Choosing the right sunscreen – not all are created equal

Choosing the right sunscreen lotion is important. In fact, most skin care experts agree that most signs of aging are caused by exposure to UV rays and hence sunscreen is the most important part of your skin care routine.
There are many different kinds of sunblocks or sunscreens on the market. 
A lot of the sunscreens out there do NOT protect us against harmful UV rays, plus they can contain chemicals that affect our hormones, damage our skin, and sometimes increase the risks of skin cancer
 SPF, sun protection factor of a sunscreen is a laboratory measure of the effectiveness of sunscreen. The higher the SPF, the more protection a sunscreen offers against UV-B (the ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn). Invisible damage and skin aging are also caused by ultraviolet type A (UVA, wavelength 320 to 400 nm), which does not cause reddening or pain.
 Conventional sunscreen blocks very little UVA radiation relative to the nominal SPF; broad-spectrum sunscreens are designed to protect against both UVB and UVA. According to a 2004 study, UVA also causes DNA damage to cells deep within the skin, increasing the risk of malignant melanomas. Even some products labeled “broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection” do not provide good protection against UVA rays.

Sunscreen types

    1. Chemical sunscreens, often known as sun tan lotion or sunscreen lotions, contain chemicals such as octylcrylene, avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, oxybenzone, homosalate, mexoryl, tinosorb, uvinul and more.The chemicals in chemical sunscreens can cause a skin allergy, are highly irritating to the skin, can block the pores, and can deposit dark pigment into the dermis after long-term use.  Some chemicals are not photostable – meaning they become unstable upon exposure to light. Avobenzone, a chemical in many sunscreens, is notoriously unstable when exposed to light. This means your high spf sunscreen, even a sunscreen 30, could end up being significantly weaker than it says ·
  1. Physical sunscreens, often called zinc sunscreen or titanium dioxide sunscreen, contain natural mineral elements found in the earth, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.Non-irritating, are non-comedogenic (don’t block the pores) and have natural healing qualities, meaning they improve the quality of your skin and are perfect for use following cosmetic procedures.