The Pink Charm
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Beauty

Can you use regular sunscreen on your face?

Introduction

Skipping your makeup routine at times is understood. But going out without a sunscreen layer on your skin, in the blazing sun can complicate things for you. Ultraviolet rays can penetrate your skin surface and damage your skin cells. The result is dark spots, sunburns and quadrupled risk of skin cancers on prolonged exposure. Dermatologists recommend application of the same body sunscreen for your facial skin as well, if you do not have a separate one. It is better to have some protection from the damaging rays than not having any. Sunscreen for face is a must whether you go for a common sunscreen for both body and face or not.

It is perfectly fine to apply your body sunscreen on your facial skin too. But for far fetched results, it is ideal to have a facial sunscreen with higher SPF numbers balancing makeup and skin tone compliance. Some sunscreens are capable of absorbing the excess moisture from your skin to give you a clean, dry and fresh version of skin. Looking for vitamins and soothing herbal extracts can save you from harsh chemical combinations, which the sunscreen formula usually has. They might not be acting as sunfilters exactly, but do not fail to add up to the nourishing property of the sunscreens. Along with this protection the sunscreen must be beneficial for the sensitive skin types too.

The facial skin is more sensitive to heat and sun rays than the rest of your body. The sunscreens for facial skin are specifically designed to suit its needs. Excess sweating and dry heat waves are balanced by these facial sunscreens to keep your makeup and skin texture from being damaged or ruined. That is why it is always better to have a facial sunscreen along with a body sunscreen. You can buy and apply the facial sunblock only after proper scrutiny and matching its moisturization and final finish.

What body Sunscreens do not consider?

Here are certain points that body sunscreens fail to consider in case of facial skin protection.

  1. Delicate facial skin texture
  2. Sensitive at times- acne and pimples
  3. Body sunscreens may spoil your makeup. Oily, sweaty and dry skin types are clubbed together and served the same protection by these. Understand that each skin type needs a unique sunscreen for better moisturization and a healthy appearance.
  4. Higher SPF sunscreens for facial skin, as it is the most exposed skin patch of your body to air, water and heat.
  5. Skin should be clear post application with no dry milky residues. Physical sunblocks leave a white non uniform finish after application.
  6. It should smell fresh and pleasing on your facial skin. Sunscreen for facial skin must compliment your deodorant fragrances or perfumes for the day. Having these in a mis-matching nature can be baffling for you and others.
  7. The body sunscreens are mostly thicker in texture and are not that good at giving you a clear finish. The chemical sunscreens can be used as the body sunscreen to have a clear and smooth finish. The white residue post application is missing here. These seep into the skin layer especially the outermost layer to absorb the sun rays falling on your skin. Then release the heat from your body. If this doesn’t sound pleasing  then you can opt for a physical sunblock. They do leave a white residue post application yet they do not seep into your skin surface. Instead they remain on the top and deflect the harmful rays to a certain extent.

Now you also have a greater alternative to go for broad spectrum sunscreen for both, face and body as well. They protect your skin against the excesses of the damaging sun rays. SPF scrutiny and selection is made easier by simply using a broad spectrum sunscreen. Oxybenzone is the ingredient in the broad spectrum sunscreen that works effectively to protect you from a wide range of UVA and UVB rays.

Conclusion

Give at least 20-30 minutes to your sunscreen layer to set on your skin before hitting the busy tracks of your days. You can even carry the facial sunscreens in your purse or handbag for later reapplications. It accolades your skin softness, prevents hyperpigmentation and grants a healthy appearance. Water resistant and oil free sunscreens are good for oily skin types. The dry facial skin types can go for the creamy, essential oil enriched humectants in selecting facial sunscreens. Sunscreens are your best deals against sunburns. Enjoy all your days be it sunny or otherwise with a layer of tinted, matte finish sunscreens to shield you.