Hello and happy Friday! I’m Dr. Ryan Shelton and I’m back this week for another Mailbag Friday. For those of you who don’t know, every Friday I answer two great questions from customers who want to know more about skincare and how to tackle their biggest concerns.
This week, my first question comes from Diane in Salt Lake City, UT.
Q: Hi Dr. Shelton. Is there any difference between 30 SPF and 50 SPF? Which one should I use on my face?
A: Hi Diane! Believe it or not, I get this question quite often, and it’s an important one to know the answer to. My professional recommendation is to use a sunscreen that is 50 SPF, but let me explain why.
Summer has already started, and in most places over the U.S. the sun has started to come out and shine bright, exposing us all to UV rays.
Sun damage is the number one cause of aging for a lot of people, so you’ll want to do as much as you can to keep your skin as protected as possible.
While you should technically be wearing sunscreen every day no matter the season, it’s especially important to follow this rule in summer if you want to give your skin a chance at preventing signs of aging from showing up early.
When it comes to the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of your sunscreen, the stronger the better.
The sun can do a lot of damage to your skin, from serious diseases like skin cancer to more cosmetic problems like Dark spots.
You’ll never regret helping to keep your skin healthy and safe from dark patches, so I always advise my customers to go for an SPF that’s as high as possible.
And if you’re worried about Dark spots from the sun over summer, I strongly recommend using a dark spot corrector under your SPF to give your skin a brightening boost.
Many people may tell you that there is a very small difference between 30 and 50 and that is true, but I personally believe you can never be too protected from the sun.
So in short, go for the 50 SPF, but if you can’t get your hands on that, the 30 SPF will work fine too.
My next question comes from Sandra in Orlando, FL.
Q: Hi Dr. Ryan! Now that summer is here I am finding that I start sweating on my face during the day and all of my skincare products seem to rub off. What can I do to stop this?
A: Hi Sandra! I’m sorry to hear that you’re having some trouble with this, but I’d be more than happy to help. I have some great suggestions to help you avoid having your products rub off your skin in the warmer months to come.
Most of us love summer - what’s not to like about sunny days and blue skies? - But in the world of skincare, a lot of people face a tricky problem when it comes to keeping their products on their face.
Most people don’t like to talk about this problem because some may feel embarrassed, but the first thing I want to tell you is that sweating is completely normal - we all do it!
It’s our body’s way of cooling us down, but it can get in the way of our skin’s health, especially as far as SPF and moisturizers go.
There are a few simple tricks I use myself to make sure my skincare products stay on my skin throughout the day.
The first trick is trying to cool your skin and your body down.
You can do this a few ways - my favourite is to finish the cleansing step with cold water, which will not only tighten the pores but also have a cooling effect so that the skin doesn’t overheat.
Another trick is to make sure you’re drinking lots of cold water. This will help you cool down from the inside out and your body won’t feel the need to sweat as much.
On top of that, drinking a lot of water in the summer is essential to keeping your skin and your body healthy, so don’t forget to drink up!
Lastly, try a moisturizer like my Repair and Release Cream that absorbs well and doesn’t sit on the surface of your skin.
I’ve made sure all of my products absorb as quickly as possible for one simple reason - you need all those powerful ingredients in your skin - not on top of it!
If you use a cream that absorbs quicker than usual, you’ll notice that it helps prevent all that sweating and you can keep your skincare where it’s supposed to be - on your face.
I hope these tips help, Sandra. Thanks for reaching out to me!
