Sunscreen selection and application

1. Choose sunscreens that are suitable for your “skin tone”. Dark skin naturally provides protection from the sun, while people with lighter skin will be more sensitive to sunlight than those with darker skin tones.

• People with fair skin, like Europeans, who have very thin skin and burn

easily after being exposed to the sun should use sunscreens with very high SPF levels, such as SPF 40-50+.

• People with fair skin and pink undertones, like some Asians, who have very delicate skin that burns and tans easily, should use sunscreens with high SPF levels, such as SPF 30-50+.

• People with fair skin and yellow undertones, like some Asians, who have delicate skin but still have some melanin which can somewhat withstand the sun’s UV rays better than the rst two types of skin, should use sunscreens with medium SPF levels, such as SPF 30.

• People with dark skin tone have more melanin, and can thus choose sunscreens with low SPF, like SPF 15.

2. Choose sunscreens that are suitable for your “skin type”

• People with oily skin should use a gel or lotion-based sunscreen so that the skin won’t look greasy during the day.

• People with normal skin should use a cream-based sunscreen to help preserve the skin’s moisture and protect against the sun.

• People with dry skin should use a highly concentrated cream-based sunscreen that helps moisturize the skin to help reduce water loss and increase skin moisture.

• People with allergy-or acne-prone skin should choose a gel or lotion-based sunscreen that is oil free and non-comedone so that it can easily absorb into the skin without feeling greasy. Furthermore, sunscreens with high SPF levels should also be avoided as they contain more chemicals and may heighten allergy reactions.

One thing that we must always be aware of is that no sunscreen can protect our skin 100% from the sun’s UV rays. Therefore, we should try to avoid direct sunlight as much as we can, for example, by using an umbrella or hat, wearing long-sleeved shirts, wearing sunglasses, avoid going out in the sun during 10.00 am to 4.00 pm when UV levels are high, eating food that helps nourish the skin and drinking plenty of water to reduce water loss from the skin. Although people with darker or olive skin tones are more resistant to sunlight than those with fair skin, as they have more dark pigment melanin, they should still put on sunscreen.