Looking for a suitable Sunblock?

Which sunscreen ingredients should I look for to get the best sun protection?

For maximal sun protection, get a sunscreen that gives you both UVA and UVB protection. A lotion that offers UVB protection will have an "SPF" rating, while those with UVA protection will have a "PA" rating.

If you want to get a makeup or skincare product that can offer you protection against UVA and UVB rays, ensure you read the labels. There are different types of sunblock ingredients: Some are called physical sunblocks, others are known as chemical sunblocks. These are the ingredients that are commonly added to guard against infrared rays.

• Physical Sunblocks. As the name suggests, physical sunblocks offer protection against the sun's rays by physically blocking out dangerous rays from coming into direct contact with your skin. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide (Z-cote) are examples of physical sunblocks. When applied, they cover the skin thus preventing direct exposure to UV rays.
• Chemical Sunblock. Chemical sunblocks include avobenzone (Parsol 1789) which guard against UVA rays, and octyl salicylate and cinnamates which protect your skin from UVB rays. For chemical sunblocks, you need to apply them at least 30 minutes before stepping out for maximum effectiveness.
• Water-Resistant and Water-Proof Sunblock. If you are heading to the beach or pool for a swim, your best option should be sunblock lotions that are labelled "water-resistant" or "water-proof". These contain ingredients that make them stick on your skin longer, even when you are in water. However, their adherence will weaken when you come into contact with water, so remember to re-apply after swimming.
  

For more information on suncare products, browse through the following websites:
- Banana Boat (My favourite suncare product, suitable for me because there is no cinnamate ingredient (I think I'm more like a coral...easily damaged by sunscreen...))
- Nivea Sun
- Sunplay

A little more....about...Cinnamates.
Cinnamates are less commonly found in sunscreens but are a common ingredient used as flavorings and fragrances in everything from toothpaste to perfumes. These chemicals are related to Balsam of Peru, cinnamon oils and cinnamic acid and aldehyde, so people allergic to cinnamates may also be allergic to these other chemicals.

Enough sun care for your skin?

Have you ever evaluate yourself on your suncare knowledge? Like what SPF is sufficient to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, how long should you reapply your sunscreen, what amount should you apply.....

Spend a 5 minute for this "Sun Safety Quiz" to find out more. I scored 9/10! =) What about you? But if you're too lazy to take the quiz, scroll down for my set of answers....well, I still got one wrong...

Let's start!

Q1: A suntan is fine, as long as you don't burn.
Answer: False

Correct! While even one sunburn may double the chance of eventually developing melanoma (the most serious type of skin cancer), you are still at risk even if you never burn. Both burning and tanning damage the DNA of skin cells. This damage sometimes leads to skin cancer. In other words, the more sun you get, the more likely you are to develop certain skin cancers.


Q2: To get sufficient UV protection, you should choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least:
Answer: 15

Correct! Make sure your sunscreen offers at least SPF 15. SPF ratings indicate how much longer you may be protected from sunburn than you would be if no sunscreen were applied.For instance, if your unprotected skin normally starts turning red in 20 minutes, using a product with SPF 15 will theoretically prevent burning 15 times as long — or about five hours.

Q3: If you're planning to spend time outdoors, you should apply sunscreen:
Answer: A half hour before leaving

CorrectSunscreens should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow the ingredients to fully bind to the skin.

Q4: You should reapply waterproof sunscreen:
Answer: Every 2 hours

Correct! All sunscreens become less effective after about two hours – even waterproof ones. To make sure you stay covered, reapply every two hours, especially after you've been swimming, or sweating or doing something that can wipe off sunscreen, like toweling off.

Q5: The darker your skin color, the less you need to worry about sun protection.
Answer: False

Correct! Anyone can develop skin cancer, even those with darker pigmented skin. For this reason, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that all people take precautions against sun exposure, regardless of their skin type or color.

Q6: How much sunscreen should you apply?
Answer: Enough to cover half the palm of your hand

Incorrect! The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that adults use an ounce of sunscreen to cover all exposed areas – the amount that fills a shot glass.

Q7: On cool or cloudy days, you still need a sunscreen.
Answer: True

Correct! According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, up to 40 percent of the sun's UV rays reaches the earth on a completely cloudy day. This is the reason people often end up with sunburns on overcast days after spending all day outdoors with no sun protection.

Q8: Wearing sunscreen can cause vitamin D deficiency.
Answer: False

Correct! Although sunlight helps our body make vitamin D, we get plenty of this nutrient through vitamin D-rich foods such as milk and fortified orange juice and everyday sun exposure, says the American Academy of Dermatology. Plus, even if you're wearing sunscreen, small amounts of UV rays still penetrate your skin, and that's more than enough to help your body produce vitamin D.

Q9: When does sunscreen expire?
Answer: After three years

Correct! Unless the expiry date says otherwise, sunscreen lasts for up to three years. If, however, you keep the bottle in your car on hot summer days, the heat will cause the sunscreen compounds to break down, which means your sunscreen won't last as long.

Q10: Darker lenses on sunglasses offer better protection from ultraviolet rays than do lighter sunglass lenses.
Answer: False

Correct! The shade of the lens doesn't tell you whether it protects your eyes from the sun's rays. In fact, you won't be able to see any difference between lenses that block the ultraviolet rays and those that don't. Look for a manufacturer's label that says the sunglasses block 99 percent or 100 percent of all ultraviolet light. To be even more effective, choose sunglasses that fit close to your face or have wraparound frames that block sunlight from all angles.

Enjoy your sunbathing. Just like me.

And I'm gonna tan myself again this Oct... in Phuket. =D