Face cream with SPF [review of daytime moisturizers]

Are you getting ready for summer? Don't forget about sun protection! In order to preserve the youth and beauty of your skin for as long as possible, dermatologists recommend adding sunscreen every day to your daily care. It doesn’t matter whether you’re out in the sun or sitting in a stuffy office all day long, good sun protection is useful to everyone at any time of the year. Let's figure out why you need to protect your skin from UV radiation and which sunscreen to choose. At the end, we have prepared a rating of sunscreens for you.

Why is it important to use face cream with SPF every day?

There are two types of ultraviolet rays that have a negative effect on the skin - UVA and UVB rays:

UVA rays make up 95% of all ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth's surface and are the most dangerous for the skin. They are the ones who trigger the process of destruction of collagen and elastin, damaging dermal cells, eventually provoking malignant changes and promoting photoaging. UVA rays penetrate clouds and glass all year round and even in winter can have a detrimental effect on the skin, promoting the synthesis of free radicals.
UVB rays are partially absorbed by clouds and the ozone layer, only 5% of them reach the ground. The peak activity of UVB rays occurs in the morning and daytime (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and their penetration is blocked by clouds and glass. It is UVB rays that are responsible for obtaining a dark shade of tan, and can also provoke sunburn and an allergic skin reaction.

Exposed areas of the body, especially the face, are most susceptible to the negative effects of UV radiation, the destructive effects of which can be minimized by sunscreen. It is recommended to use face products with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) before every trip outside. The protection factor index for such products can be different - from 10 to 50+. Let's look at how to choose the right sunscreen.

Recommendations for use

Most people have already appreciated the importance of using sunscreen during the spring and summer. However, not everyone knows how to apply the composition in such a way that it can most effectively protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

Do not apply cream immediately before going out into the sun. This is the most common mistake that almost all people make. In order for a product with UV filters to activate its protective properties, it must be applied 15-30 minutes before going outside. Otherwise, the effect of the cream will be minimal.
Consider the expiration date of the composition. When in contact with water, sunscreen reduces its effect and ceases to protect the epidermis from ultraviolet radiation. If you swim at the beach or are exposed to active physical activity, the product must be renewed every 2 hours.
Use the cream five minutes before applying makeup. Products with spf do not lose their protective functions under a layer of makeup, so decorative cosmetics (foundation, powder or concealers) can be applied over sunscreen. For the best effect, start creating makeup 5 minutes after applying the protection. This will increase the durability of the makeup and prevent foundation from creasing.

How to choose the right face cream with SPF?

Today, cosmetics manufacturers offer a wide selection of modern sunscreens that meet different requirements. When choosing a sunscreen for the face with SPF, consider your skin type, skin phototype and where you plan to use it - in an urban environment or during a seaside vacation.

Step 1: Determine your skin type

There are different formulas and textures of sunscreens for different skin types: oily and problematic (mattifying, non-comedogenic), dry and dehydrated (moisturizing, softening), sensitive (hypoallergenic, soothing, based on natural ingredients).

Step 2. Determine your phototype

There are 6 skin phototypes, depending on its natural ability to protect itself from ultraviolet radiation and produce melanin pigment:

fair-skinned owners of 1-2 phototypes with high photosensitivity are recommended to use products with the highest SPF factor 50+;
for people with phototype 3-4, creams with SPF 20-30 are suitable;
For those with dark skin of 5-6 phototypes with low photosensitivity, an SPF 10-15 filter will be sufficient.

Properly selected Sanskrin not only protects against sunburn, but also prevents photoaging: the appearance of early wrinkles, age spots, dryness, and decreased skin turgor.

Step 3. Purpose of application

Many cosmetics manufacturers add SPF filters to their daily corrective care products: in addition to sun protection, they are designed for different skin types and meet their needs. Such creams are suitable for daily use in a metropolis and can be used as a base for makeup. Urban products have a relatively low protection factor of SPF 15-20.
Creams for protecting facial skin during the holidays have a high degree of protection (SPF 50+) and are most often used as independent products for sun protection - applying cosmetics over them is not recommended. They also add caring components: moisturizing, moisture-retaining, vitamins, antioxidants and valuable oils.

Remember that SPF only blocks UVB rays that cause burns. To protect your skin from UVA rays, which cause photoaging and pathological cellular changes, choose products that have a circled UVA mark on their packaging, indicating a minimum level of protection against type A radiation.

There are two types of filters:

Physical or mineral (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), mirror reflecting UV rays from the surface of the skin.
Chemicals (avobenzone, mexoril, tinosorb, ensulizol, etc.) that absorb either UVA or UVB rays, only a few are able to neutralize the effects of both types. There are about 20 chemical filters.

What you should know about problem skin

Problematic dermis is a special type of skin that causes as much inconvenience to its owner as possible. It requires special care, which is often not so easy to provide: almost every mass-market product contains comedogenic ingredients, which further aggravate the current condition.

However, it is very easy to confuse this type of body surface with regular oily skin, so it is important to know how the first option differs from the second:

Oily dermis easily turns into one that is prone to acne. Improper care, the use of creams containing harmful components that clog pores - this is what can provoke the formation of plugs, inside of which there is an excellent environment for the proliferation of harmful microbes and bacteria.
Acne is an extremely striking symptom of problematic dermis. Many blackheads can be found on the surface of the face, especially in the area of the nose, cheeks and forehead.
Pimples , like blackheads, are an invariable companion of the finicky skin. If there are too many of them, then there is every reason to say that this dermis is considered problematic.

The most difficult period for people with this type of dermis is summer, because in addition to the usual daily compositions, another one is added - sunscreen. Despite the fact that it is best to use the protector year-round, since radiation exists regardless of the weather outside, many people still fundamentally avoid introducing sunscreen into their regular care.

We recommend reading the article about sunscreen for oily skin. From it you will learn about the need to use sunscreen for oily skin, the basics of choosing a cream with SPF, options for sunscreens for oily skin and the rules for using products with SPF. Find out more about sunscreen for sensitive skin here.

Makeup base with SPF

New generation makeup bases are designed not only to even out the relief and tone of the face, preparing the skin for applying makeup, but also mattify, moisturize it and have formulas with SPF filters to protect against photoaging. Simply put, modern bases play the role of intermediate care between the application of daytime products and decorative cosmetics.

The degree of primer protection most often varies from SPF 10 to SPF 20 - the former block up to 90% of ultraviolet UVB rays, while the latter block up to 95%, respectively. In addition, look for the “broad spectrum” mark on products to protect against types A and B radiation.

Anti-aging face cream with SPF

It has been proven that ultraviolet light accelerates the aging process of cells and dries the skin, literally drawing moisture out of it. Cosmetologists claim that 70% of the skin ages precisely because of the influence of sunlight on it. Therefore, manufacturers of anti-age cosmetics for corrective care often include high-spectrum sun filters SPF 30-50 in the formula.

Such products provide not only powerful sun protection, but also maintain the level of moisture in cells, providing a powerful antioxidant effect, prolonging the beauty and health of the skin.

What functions does SPF perform at the heart of anti-aging formulas:

prevents premature wrinkles;
prevents the appearance of age spots;
prevents dry skin and reduces lines of dehydration;
reduces visible vascular network;
prevents the expansion of pores and changes in skin texture.

Useful video

Watch the video on how to prepare a cream for problem skin:

The best face products with SPF factor from La Roche-Posay

Anthelios XL sunscreen mattifying gel-cream, SPF 50+ / PPD 21

ANTHELIO XL

Sunscreen cream-gel for face

Very high degree of protection against UVA and UVB rays with a water-resistant formula.

RUB 1,673 more details

A mattifying sunscreen formula for oily to combination skin with patented Airlicium technology that reduces shine.

Anthelios sunscreen gel-cream for oily problem acne-prone skin, SPF 50+ / PPD 21

ANTHELIO

Sunscreen cream-gel for oily, problematic and acne-prone skin

Visibly reduces oily shine and helps fight existing skin imperfections.

RUB 1,477 more details

The formula is designed specifically for photoprotection of oily, problematic and acne-prone skin that is prone to the reappearance of imperfections after sun exposure.

Anthelios sunscreen mattifying spray veil for face, SPF 50+ / PPD 25

ANTHELIO

Sun protection mattifying spray veil for face

High degree of protection against UVA and UVB rays. Visibly reduces shine throughout the day.

RUB 1,868 more details

The spray formula is suitable for oily, sensitive and normal skin, reduces shine throughout the day, and has an invisible texture.

Anthelios sunscreen moisturizer for face and eye area, SPF 50+ / PPD 35

ANTHELIO

Sunscreen for face and eye area

High degree of protection against UVA and UVB rays. Very water and sweat resistant formula.

RUB 1,679 more details

The product formula is suitable for sensitive, normal and dry skin. The composition includes thermal water with a high content of Selenium, which is a powerful antioxidant.

Composition of sunscreens

Problematic skin causes a lot of inconvenience on ordinary days, and only when it is necessary to protect the skin from radiation, the number of problems increases many times over. For example, this type of dermis reacts very unpleasantly to ultraviolet radiation: due to sun activity, the chance of pore clogging increases and the number of horn cells increases, which can lead to acne and other cosmetic defects.

In order to minimize the unpleasant effects of the sun, it is important to choose a protective agent that will not harm the appearance and will provide a high-quality protective effect. The composition intended for the dermis, which is prone to acne, must contain:

ingredients that regulate the function of the sebaceous glands, which include fruit and salicylic acids;
components like sulfur, perlite and zinc salts, which can remove oily shine;
ingredients aimed at preventing inflammation, such as green tea, pumpkin and gingko biloba extract.

At the same time, special attention should be paid to ensure that the products do not contain:

vegetable oils,
Vaseline and paraffin,
mineral oils,
stearic, oleic and palmic acids.

If they are present in the chosen drug, then it is better to refuse the purchase altogether: these substances have an increased level of comedogenicity, that is, in most cases they can cause clogging of pores.

Table (dangerous components that may be in SPF cream are marked with a cross)