If there is a golden rule every beauty enthusiast swears by, it’s wearing sunscreen every day. That’s right! Gloomy or bright, whatever the sky looks like, applying sun protection factor (SPF) is non-negotiable.
But, as we adapt to the new normal of work from home culture, a question most of us find ourselves asking is this: Do I really need to wear sunscreen?
Why wear sunscreen indoors?
Well, according to Dr Kiran Sethi, dermatologist and founder of Delhi-based skin clinic Isya Derm, you definitely do. “There are 2 reasons why I’d recommend wearing sunscreen daily, even at home. Firstly, the ultraviolet A (UVA) rays from the sun can easily penetrate through window panes, causing skin damage like pigmentation, freckles and premature ageing. Secondly, the LED lights in your house as well as continuous usage of the TV, phone and laptop will have the same effect on skin as UVA rays.”
While some of us find the idea of wearing SPF every day cumbersome, it is one of the easiest ways to protect your skin in the long term. To make the process of picking and using sunscreen correctly, we asked Dr Sethi to share her top tips.
Make it a part of your beauty routine
“Finish off your morning skincare regime with SPF. This way, neither will you forget to apply it daily nor will you be caught off guard if you have to step out of your house suddenly,” suggests Dr Sethi. Most sunscreens need to be applied at least 15 minutes prior to sun exposure. This is because the SPF needs to coat the skin evenly and dry down to stay put. Sweating, or wearing a mask or hat that comes in contact with your face, will either dilute the formula or remove it entirely.
Don’t be stingy
With sunscreen, less is definitely not more. “The recommended amount is at least two finger lengths worth of formula for your whole face,” explains Dr Sethi.
Consider your skin type
“If you have oily skin, choose a gel or water-based formula that gives your skin a matte finish. For dry skin, go for a cream SPF,” suggests Dr Sethi. If you have acne-prone skin, look for words like non-comedogenic and lightweight on the product label.
Reapplication is essential
While you’re at it, make it a habit to refresh your sunscreen as per the SPF. “To reapply sunscreen over make-up, pick up the liquid formula with a beauty blender and dab it onto your skin,” suggests Dr Sethi.
Pick the formula carefully
While making the impossible choice between the plethora of sunscreens in the market, Dr Sethi says, “Look out for options that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These protect skin from blue light as well as the sun’s harmful rays.”
Here are a few sunscreens Dr Kiran recommends:
iS Cosmeceuticals Eclipse SPF 50+ Sunscreen
Heliocare 360 Mineral Tolerance Fluid SPF 50+
FCL Chem-Free SPF 30
