SPF For The Face - Page 3

I find the SPF arms race disconcerting, especially considering the new chemicals companies crank out to accomplish these 85+SPF mutants. Just so everyone knows, the FDA barely regulates cosmetics and topicals like sunscreen. The FDA uses a "blacklist" to prevent companies from using dangerous chemicals. That means any manufacture can use any new experimental chemical in a cosmetic (as long as it isn't on the blacklist) and consumers and the FDA bear the burden of proving hazard, which is nearly impossible with trace exposure to chemicals anyway. Its a regulatory strategy that encourages innovation at the expense of safety. I work in the medical device industry, and many of us in the biz use as few commercial cosmetics/topicals as possible.

On top of that, SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is a unit of measurement indicating the amount of UV radiation required to cause sunburn on skin with the sunscreen on, relative to the amount required without the sunscreen (Wikipedia). So, wearing a sunscreen with SPF 50, your skin will not burn until it has been exposed to 50 times the amount of solar energy that would normally cause it to burn.

Most human beings living normal human lives do not need more than SPF 15, applied properly and reapplied when necessary. The blocking agents in SPF 15 are typically oxides and are much safer than the mystery chemistry in SPF50 cream.

I don't think it's 'mystery chemistry' at all. The FDA may be lax in regulating the claims cosmetics companies can make, "anti ageing" for instance, but they're very stringent with the chemicals allowed to be used in skincare.

Taking sunscreen as an example, the best US sunscreens provide much less UVA protection than the best European and Asian ones. That's because the FDA is still reluctant to approve chemical sun filters such as Tinosorb that have been deemed safe in Europe and Asia for years now.

I do agree that increasing amounts of SPF are ridiculous since it's physically impossible to need more than SPF50 but in terms of UVA protection - the need depends on the want. If you're looking to prevent photodamage to skin or protect sensitive skin from melanoma - you're going to need a good chemical sunscreen that provides superior UVA protection. Either that or a a sunscreen containing more than 16% zinc which tends to make for a very sticky and white product.

You mentioned an FDA blacklist but surely they update this blacklist constantly? You cannot simply create a blacklist, never update it and then allow companies to sell products with new chemicals as long as they're not on the old blacklist. That's not how it works at all.

I completely agree that if your objective is to simply to prevent sun burn, SPF 15 (reapplied often) can often be enough unless you have very pale skin or live in a very sunny climate. However if you're looking for benefits other than a lack of burning, you need more sun protection.

The debate about chemicals in topical products can go on forever so there's no point in entering that here. I'll simply say that, based on published medical research, i'm of the opinion that chemical sun filters in sunscreens (when properly formulated and combined) provide effective and perfectly safe protection. As for health concerns, I don't believe the small amount of sun filter that may or may not penetrate the skin is nearly as much of a worry compared to the food we eat and the air we breathe.

I've been lurking in this thread, and now i'd like to try out using some spf cream on my face daily. However, what concerns me is that some have said the creams make your face a bit white. I'm of Indian decsent, and i'm worried that if use this, it will look as if i am wearing makeup. I'm not really that dark, but light brown. Any recommendations?

Most chemical sunscreens with SPF15 to 40 shouldn't pose a problem with your skin colour. However as SPF and UVA protection goes higher than that, the chance of the sunscreen looking a bit white increases due to the amount of filters used.

I have light/medium tanned skin and most sunscreens (even high SPF) turn clear on me after waiting about half an hour. In your case, if you want to use a higher protection sunscreen you might want to mix a tiny bit of liquid bronzer (Clinique Men make one) into the sunscreen to tone down the white. It wont cover your skin, it's just a translucent tinted gel. If you live in Europe, most major sunscreen brands make a separate tinted gel for exactly this purpose.

Perfect. Thanks for the info. I'll give it a shot

I had the same problem as my skin is very oily and in winters it get so dry. I wasn't really in that budget to go to dermatologist to get the medicine but i spend quite some time over net searching and finally after trying like 4 lotions finally dove spf protection one fits me ... it's in a green botel and available on cvs and rite aid.

I've been using this for the past week. It's fantastic. I got it at Target.