Beauty
Find the perfect sunscreen for all your summer activities
Sunscreen Image by: Carlyle Routh
Beauty
Find the perfect sunscreen for all your summer activities
We know the threat of UV rays causing premature aging and cancer is real. We rounded up the best sunscreens on the market right now.
We all know the threat of UV rays causing premature aging and cancer is real. We also know that, no matter the activity, sunscreen (all day, everyday) is non-negotiable, but one thing that is up for debate is the type you choose to use. To help you decode the myriad products out there, we rounded up the best sunscreens on the market right now.
SPF GLOSSARY
Physical sunscreen: Active mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide physically protect you against UV rays. This type of SPF sits on the skin's surface and acts like tiny mirrors to bounce the rays of you.
Chemical sunscreen: Made with a combination of chemical compounds (such as oxybenzone and octinoxate), these formulations penetrate your skin and absorb the UV rays into their ingredients, acting like a sponge.
Broad spectrum: Not all sunscreens are created equal. There are two types of UV light that can harm your skin. UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays. A broad-spectrum, or full-spectrum sunscreen protects you from both).
OUTDOOR FITNESS
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Best for sweaty skin: Live Clean Sport Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 45 provides nongreasy protection thanks to the power duo of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The formula is 98-percent natural and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Live Clean Sport Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 45, $17, well.ca.
Best for quick touch-ups: If you need a speedy fix between tennis matches or golf holes, try Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport High Performance Sunscreen Spray SPF 30. The continuous spray is nongreasy and leaves skin with a breathable matte finish.
Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport High Performance Sunscreen Spray SPF 30, $12, walmart.ca.
Best for your face: Considering taking a selfie on your next run? Shiseido Sports BB Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ is a long-lasting and transfer-resistant tinted BB sunscreen. The super-lightweight lotion is perfect for an active woman who's looking for a bit of coverage. With its WetForce technology, the formula actually becomes more effective when exposed to perspiration.
Shiseido Sports BB Broad Spectrum SPF 50+, $38, shiseido.com.
WORKWEEK
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Best makeup with SPF: Vichy Idéalia BB Cream is a triple threat: It combines skin care with a light foundation and SPF 25. The texture feels light and comfortable, and if you like your makeup more natural, you can use this throughout the day to re-up your SPF coverage.
Vichy Idéalia BB Cream, $37, vichy.ca.
Best multitasker: Think your moisturizer with SPF will protect you all day? Think again. Use a separate facial sunscreen on top of your skin-care routine, but if you're keen on streamlining, look for creams with a minimum of SPF 30, like Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with SPF 30. It protects you from both UVA and UVB rays (for two hours) and also helps reduce lines while boosting hydration and brightness.
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with SPF 30, $39, olay.ca.
Best for over your makeup: Reapplying SPF when you're at the beach or in your backyard is no problem, but it's not practical for the average busy makeup-wearing woman. So try a spray. Coppertone ClearlySheer Spray for Body SPF 50 is a lightweight sunscreen; simply mist it on and wait a few moments for it to dry.
Coppertone ClearlySheer Spray for Body SPF 50, $10, coppertone.ca.
Best SPF hand cream: Hands are always exposed, which means it's crucial to cover them with sunscreen daily. Look for a hand cream that has an SPF of at least 15. Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Correcting Hand Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15 not only keeps hands moisturized and protected but reverse signs of UV damage.
Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Correcting Hand Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15 , $35, clinique.ca.
DAY AT THE BEACH
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Best for babies: Baby Bum SPF 30 Lotion is the cleanest (no phthalates, gluten and parabens) all-natural sun protection the surf-obsessed Florida makes. The formula is 100-percent mineral-based, making it perfect for babies and children, as well as adults with sensitive skin.
Baby Bum SPF 30 Lotion , $22, trustthebum.com.
Best physical sunscreen: If the natural sunscreens have burned you in the past because of their white residue (we're looking at you, titanium dioxide), then give Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 a try. This physical sunscreen uses 100-percent zinc oxide to shield from UVA and UVB rays with no white streaks.
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 , $20, neutrogena.ca.
Best for your face: If you're looking for a product you can reapply to your visage quickly without getting any pesky and mixed in, try La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Stick SPF 60. This chemical-filter sunscreen protects from sunburns, cell damage and skin reaction.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Stick SPF 60 , $21, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
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