How harmful are UV rays and do we really need to wear sunscreen?

In the last few years people have become more aware about the not so pleasant effects of the sun. Even the cosmetics industry is promoting creams and lotions with high SPF (50, 50+). Did you know that the best anti-aging product is sunscreen?

Which UV rays do we know and how they affect our skin?

There is two types of UV rays that reach the earth, UVB and UVA. Although UVB rays help the skin to make vitamin D, they are responsible for causing sun burns on our skin and can lead to actinic keratosis and skin cancer. They are at their strongest at noon. UVA rays also play a role in skin cancer formation. In addition they penetrate more deeply into the skin and cause the breakdown of collagen, premature aging (photoaging), wrinkle formation and hyperpigmentation. UVA rays are less intense then UVB, but there are more of them and they are present constantly, with relatively equal intensity. Also, they can damage our skin even through the glass, so don't think you are protected if you work in an office and don't wear sunscreen.

Protect your skin from the sun

Mineral or chemical sunscreen?

Mineral sunscreens sits on top of the skin and reflect UV rays away from the body. They are sometimes called physical sunscreens because they provide a physical barrier between your skin and the sun’s rays. The minerals most often used are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They protect us from UVA and UVB rays and are recommended for sensitive skin and for babies. The bad side of mineral sunscreen is the white residue that they leave on the skin and they don't mix well with make-up.

Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, absorb the UV rays, convert them into heat and disperse them. They offer an effective protection against UVB rays and a little less effective protection against UVA rays. Most popular chemical ingredients found in sunscreen are homosalate, octocrylene, avobenzone, octinoxate,... Their flaw is they start to work 20-30 minutes after the application.

My favorites

My absolute favorite this year is Caudalie's Suncare line. For two reasons: 1.) Great smell and 2.) Their products don't contain filters suspected of being endocrine dissruptors, such as octinoxate and octocrylene, nanoparticle filters, and the filters known to be toxic to the sea, oxybenzone and octinoxate.

I also like the Eucerin Sun protection line. This year they launched a new product - the Pigment control sun fluid that prevents sun-induced hyperpigmentation and effectively reduces dark spots.

Another great one is Bioderma's Suncare line.

My favorites

Which are your favorite sunscreen products?

Remember: The same sun shines in the city and on the beach!