Skin Care is Hair Care: Sunscreen Tips From Shane Michael
As we hit the tail end of summer and start towards the new school year, I thought I would remind our readers that hair and skin are made of keratin. This means that when we talk hair care, we’re also talking skin care.
Many are gearing up to try and reclaim as much warm sun and beach time as possible. Just as you would prepare your hair/beard for the sun exposure, it’s important to prepare your skin as well. After all, healthy skin leads to healthy hair.
No matter how dark or fair your skin tone proper protection is paramount. Protecting your skin from the sun goes far beyond rubbing on sunscreen. It’s an important step, but not all sunscreens are equal to the SPF levels that determine their effect in the sun.
The two main types of sunscreens are physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens (made mainly of Titanium Oxide, and Zinc Oxide) sits atop the skin and deflects damaging UV ray from the skin. Chemical sunscreens (made mainly of Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Octisalate and a combination of several other ingredients) absorb UV rays that convert them into heat before releasing them.
When choosing a sunscreen, your skin type should be taken into consideration. If you have normal skin, you can use either physical or chemical sunscreens for daily use. Broad-spectrum is best for UVA and UVB protection.
For oily skin, careful selection is needed to prevent your skin from appearing greasy or oilier than usual. The best options are light lotions or those formulated with gel or alcohol. Broad spectrum is again recommended.
Those with dry skin, sensitive skin, and those prone to eczema should use every day moisturizers that contain sunscreen. These will also provide the skin with soothing emollients and sun protection. Sometimes mixing a bland thick cream with a sunscreen is a good trick for better moisture and protection.
The key here is to qualify your skin type the same way that you would with your hair and beard to achieve the best results for your skin to ensure a fun vacation.
As always, stay bold, stay bearded, and stay YOU!
