Killer Question: Are sunscreen powders good for you?

huibing

21 Jun 2017

1/5
Benefit #1: It can go on top of your makeup
Applying sunscreen may be a challenge if you have got a full-face of makeup on. After all, lotion sunscreen is best when applied directly on your skin. Removing the makeup can seem excessive, especially if you are doing it every few hours. Powder sunscreen, however, can be applied directly on top of your foundation and eyeshadow.
2/5
Benefit #2: It provides a physical barrier
Unlike chemical barriers, these sunscreen powders provide a physical barrier with either titanium oxide or zinc oxide particles. This means that the ultraviolet rays are physically unable to get through to your skin. Chemical sunscreens are attractive because the formulation usually renders it thinner, making it more applicable for daily usage but it requires 20 minutes before it works, which may be too much for the Singaporean weather.
3/5
Benefit #3: It fills in gaps
For areas like around the hairline or near your ears, traditional sunscreen application may make it hard to sufficiently be effective. Mineral powder sunscreens, however, make it easier to get to the hard-to-reach areas. This means even greater protection from the sun!
4/5
Benefit #4: SPF Coverage
While the titanium oxide and zinc oxide minerals may be more potent when applied directly into the pores of your face, the SPF coverage in sunscreen powders usually hovers around 30. While SPF30 is sufficient for a day out in the sun, higher SPF ultimately offers a bit more coverage, even if it’s a miniscule amount.
5/5
Side effects: Inhalation
Since they are ultimately particles, sunscreen powders can be iffy for some because of the possibility of being inhaled. As nanoparticles can enter your bloodstream and stick to important organs, the possibility of it accumulating and causing lasting damage can be unappealing. Although most companies have formulated particles that are bigger than nanoparticles, there is definitely still the worry there.

Benefit #1: It can go on top of your makeup

Are sunscreen powders the next best thing?

At this point, you have probably heard too many people preaching about how incredibly useful sunscreen is. Not only does it prevent you from getting skin cancer, it also protects our skin from ultraviolet rays no matter if you burn or don’t. But, no, this article is not on the usefulness of sunscreen. By now, you can probably rattle off a list of benefits and advantages that sunscreen brings and you are probably already sick of it.

What we are going to talk about here are sunscreen powders.

Unlike its counterparts, sunscreen powders are filled with little minerals that help prevent your skin from the deadly rays of the sun. Lotion sunscreen has been a go-to for decades, but liquid and aerosol sunscreens have also made an appearance in recent times. Sunscreen powders, on the other hand, have not made as big of a splash, and is commonly used on top of regular sunscreen. If you’re debating if you should add this to your collection, here are a few points of consideration.

Lee Hui Bing

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