It’s officially summer, and many of us will be spending time in the sun. Although it is important to wear SPF every day of the year (yes, even on the days the sun is not out) a lot of people forget to incorporate it into their daily skincare routine.
If you know me, then you know I am obsessed with skincare and all-things anti-aging. If there is one thing to remember that will keep your skin looking as youthful as possible, it is SPF (also known as Sun Protection Factor.) Even still, knowing the sun can cause wrinkles and potentially cancer, a lot of us don’t really understand how to use it properly!
I decided to get all of the most commonly asked questions about SPF answered by my friend and ultimate skin expert, Dr. Kay. Dr. Kay is an internationally renowned facial plastic surgeon and head and neck surgeon, who also happens to know a lot about skincare (like me, she has her own line of products.) I personally love her KD Perfecting Sunshield which is a tinted SPF.
Below, Dr. Kay goes into detail about all you need to know when it comes to SPF and sunscreen, so you can make sure that you’re covered this summer (and every season thereafter.)
1. Do you need to wear sunscreen every day?
Yes, absolutely! Even on cloudy days 80% of the sun’s rays are absorbed by your skin, and put you at risk for wrinkles and sun damage. The biggest mistake women make is not wearing sunscreen when they go to the beach or just go about their day to day. Like face masks right now, sunscreen is a MUST!
2. Does sunscreen expire?
Sunscreens are required by the Food and Drug Administration to remain at their original strength for at least three years. Some sunscreen does include an expiration date as well. I would recommend replacing your sunscreen after one year to ensure that you are without a doubt getting full strength sun protection!
3. How often should you replace your sunscreen?
You should replace your sunscreen every year as that is the time limit required for sunscreens to remain at their original strength! Although technically sunscreen is good until the expiration date (3 years out), leaving sunscreen in the heat and letting it sit can hurt the formula and make the sunscreen more oily. Further, the sunscreen bottle can harbor germs from fingers during use, so it’s good to change your sunscreen annually!
4. What SPF do you recommend for the face and body?
Mineral sunscreens above 50 SPF are great for both the face and the body! Mineral sunscreens are much better than chemical sunscreens, as they completely block the UV rays, whereas chemical sunscreens allow chemicals and rays to go into your skin and release the UV rays as heat. This means with chemical sunscreens UV rays and chemicals can soak into your skin, making mineral sunscreens much better for those with melasma or skin pigmentation problems.
As for specific sunscreens, I love using my two KD sunscreens: KD Perfecting Sunshield and KD Clear Sheer Sunscreen. Both are mineral sunscreens with SPF 50. The Perfecting Sunshield is perfect for sun protection while getting a nice tint for the face, whereas the Sheer Sunscreen is perfect for high SPF protection on the face and throughout the body without a tint! Both also have antioxidants and Vitamin C that act as a light but powerful protection from the Sun.
5. How much SPF do you recommend for every day use in the summer?
I recommend a minimum SPF of 30, but the higher the SPF the more protection you have! I usually use an SPF of 50.
6. After how many hours should you reapply?
The best practice is to apply 30 minutes before going outside to allow the sunscreen fully take effect. The SPF of the sunscreen you are wearing determines how often you reapply it. For example, if you have an SPF of 30, you apply every 30 minutes, versus with an SPF of 50 you should reapply every hour. I also recommended getting a Colorescience brush! Their powder sunscreen brushes are perfect for reapplication, and I use them to reapply sunscreen every hour when I’m in the Sun! Check out the brush on my website!
7. What is the most commonly forgotten area to apply sunscreen?
The most common forgotten areas are the ears, scalp, lips, eyelids, and tops of feet and hands. These places are prone to high amounts of Sun exposure – do not forget them!
8. What kind do you prefer, chemical or mineral? What is the difference?
Mineral Sunscreen filters are effective for reflecting UV rays when applied as directed, usually 15 minutes before sun exposure. Chemical Sunscreen ingredients penetrate the top layers of the skin to absorb UV rays. I prefer mineral over chemical sunscreen, and I specifically look for mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide! It helps block and scatter UV Rays before they penetrate the skin, whereas chemical sunscreen absorbs the UV rays and transforms it into heat that the body is supposed to release.
Thanks, Dr. Kay for answering all of these (burning) questions! If you are in the LA area, you can book an appointment with Dr. Kay herself. Visit her website for more information.
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