UV rays, so that they do not enter the skin. Mineral sunscreens are generally well-tolerated by sensitive skin because their ingredients aren’t absorbed into the skin itself. Instead, the physical filters in mineral sunscreens sit on the surface of the skin and act as a screen that deflects UV radiation. This makes mineral sunscreen my choice of sun protection.
Chemical sunscreens on the other hand are formulated with chemicals that absorb the sun’s UV rays, so that they do not cause any damage to your skin. These can be irritating to the skin, and some of the chemicals can also enter the bloodstream.
There are three primary UV ray types: UVA, UVB & UVC
Broad spectrum mineral sunscreens
protect you from both UVA & UVB rays.
While UVB rays are the ones mostly responsible for sunburn, and the cause of the majority of skin cancers, UVA rays are the main cause of premature skin aging. While clouds reduce UV rays a little, they don't block them. To keep your skin protected, put on your sunscreen whenever you go outside, and perhaps even when you are indoors, especially if you, for example, work near a window. More than 50% of UVA rays penetrate glass.
Shop Mineral Sunscreens
Australian Gold and CeraVe are the mineral sunscreens I have been using. They are both budget friendly, non-greasy and absorb easily into my skin. Elta MD I plan to try since I have seen it highly recommended. Due to the zinc oxide, mineral sunscreens tend to have a slight white cast. If this doesn't work with your skin tone, consider the tinted version. To achieve just the right skin tone, you can also mix to match! Simply squeeze some sunscreen on the back of your hand, add a little bit of tinted sunscreen or mineral foundation powder, then mix & apply.
But how do I get my Vitamin D?
It only takes about 15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure to create all of the vitamin D that your body needs for the day. If I can, I sunbathe the back of my body, otherwise I take a vitamin D supplement.