Sunscreen is important to help protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. When used correctly, it can help decrease your risk of getting skin cancers, as well as help prevent premature skin aging if used as directed with other sun protection measures. This includes wrinkles and skin discolorations caused by exposure to the sun.

There are multiple types of rays that the sun emits. The two that can impact your skin the most are UVA and UVB rays. The easy way to remember the difference between the two is to think of UVA rays as the ones that can contribute to premature skin aging. UVA rays are the ones that can give you more wrinkles and skin discolorations.

Think of UVB rays as the ones that contribute to the sunburns you can get from too much sun exposure. The UVB rays are the ones that can increase your risk of getting skin cancer. Choosing a sunscreen that is broad-spectrum SPF means that it will help protect your skin against both types of rays—UVA and UVB.

Sunscreens have active ingredients in them that help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. There can be confusion though as to the difference in ingredients between a mineral-based and a chemical based sunscreen.

Mineral sunscreens use minerals such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to physically block the sun’s rays before they can penetrate the skin and cause damage. The rays reflect off the minerals scattering them before they have a chance to penetrate the skin and cause damage.

Chemical sunscreens use active ingredients such as avobenzone and octisalate to absorb the UV rays once they enter your skin but before they can cause damage to your skin.

There are many sunscreen makeup and skincare with SPF products available. Whether it’s a makeup product like a foundation with SPF or a skincare product like a face cream with SPF that you’re looking for, many of your favorite beauty products can now be purchased with SPF in them. Some of the most popular forms include face creams and lotions, setting sprays.

One of the most common forms of sunscreens are creams and lotions. These are rubbed into the skin prior to sun exposure to protect your skin. You can find formulas that double as face moisturizer and can also help with hydrating the skin. You can also find some that are oil controlling.

Others will be infused with skin-loving ingredients to help benefit the skin. Some face sunscreens have a shimmery glow to help give you a luminescent, dewy look while also protecting your skin from the sun. Others are a tinted sunscreen combining your foundation with your sun protection. You can sometimes even find face primers with SPF, giving you no excuse to not protect your skin. The options truly are endless.