Summer is here! It’s the perfect time to inventory your products and make some updates to continue providing glowing, healthy skin. Most importantly, that means protecting skin against the sun and environmental aggressors, which accelerate skin aging and long-term damage.
It’s essential for patients to wear SPF during all daylight hours this time of year, so providing them with an SPF that they actually want to wear is critical to make sure they keep up with their regimen.
With that in mind, let’s take a moment to discuss six characteristics of an SPF that your patients will love to use every day.
#1. Lightweight Texture
The perfect SPF should be well absorbed by skin and never feel greasy. Patients want a sheer formula that glides onto their skin and feels comfortable for hours. They’ll prefer the luxury feel of a lightweight SPF over many non-medical grade formulas that feel excessively pasty or thick.
#2. Effective Sun Protection
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, which measures the relative amount of protection a product provides against sunburn. For example, an SPF 30 product reduces exposure by 30x, blocking around 97% of UV rays compared to unprotected skin.
Generally, a greater SPF number will offer better protection, but the amount of protection added is not a linear function. An SPF 50 product, for example, reduces exposure by 50x and blocks 98% of UV rays – only a 1% increase over SPF 30.
We recommend SPF products with a minimum of SPF 30 for sufficient and effective protection.
#3. Broad Spectrum Protection
SPFs provide protection against UV rays, but there are multiple types of harmful UV rays to protect against. The term broad spectrum refers to SPFs that protect against both UVA and UVB.
Make sure that your patients are using a broad spectrum SPF for full protection against all types of harmful UV rays, and bear in mind, broad spectrum SPF still needs to be reapplied every two hours to maintain its effectiveness.
#4. Additional Outdoor Protection
Many patients are wearing sunscreen this time of year because they want outdoor protection – but there’s more to protect against than just UVA and UVB.
Recent studies have shown the harmful effects of blue (high-energy visible) light, emitted from digital screens and the sun. Prolonged exposure to infrared (IR) light, which also comes from the sun, can cause collagen degradation and free radical damage. Meanwhile, microparticle pollution in the air can be absorbed by skin and cause aging damage such as lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.
In addition to UV protection, an ideal SPF should protect against other harmful light sources and air pollution.
#5. Additional Skin Benefits
Patients are looking to get more out of their SPF than protection alone, and countless SPF products today advertise that they are both protective AND moisturizing. An ideal SPF comes with additional benefits, such as brightening, firming, and hydrating.
Patients will love SPFs that protect against environmental damage and sun using antioxidants, which simultaneously help to keep skin hydrated, bright, firm, and healthy.
Antioxidants are frequently found in other products in a patient’s regimen, and today, there is a greater push to include antioxidants in the SPF step for additional skin benefits.
#6. Other Uses
The perfect SPF will fit nicely into a patient’s daily routine, helping them remember to apply it consistently. SPFs can have other uses to aid in this; for example, some SPFs can be used as a makeup primer. As a patient finishes their morning skincare, they can transition smoothly to applying their makeup and starting their day.
Two SPFs That Patients Will Love
CosMedical carries two SPFs that check all of the above boxes, and your patients are sure to love using them every day.
Ultra Replenishing SPF 40 is a broad spectrum SPF that protects against UVA and UVB; simultaneously, Lipochroman® – the most powerful antioxidant on the market today and the only antioxidant that protects against carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen free radicals – protects against environmental pollution to keep skin hydrated, firm, and bright. Winter cherry blocks HEV light, and firming peptides help to remove wrinkles and promote elasticity. The tinted formula soothes with galangal root as it gently glides onto and is absorbed by skin.
Radiant Shield SPF 40 is a mineral SPF with a suite of anti-aging benefits. Radiant Shield protects and supports long-term skin health using Ectoin®, a skincare super-molecule that sustains intense skin hydration and offers global protection against HEV, IR, UV, and microparticle pollution. The gentle and tinted mineral formula uses 17% zinc oxide to add broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB, along with Lipochroman® for enhanced environmental protection.
Both of our SPFs offer full-spectrum protection against UV and HEV light while reducing lines and wrinkles and preventing aging damage. They are safe for all skin types, including sensitive, rosacea-prone, and post-procedure skin, and they both can be used as a makeup primer or foundation.
How To Choose Which SPF is Best for Your Patient
The biggest difference between our SPFs is the type of protection they use. Radiant Shield SPF 40 is a mineral SPF, meaning it uses zinc oxide to physically block harmful UV rays. Ultra Replenishing SPF 40 is a hybrid SPF, using mineral zinc oxide plus winter cherry that is absorbed into the skin, protecting it. Patients will often have a preference for mineral or hybrid SPF formulas.
Regardless of their choice, your clients will go home with strong sun protection that will help keep their skin beautiful for an enjoyable summer. For more summer regimen recommendations, read this article next.
