Sunscreen Is A Must: Smart Parenting Village Members Recommend Brands Of Lotion With SPF

Living in a tropical country like ours, using any kind of protection from the sun's ultraviolet rays (UV) rays is a must. Exposure to UV rays may cause several health problems, such as:

• Premature aging of the skin
• Signs of sun damage (wrinkles, leathery skin, liver spots, actinic keratosis, solar elastosis)
• Skin cancer
• Eye problems (inflammation of the cornea, formation of cataracts, impairment of vision)
• Weakened immune system

Thankfully there are products that contain sun protection factor (SPF) to help prevent sunburn. These include sunscreen, sunblock, or lotion with SPF that are widely available in the Philippines.

What is SFP?

According to the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA), SPF is a measure of how much solar energy, or UV radiation, is required to produce sunburn on protected skin (like when sunscreen has been applied on it) in relation to the amount of solar energy needed to produce sunburn on unprotected skin. So higher SPF value means higher sunburn protection.

The U.S. FDA explains that SPF doesn't relate to the time of solar exposure but to the amount of solar exposure. There are other factors that affect the amount of solar energy, such as intensity and skin type.

The sun is most intense at midday, that's why it takes less time to be exposed to the same amount of solar energy compared to early morning. For instance, one hour of sun exposure at 9 a.m. may result to the same amount of solar energy when exposed at 1 p.m. for just 15 minutes.

Parent-approved sunscreen brands

As products abound in the market, moms and dads are always on the look out for the best in quality (separately for the face and body, or both), as well as value for money. Take it from the members of Smart Parenting's online parenting community, Smart Parenting Village. Here are their recommendations for sunblock and lotion with SPF available in the Philippines.

Many of the members went for the Beach Hut brand, specifically the Max 100++SPF, which comes in 50 ml and 100 ml bottles and in spray bottle. According to its product description, this can be applied both on the face and body. It offers a maximum of SPF 100 protection and UVA/UVB rays protection.

It also uses Micronized Zinc Oxide Technology to ensure lightness on skin but no benzene. It also promises to be non-messy and non-greasy to apply, but without causing skin darkening.

One Smart Parenting Village member commented, "Hindi masyadong na-sunburn ang mga anak namin." A few others agreed, saying comments like "Trusted" and "Light lang sya na hindi mukang ghost sa puti ang face ng mga kids."

Other brands mentioned by the members include:

1. Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence—One member said she uses it on her face "for everyday use."
2. Isntree
3. Human Nature
4. Sunplay
5. Sunright (Nu Skin)—One member said she uses this product SPF 35 pa+++ for her face and body, plus another product from the same company, Nutricentials, as a day lotion with SPF 35 for her face.
6. Young Living Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
7. Mustela
8. Dermplus SPF130—One member explained, "Nakakabili din kasi ng tingi in sachets lang."
9. Cetaphil
10. Hawaiian Tropic
11. Nivea—One member said she's been using this brand long before she got married and became a mom. Now, she applies Nivea kids on her daughter.
12. Neutrogena Sheer
13. Belo—"Sapat na," according to one mom.
14. VMV Armada Sport 70
15. Ryx Skin beauty lotion

Reminders in choosing lotion with SPF

"Sa adults kahit anong sunscreen basta non greasy and non comedogenic. Importante meron talaga. Kasi d'yan galing ang signs of aging and sun spots...All of us including my 2 kids use sunblock everyday." (SSL)

"Any brand as long it broad spectrum covers UVA-UVB, water resistant, sweat resistant, non comedogenic, dry touch no greasy feeling spf 50 and up." (CS)

"As a skincare enthusiast, I know the importance of sunscreen kahit nasa loob lang ng bahay and of course reapplication is a must!!! Madaming magagandang sunscreen talagang tyagaan lang sa pag try. Double check lang kung legit na SPF50 above and always dapat may PA++++ or broad spectrum na nakalagay." (KF)

Read here for more recommendations of lotion with SPF available in the Philippines, particularly for kids.

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