TRUTH: You know when the label says you have to apply a sunscreen 20 or 30 minutes before you go into the sun? They mean it. That's how long it takes sunscreen to absorb into your skin. Venture out on a high-UV day and you could burn before it even kicks in.
Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide-based sun blocks sit on top of the skin and work immediately. So if you're a slather-it-on-at-the-last-minute type of gal, they may be a better choice for you. Try Lavera NaturKosmetik's Baby & Children Sun Spray SPF 30 (lavera.com), suited for adults with sensitive skin.
MYTH #4: I don't need sunscreen while swimming.
TRUTH: Unless you're wearing a wet suit (as in full-body scuba or surf gear), you need sunscreen or sun block.
Products labeled "water-resistant" maintain their SPF level after 40 minutes of water exposure, while "waterproof" products do for 80 minutes. Regardless, always reapply your sunscreen after toweling off.
Avid outdoors types should choose a biodegradable sun block rather than a chemical sunscreen as the latter has been implicated in damaging aquatic life, including bleaching and killing reef coral.
Try Soleo Natural Sunscreen SPF 30, a reef-friendly Aussie brand that sold out when it hit the US market last summer. It's now available in Canada at Vancouver e-tailer Lavish and Lime (lavishandlime.com).
MYTH #5: SPF100 is the way to go.
TRUTH: Although a batch of SPF 50, 60, 70 – even SPF 100 – products have hit store shelves recently, most experts still stand by SPF 15 to 30 for everyday use.
That said, there are two arguments in favour of higher SPF products
• Those who are using medications like Accutane or retinol cream need extra protection from the sun, as do those who have recently undergone cosmetic surgery,
• There's a discrepancy between a product's stated SPF number and the SPF level it actually provides users in real life, given that most people don't apply nearly as much sunscreen as is done in the lab setting,
Upshot: SPF 15 and 30 products remain the conventional choice, but those needing extra protection won't find any harm in slathering on higher SPF face creams like Dermaglow 70 SPF Cream.
Just don't use higher SPFs as an excuse to use less product, apply it less frequently, or spend more time in the sun than you normally would – or to avoid the extra protection a sun hat provides.
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