A lot of men can find skincare a bit confusing — which skincare products should you pick, and how should you apply them for maximum results? The basic idea remains simple. Pick a facewash to cleanse your skin, treat any concerns with a targeted serum (vitamin C works great for hyperpigmentation, and hyaluronic acid can help with dehydration) and follow up with a moisturiser to seal the goodness in. The last part, however, is possibly the most important of all, which is SPF for men, especially if you tend to spend most of your day outdoors.
So, whether you plan to take an outdoor workout class or even spend a lot of your morning in traffic, you must stock up on the best sun cream for men. Dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen even indoors, even if sunlight only reaches your skin through windows. Keep reading to know why you need to invest in sunscreen for men and how you can pick the best one.
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A real ride or die
So what exactly is sunscreen? Simply put, any cream that, when applied to your skin, protects against the UVA and UVB rays is called sunscreen. It works by either absorbing or reflecting the harsh, damaging rays of the sun to shield your skin from sun damage.
You’ve probably heard about the numerous benefits of SPF by now:
- It can protect your skin from sunburns, sun damage, and possibly even skin cancer, making it a non-negotiable routine, especially if you spend a chunk of your day outdoors in the sun.
- Previous studies have shown that men are more likely to develop skin cancer than women, so it's essential for them to protect their skin.
- Prolonged exposure to the sun also increases the skin’s tendency to age faster than necessary and can even cause premature signs of ageing like dullness, fine lines and loss of skin elasticity. Sunscreen protects against premature ageing, keeping your skin looking taut and youthful for much longer.
- Sun rays can also cause discolouration or hyperpigmentation on your skin, leading to uneven skin tone, dark spots and dullness. Sunscreen also helps prevent this, keeping your complexion looking radiant and even.
How to pick the best SPF for men?
Now that we’ve established that sunscreen is key to a healthy, radiant and youthful complexion, the next step is figuring out a sunscreen that works for you.
1. The right SPF:
The most important thing to check in a sunscreen is its SPF, or sun protection factor, which determines the extent of protection a sunscreen provides against the sun. For maximum protection, pick anywhere between an SPF of 30 to 50; anything below is not adequate to protect you. Sure, your moisturiser may come infused with SPF 15, but that’s good to layer on for some extra defense and will not provide as much protection as you need by itself.
2. The right formula:
The next thing to look at is the sunscreen formulation — pick a hydrating cream formula if your skin tends to be dry or dehydrated, or go for a matte gel if you have oily skin. Today, many sunscreens come enriched with skin-nourishing ingredients like aloe vera to soothe inflamed skin or vitamin E to boost moisture and improve your skin’s barrier health. Take time to understand your skin’s unique needs and pick a sun care cream accordingly.
3. The right technique:
The last important thing to understand is how to use sunscreen. For best results, take about two fingers worth of sunscreen (from palm to tip) and massage it onto your face and neck as the last step of your morning skincare routine. A good one should leave no white cast behind once fully absorbed. Apply this every day without fail, even if you’re going to spend all day indoors (sun rays through the window are just as harmful!). If you’re going to be outside, or sweating a lot, reapply every 2-3 hours to keep your skin protected.
Pro Tip:
Want some extra sun protection? Vitamin C is known to boost your sunscreen’s efficacy and can be used in tandem with your SPF for added protection and radiance. To do this, simply apply a vitamin C bases serum or cream in your regular routine, and follow up with sunscreen as the last step to seal it all in.
