Does Powder Sunscreen Actually Work?

Sunscreen does a great job of protecting our skin from rays that may trigger pores and skin most cancers, in addition to thickening and wrinkling of the pores and skin as we age. Nevertheless it additionally feels type of greasy and goopy typically, particularly when utilized to the face, leaving many people questioning if there may not be a greater solution to apply it. Sunscreen powders sound like a promising growth. However do they work?

What’s powder sunscreen?

Sunscreens normally are available in a lotion or spray format, however you can too discover them in powder type. These merchandise typically are available in a container with a built-in brush (type of like an enormous floofy basis brush) and are usually costlier than conventional sunscreens.

They’re typically marketed alongside make-up, so you need to use them as a setting powder with the additional good thing about SPF. Typically they’re marketed towards mother and father of younger youngsters, as a substitute for getting little ones to sit down nonetheless for a lotion or spray utility.

The elements are nonetheless legit sunscreens, and are sometimes mineral-based, with one thing like zinc oxide as the principle lively ingredient.

Powder sunscreen is not efficient by itself

Finally, the issue with any type of sunscreen is that it’s essential to apply a lot of it to get the safety listed on the label—and it’s essential to reapply it in accordance with the instructions, which normally means each two hours. A sunscreen lotion is the simplest to use this fashion, although most of us don’t come wherever close to assembly the beneficial quantities. (That’s okay, although—if the SPF is excessive sufficient, we still get decent protection.)

That brings us to the issue with nontraditional sunscreens. Are you actually going to use sufficient of it that it could possibly really work as supposed? That is particularly unlikely with regards to mixture merchandise. Will you actually slather on a thick layer of sunscreen-infused bug spray each two hours? How a few thick layer of SPF-containing basis?

I believe you see the place I’m going. Are you going to use sufficient powder sunscreen to get the safety you’re on the lookout for, after which reapply it when it’s time? It’s unlikely, particularly if the powder is your primary type of sunscreen. Under is a video of chemist Michelle Wong making use of sunscreen powder to her hand to indicate how a lot you would wish to get the labeled SPF.

When powder sunscreens make sense

So you will not be capable to get the labeled safety from a snug layer of powder—does that imply sunscreen powder is ineffective? Right here I need to return to the one enduring rule of solar safety: The most effective sunscreen is the sunscreen you’ll put on. Powder sunscreens are a better-than-nothing choice for reapplying sunscreen over your make-up, and many individuals will skip reapplying in the event that they don’t have one thing that works on prime of make-up.

Dermatologists recommend making use of a layer of regular (cream) sunscreen first, then placing in your make-up; think about powder to be a software for touch-ups. Sadly, it could possibly’t be thought of a alternative in your main sunscreen.

Equally, for youths, if powder is really the one method you will get some sunscreen in your squirmy toddler, then a powder is healthier than nothing. However there are other ways to make sunscreen application easier on little ones—so do not simply purchase a bottle of powder and think about the issue solved.