Sunblock or sunscreen?

Did you even know that there was a difference? we interchange the name sunscreen and sunblock quite easily, probably not really knowing that they are in fact two quite different products.

Sunblock

Protection: A sunblock’s primary job is to protect you from the UVB rays. The ‘B’ here stands for burning. This means that sunblock will protect the outer layer of your skin by creating a barrier and reflecting all the harmful rays.

Ingredients: You’d usually find zinc oxide, titanium oxide as the major components in a sunblock. This actually makes it thicker which some people can find it harder to use.

Consistency: Since this is actually a physical barrier, it’s quite thick and opaque. 

Pros

• A sunblock would probably be more beneficial for preventing sunburn, so if you know you’re going to be under the harsh sun all day, it’s best to use sunblock.
• Don’t have to keep reapplying as often.

Cons

• Because of its thick consistency, it tends to look white on the skin. Just keep rubbing, it will disappear. Great massage for your face!!

Tips

• Reapply the sunblock as required.
• These days you find sunblocks that don’t have too much of a white cast, so you can get them if white bothers you.
• Most of them are water-resistant these days, but if you’re planning to go to the beach, make sure that it’s water-resistant 

Sunscreen

Protection: As the name suggests, sunscreen filters the harmful rays that your skin is exposed to. Like sunblock protects you from UVB rays, sunscreen protects you from UVA rays, where the ‘A’ stands for aging. So, while sunblock works physically, sunscreen works chemically preventing and repairing any long-term damage to the skin.

Ingredients: Sunscreens often use active ingredients like avobenzene and oxybenzene. 

However, there are growing concerns about whether they’re safe. In particular, FDA raised concerns about the substantial skin absorption of oxybenzone, its potential to affect hormone levels and the increased absorption susceptibility of children. These two are the most worrisome as they can cause skin irritation and reaction as well as the imitation of estrogen. 

Consistency: A sunscreen has the consistency of a normal lotion.

Pros

• It’s not too thick, which is what makes it ideal for everyday use.
• It’s not greasy, which means that it won’t affect your makeup

Cons

• It doesn’t give enough protection under the intense Sun.

Tips

• Wait 30 minutes after applying sunscreen before stepping out.
• Use a cream with a high SPF if it’s summertime.
• Apply it to every inch of the exposed skin.