Skincare Products : Sunscreen

Why do we insist so much on sun protection? Because  the damage that UV rays can cause is numerous, irreversible, and often severe: they are one of the main causes of wrinkles, cellular DNA damage, and Skin cancer. So you will understand that protecting your Skin (even in winter) brings countless benefits for your health.

Sunscreen filters can be divided into two main categories: 

• Physical filters (either inorganic or mineral): they act as a screen that reflects UV rays, preventing them from penetrating the skin. The most commonly used options are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. 
• Chemical (or organic) filters: they work by absorbing UV rays, converting them into heat and releasing them from the skin. The most commonly used chemical filters are octocrylene, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate.

To get the maximum benefit from sunscreen, it's important to apply it correctly to clean, dry Skin and reapply every two hours or after sweating or getting wet.

Here are the key things you need to remember:

• Apply it even in winter if you expose yourself to the sun;
• Apply it even when it's cloudy but you are outdoors: UV rays reach your Skin even through clouds;
• Apply it even if you are under an umbrella: if clouds cannot block UV rays, an umbrella certainly won't either;
• Reapply it multiple times throughout the day: this can be difficult (especially when wearing makeup) but it is necessary;
• Do not use it if it has passed the PAO (Period After Opening, the number of months after opening indicated on the packaging after which the product should no longer be used as its effectiveness may be altered);
• Check that it also protects against UVA rays.

To figure out whether or not to use sunscreen, you just need to check the UV index: this is the ultraviolet exposure index, a scale that measures the amount of UV rays present in Earth’s atmosphere. It’s used to alert you to the risks of sunburn and Skin damage:if it is equal to or greater than 3, it is always best to protect yourself with sunscreen, along with wearing protective clothing such as hats and sunglasses, and try to avoid exposure to the sun during the hottest hours.