How to choose your sunscreen

Summer is approaching and the sun is not in lockdown!

We feel it, for the past few days when we step outside, its rays are warming us up more and more.

In these challenging times, the need to go outside and feel the sun's warmth on our skin offers us a sense of comfort filled with hope!

The hope that better days are ahead and that despite everything, buds are blooming, plants are greening, nature is dazzling us, and we can't wait to enjoy our beautiful terraces. But did you know that the first sunny days are often the worst for your skin?

Why?

Given that the outside temperature is less intense than in the middle of July, we are much less wary of the risk of sunburn, and yet! It is important to remember that your skin has been hibernating for 6 months, so if you expose it quickly and for a long time without protection, it may react!

It's like starting to run again after several months of doing nothing! If you run 10 km on the first day, it's very possible that you'll feel some pain the next day and there's also a risk of injury!

So how to prepare your skin so that it adapts gently

1. Hydrate it

We can't repeat it enough, but hydrated skin is protected skin. Hydration helps maintain your balanced microbiome (the skin's defense system) for better protection against external aggressions.

2. Bronz impulse

Bronz impulse is a product that deserves to be known for optimizing the skin's natural protection against the sun. It awakens our sun protection cells (melanin) that have been dormant for 6 months. In addition, thanks to its anti-radical and anti-inflammatory properties, it protects the DNA of our cells to prevent premature skin aging.

Now that your skin is ready, here are some important points to know for proper protection

1. SPF is the measure of protection before sunburn.

Here is a table showing the percentage of protection you get depending on the chosen SPF.

So, the important thing to remember is not the SPF number, but to reapply every 2 hours. We often mistakenly believe that the higher the protection, the better we are protected, but in reality, the difference is not that significant.

You will see fewer and fewer products with sun protection higher than 50. The new law requires products with protection higher than 50 to be marked as 50+. The goal is to prevent people from thinking they are 100% protected and from forgetting to reapply.

To remember, the important thing is to reapply every 2 hours.

2. The quantity of sunscreen applied to obtain the protection indicated on the bottle is 2 mg/cm², which is approximately 35 ml for the whole body (every 2 hours). So, if you go on vacation for 2 weeks, you will need more or less 10 bottles of sunscreen to protect yourself according to dermatologists' recommendations. Who brings the necessary quantity?

To remember, clearly, many of us don't apply enough sunscreen!

3. It is important to choose a sunscreen with the broad-spectrum label.

Regular sunscreens protect against UVB rays which cause sunburn. They penetrate the epidermis and damage the cells in that skin layer. However, as you can see in the table above, UVA rays penetrate down to the dermis.

They also damage cells, but they also attack collagen and elastin, which are part of the dermis structure that maintains skin firmness. Both types of radiation attack the DNA of our cells and transform them over time, causing premature skin aging and, more importantly, skin cancers.

Remember, choosing your sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection to cover both UVA and UVB not only prevents sunburn but also premature skin aging.

4. Mineral or chemical filter?

The difference between the two lies in how the formula protects you from UV rays. Chemical sunscreen, also called organic, penetrates the skin and like a sponge, absorbs and transforms the rays, while mineral sunscreen sits on the surface of the skin and like a mirror, reflects the sun's rays.

So which one to choose?

I always prefer sunscreens that combine both types of filters for maximum protection and a pleasant texture!

5. Why pay more for sun protection?

I know I hear it often: Esthederm sun products cost more than sunscreens found in pharmacies. The reason is simple: they are not just sunscreens, but sun care products that not only protect but also treat your skin at the same time!

I could talk about it for a long time, but I decided to create a table for you to compare the properties. The choice is simple!

Don't forget, the sun is always there even on cloudy days!

One last tip: choose a sunscreen that will become your daily moisturizer for the summer season and use a mineral powder to touch up your sun protection throughout the day at the office!

Have a wonderful summer and stay protected!

Signed Kathleen

Shop for your sun care products here