Daily Physical Defense® Sunscreen (Mineral SPF 34 with Antioxidants)

Application:

• Morning, and every 2 hours thereafter.
• Face, neck, chest & exposed skin.

Best for:

• UVA & UVB rays.
• Antioxidant rejuvenation.
• All skin types.

This is an oil-free, fragrance-free, all-mineral-based lotion sunscreen with an SPF 34 rating.

It contains green tea leaf extract and caffeine to act as antioxidants, which are essential when restoring the skin after sun exposure.

The UVA and UVB filters in this product include titanium dioxide 5.0% and zinc oxide 6.0%.

Why use both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in a mineral sunscreen formula?

Zinc oxide, on its own, is enough to protect from both UVA and UVB rays, in their short and long forms. However, it can leave more of a white cast on the skin (though nowadays, that’s less-so the case with nanoparticle formulations).

Titanium dioxide doesn’t leave a white cast. It is also ‘lighter’ when it spreads on the skin. This makes it more cosmetically appealing and less of a concern for acne-prone individuals. It’s also great at protecting from short-wave UVA and UVB rays.

When sunscreens combine iron oxide and titanium dioxide together, the result is a more ‘invisible’ sunscreen that still provides adequate, broad-spectrum protection.

At Beautiful Canadian Laser and Skincare Clinic, we love mineral sunscreens because they sit on the surface of the skin, rather than being absorbed into it. This makes them great for sensitive skin, and thus, all skin types. For anyone undergoing a cosmetic procedure, mineral sunscreen is a ‘must.’

If you prefer sunscreens that blend into the skin even more easily, SkinMedica® also makes combination sunscreens. They include both mineral sunblock and chemical sun filters. They are:

• Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50+
• Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 34+
• Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 34 (Tinted)

See all our sunscreens, here.

A few helpful things to know about this face sunscreen:

Important: true sun protection requires the reapplication of sunscreen every 2 hours. If you wear makeup, you may be interested in the award-winning, Colorescience® powder-based sunscreen. It’s part of the Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ line. We also carry this at our clinic.

Remember to shake this product before applying it to your skin! It is normal for sunscreens to separate.

The consistency of this sunscreen is ultra sheer and lightweight.

Use sunscreen as the last step in your daytime skincare routine. But, be sure to apply it underneath makeup.

Use at least a nickel-sized amount of sunscreen to cover the entire face. Use more to cover the neck and décollaté (i.e. chest area).

Notable skin care ingredients:

Apart from the iron oxide and titanium dioxide noted above, this physical face sunscreen includes:

Camellia oleifera (green tea) leaf extract – an antioxidant to help fight signs of aging by neutralizing free radicals, which come from the sun’s UV rays, environmental pollution, unhealthy foods and more. This ingredient is also found in the Facial Cleanser by SkinMedica®.

Caffeine – another free-radical scavenger. Caffeine has other benefits, such as being a skin soother and anti-inflammatory agent. It can also offer short-term skin tightening and vasoconstriction to reduce puffy eye bags and brighten their appearance. This ingredient is also found in the Total Eye® Firm & Repair Cream by Colorescience®.

Dimethicone – an occlusive and emollient to help the skin retain water, and thus, stay moisturized.

Butylene glycol – a ‘good’ alcohol that moisturizes the skin and aids the penetration of other beneficial ingredients into the skin.

Active ingredients:

Titanium dioxide 5.0%, zinc oxide 6.0% – providing broad spectrum SPF protection against UV rays and sun damage.