At the end of every skincare routine is sunscreen. Sunscreen protects skin from harmful UV rays and prevents us from turning lobster red under the scorching heat. I'm not particularly fond of the typical sunscreen scent which deterred me from getting into the habit earlier. Sunscreen for me in the past, used to be reserved for trips to the beach or school sports day.
Apart from weakening skin cells, causing premature aging as well as hyperpigmentation, extended exposure to these harmful UV rays can at its worst lead to skin cancer.
After trying out several different sunscreens to find one that best suited my skin and needs, I've settled with the Bio-Essence Miracle Bio Water Cooling Sunscreen SPF30 and on occasion the SPF56 variant.
The formula is more of a thinner liquid consistency and has a very mild scent that is unnoticeable once applied to the skin. I apply it on top of my moisturizer and before primer. It has a slight cooling effect and a very smooth finish. My skin doesn't feel dehydrated after applying this and it sits well underneath makeup.
Bio-essence is sold in all Watsons and Guardian outlets and in some beauty stores and pharmacies in Malaysia.
Let's Briefly Skim Over What Is SPF
SPF is short for Sun Protection Factor. The SPF is a standard unit used to measure how effectively the product shields against UVB rays. The higher the SPF generally means the better the protection. However, studies have shown that the efficiency of an SPF above 30 increases in significantly smaller increments. This means that an SPF60 product may not be double the protection of an SPF30 product.
Technically, we will need to reapply sunscreen after a certain amount of time depending on how much UVB rays we've been exposed to and how much melanin is present in our skin. The fairer your skin, the more frequent the application and the darker the skin, the less frequent the application.
The Gist of UV Rays
There are 2 main UV rays in the subject of sunscreen protection -- UVA and UVB. Here are a few characteristics of these rays:
- UVA : Causes premature skin aging, wrinkles and sun spots. Used in tanning beds. Able to pass through clouds and glass windows.
- UVB : Causes sunburn. Strongly linked to skin cancer. Damages DNA in your skin. Unable to pass through glass windows.
Lots of Love, Adelina
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