sunscreen

Spring is nearly here, and if you haven’t already started spending more time outdoors, what are you waiting for? Just don’t forget to stock up on sunscreen. Before you do, though, take a moment to consider what you’re putting on your skin.

To help you make the best choices for sun protection, the skin care professionals right here at our metro Naperville dermatology office offered a review of their favorite sunscreen products and what makes them so noteworthy.

Laurel Poole, PA-C

My pick is Elta MD® broad-spectrum SPF 46. My acne and rosacea patients have a difficult time finding a daily sunscreen that won’t irritate their skin or cause them to break out. I love this product because it moisturizes the skin, it has niacinamide in it to reduce inflammation, and it’s formulated with a slight tint, so it leaves a cosmetically elegant look and feel when applied.

Teryn Honeycutt, M.S., PA-C

My personal favorite sunscreen is NEUTROGENA® Ultra Sheer Dry Touch with Helioplex®. It’s a chemical sunscreen with UVA and UVB coverage. It has one of the best UVA blockers, called Helioplex. It’s lightweight and non-greasy, plus oil-free and non-comedogenic, so it won’t make you break out!

As for a moisturizer and sunscreen all in one, NEUTROGENA Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer Purescreen SPF 50 is my favorite. You get the benefit of a moisturizer and SPF all in one step. It is a physical blocker made with titanium and zinc, so it’s perfect for sensitive skin. And it will not sting or burn when you sweat or if it gets in your eyes!

It’s also difficult to find a spray sunscreen that is a physical blocker with titanium or zinc. Elta MD UV Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 46 is a great one. It protects against UVA and UVB rays, it’s water-resistant up to 80 minutes, and it’s simple to use.

Finally, the scalp is a difficult place to get sunscreen, but we need it, especially if we’re not wearing hats! Any mineral-based powdered sunscreen works well on the scalp at the part line or in thinning areas. The benefit of a powder SPF is that it looks cosmetically pleasing and doesn’t make hair greasy. It comes in different shades to match your skin tone, too! It’s super easy to apply and carry with you. The one I like is Sunforgettable® Brush-On Sunscreen SPF 50. It’s a physical blocker that can be used alone or over makeup. It works as an SPF and a finishing powder in one simple, on-the-go application.

Overall Tips

If you can’t find any of the products we listed, or you’re just picking up some sunscreen in a pinch at the drug store, make sure you look for these things at a minimum:

  • SPF 30 or higher
  • Provides both UVA and UVB coverage (labeled as “broad spectrum”)
  • Oil-free or non comedogenic
  • Fragrance-free

As always, be sure to apply at least every 2 hours or sooner. To learn more about picking the right sunscreen, check out our past blog post. However, we all agree that the best sunscreen is the one you will use!  It might take a few until you find the one you’ll love to wear; we are here to help you find it.