On the planet of seemingly limitless solar safety merchandise, powder sunscreen has gained a ton of well-earned buzz. These protecting powders are simple to include into your skincare routine and designed for on-the-go use. So we spoke with dermatologists to be taught extra about how this distinctive SPF components works and find out how to discover the most suitable choice on your pores and skin sort.
What’s powder sunscreen?
“Powder sunscreen feels extra like a setting powder than the extra goopy formulations we sometimes affiliate with SPF,” Rachel Westbay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical in New York Metropolis, tells SELF. Powder SPF merchandise sometimes fall within the mineral sunscreen class, which implies they comprise zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide and sit on high of your pores and skin to type a protecting defend in opposition to the solar’s dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays. Since mineral formulation don’t take up into the pores and skin, they’re much less more likely to set off irritation, which is why many dermatologists suggest them for individuals with delicate pores and skin.
What are the advantages of powder sunscreen?
Powders are light-weight and might make the pores and skin look extra matte, so that they’re particularly helpful within the sweatier summer time months or in case your pores and skin is on the oilier aspect. “Fairly than sinking into your pores and skin, they keep on high of it with a dry texture, so that they’re well-suited for acne-prone pores and skin,” Dr. Westbay says. They’re virtually all the time non-comedogenic (which means they’re formulated to cut back the chance of clogged pores). Plus they’re excellent for journey (powders are TSA authorised!) as a result of they’re transportable and largely mess-free.
Although there are pluses to powder, it’s necessary to notice that dermatologists nonetheless suggest utilizing lotion and cream formulation as your major supply of solar safety. “Powders are useful for people who find themselves forgetful of their reapplication of sunscreen, however they arrive off the pores and skin extra simply so that they’re not various to liquid sunscreen,” Naana Boakye, MD, MPH, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, tells SELF. One other draw back to powder in comparison with liquid is that it’s exhausting to know if you happen to’re making use of an satisfactory quantity of sunscreen—one more reason why powder SPF needs to be used as a reapplication methodology, not your base layer.
Dr. Boakye additionally prefers lotion for individuals with darkish pores and skin. “Since melanin-rich people are extra liable to hyperpigmentation, I’d suggest on the lookout for a tinted sunscreen. They comprise iron oxide which helps defend in opposition to seen mild,” she says.
How one can use powder sunscreen
Kara Lara, affiliate director of world advertising and marketing for the skincare model Colorescience, suggests the faucet, flick, and apply methodology when making use of powder sunscreen. “Earlier than every use, faucet the comb with the cap aspect down a number of occasions, then flick the bristles along with your finger to see if the powder is flowing,” she tells SELF. “Use small round motions to comb the comb onto dry naked pores and skin, moisturized pores and skin, or over make-up. Apply generously to the face for not less than 60 seconds.”
Your earlier layer of sunscreen ought to already be absorbed and your make-up, if you happen to’re sporting any, needs to be set. “I like to recommend doing not less than two passes over the pores and skin for satisfactory safety,” Dr. Westbay says. And don’t overlook about your ears and neck!
The very best powder sunscreens
To assist discover a powder sunscreen that works on your wants and pores and skin sort, we curated a listing of choices which might be really useful by dermatologists and extremely rated by customers.