Tuesday, July 8, 2014

How to Select the Best Sunscreen [Product Review]

If there is a survey about the most popular skincare product in Malaysia, I wouldn't be surprised if sunscreen came out topping the list.

Malaysia weather is generally hot and sunny all year round. A day without exposing to sunlight is rare, unless you are the typical couch potato. Sunlight is the main source of UV (ultraviolet) ray which provides essential Vitamin D but is also a natural enemy of young and flawless skin. It accelerates aging, causes freckles and dehydrates the skin.  

Here is when sunscreen, or commonly known as sunblock here, comes in handy. Sunscreen helps shield our skin from the harmful UV ray. During my previous Bangkok trip, I made sure to apply sunblock everyday before going out and even brought along my sunblock to reapply it in the noon before the sunblock thins out. 

I know the variety of sunscreen in the market can be quite confusing so I have listed five (5) criteria for selecting the best sunscreen.

1) Spray or Lotion type?
There are articles that reveal the risks of using spray-on sunscreen. Although it is convenient to use and less greasy, it is impossible to avoid inhaling the chemical spray because the particles are too small to be seen. It is also easy to miss a spot when spraying sunscreen on your skin so you might not get maximum coverage.

2) 'Broad spectrum' sunscreen
Some sunscreen products only protect against UV-B ray but there are few in the market that protect against both UV-A & UV-B ray to ensure maximum protection (e.g. Sun off a Beach). UV-B is the chief culprit behind sunburn, while UV-A, which penetrate the skin more deeply, is associated with wrinkling, leathering, sagging, and other light-induced effects of aging. So it is important to check whether the product is able to protect your skin from both types of sunrays.

3) SPF
'SPF' which stands for 'Sun Protection Factor' refers to protection against UV-B radiation which burns the skin. A few years ago, choosing a good sunscreen meant you just looked for a high SPF - which rates how well the sunscreen protects against ONE type of cancer-causing UV-B. The truth is you don't want a sunscreen with SPF higher than 50 because it might expose your skin to damaging UV-A rays, which also cause skin cancer. A moderate SPF of about 50 is hence more than enough.

4) Portable in pocket, no sticky sensation
You need to bring along your sunscreen if you are exposing your skin to the sunlight for long hours. Sunscreen normally runs out after one or two hours depending on the exposure so make sure to reapply it often. This is when a portable sunscreen makes a great choice because you can put it into your pocket or hook it onto your sling bag. It is also important to buy a sunscreen which doesn't give the greasy feeling but also moisturises your skin as well.

5) Water resistant 
If you are going to be in the water or exercising, get a sunscreen which is resistant to water and sweat.

While selecting the best sunscreen is important, it is even more crucial to use it correctly. Here is an important tip to make good use of the sunscreen that you bought - Lay it on THICK.

Slather a generous, thick layer on your face or body regardless of how ghostly and pale you look after applying. A good sunscreen should blend with the skin after application and not have you looking like a Peking-opera performer. Sunscreen is like toothpaste, if you don't use it enough, it's not going to work. Many sunburns which occur despite using the sunscreen are caused by infrequent and faulty application.

This is also mentioned in a Korean beauty programme called 'Get It Beauty'.

Tips: Use a tablespoon of sunscreen on your face and about 50 gram for the whole body.

So after carefully going through all the criteria, I have finally found one sunscreen product that successfully fits all the criteria listed above - Sun Off A Beach!

Sun Off A Beach does not only fit all the criteria above (lotion, broad spectrum, high SPF but not >50, portable and water resistant), it also contains Ceramides which are critical components of our skin barrier to not only keep pathogens out, but also to keep moisture in. This hydration is necessary to allow cellular turnover while keeping our skin healthy and vibrant. It also maintains the firmness of the skin. It sounds like a dream come true for skincare product lovers! 

Not to mention it is also suitable for both face and body unlike some products that are only suitable for either one.

There are two types that you can choose from - Anti-aging & Sensitive. I chose anti-aging because I was so afraid that the damage of sunlight would make me look older than my real age.

As you can see, the sunscreen is fast absorbing and quickly blends with the skin after application without causing your skin to look greasy and pale. Plus it doesn't have the sticky after-feel which deters people from using sunblock. Remember, a tablespoon for your face! Not teaspoon!

Sun Off A Beach can be hooked onto anywhere for convenient use. Surely gonna hook it onto my sling bag when I'm going for a beach trip at Haeundae Beach in Busan!

Lastly, I would rate a 5 star ✮ for the convenience and high performance of this product! Would sincerely recommend it to anyone who is planning to buy sunscreen *thumbs up*.

The price is RM22.80 for 50g! 100g is also available for regular user.

Grab it now before the offer ends! Click the link below to find more details about the product and also get 15% rebate off your purchase by using the coupon code when purchasing: CYKCSY
http://www.hishop.my/sun-off-a-beach/?utm_source=www.cykcsy.co.vu&access=clicks

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That's all for today's review!

by
CSY

3 comments:

Jacqueline Khoo said...

It can use as cool accessories too! 😊😊😊

Jacqueline Khoo said...

It can use as cool accessories too! 😊😊😊

admin said...

Yeap hehe ; )