10 Best Sunscreens for all skin types in India (May 2022) – Buyer’s Guide

Our skin works to protect us from harmful ultraviolet radiation, we should use sunscreen to protect us from damaging UV rays. Wearing sunscreen is one of the best and easiest ways to protect your skin’s appearance and health at any age. Used regularly, sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer and premature aging. Even on cloudy days, our skin is susceptible to the sun’s rays which can lead to skin cancer, discoloration, and wrinkles over time. We should make best sunscreen a part of your daily morning routine to protect your skin from harmful UV rays as Dermatologists suggested.

List Of The 10 Best Sunscreens In India

Frequently Asked Questions About Purchasing A Sunscreen 

What SPF is best for Indian skin?

“For Indian skin, any sunscreen containing SPF 15 and above is preferred. The difference between SPF 15 and 50 is minimal. Sunscreens with higher SPF ratings block slightly more UVB rays, but none offers 100 percent protection.We need to select the right SPF for our skin. Depending on the skin types we should select properly. For Indian skin types SPF 15, 20 to 35 are suitable they give 93 to 97% protection. SPF 50 blocks about 98% of UVB rays which can be counted as almost complete protection. We need to apply sunscreen every 2–3 hours to protect our skin irrespective of its range.

How to choose the best sunscreen for your face?

1. For the Indian Weather, choose a sunscreen that has an SPF of 35-50. Ideally SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays, and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays.
2. The PA rating also matters the most as it denotes UVA protection. Choose one that has at least +++ or more.
3. Physical sunscreen is said to be the ideal choice for sensitive skin types, as they are less irritating. These are known to leave a white cast. But then we have advanced formulas that tend to leave a minimal white cast.
4. Chemical sunscreens on the other hand have better spreadability and skin feel, but the common chemical filters are known to be potential carcinogens and hormonal disruptors. Well, we do have advanced chemical filters like the Tinosorb S that are tested to be safe for our skin and body.
5. The key is to analyze the ingredient list thoroughly before making a purchase. Try to skip chemical filters like Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Homosalate, and make sure that your sunscreen has one or two antioxidants like Green Tea.
6. Unlike other skincare products like moisturizers and serums, we do not want our sunscreen to penetrate deep into our skin. It is ideal to choose one that says to be “non-penetrative”. Usually, physical sunscreen does not get absorbed into the skin and sits on top reflecting the harmful rays. You could also use an aloe gel before your sunscreen for it to be less penetrative.
7. Sunscreens should be majorly considered as a protection against rays. Sunscreens do prevent sunburns to a great extent, but they do not always prevent tanning. You should cover yourself if you choose to go under direct sunlight for long hours to prevent tanning.
8. One thing that most of them do wrong with sunscreen is applying a pea-sized amount of it as that covers the whole face. But guess what, Applying a little of the sunscreen is equal to “No sunscreen “ at all. You should slather on the sunscreen. Typically one should use ¼ teaspoon of sunscreen for one’s face for it to be effective. It is for this reason that I prefer to go for sunscreens that have light gel-based formulas. If you choose thicker formulas, then it’s going to be heavy on the skin.
9. Sunscreens should be applied to the skin gently. You shouldn’t be rubbing them hard. Take your sunscreen on three of your middle fingers. Press them together on both your hands and gently swipe them on your face starting on your cheeks and then pat it gently until the sunscreen disappears from the skin’s surface. You could use gentle circular motions if the formula is thicker.
10. In the case of chemical sunscreens, it is best to apply your sunscreen before 20 minutes of direct sun exposure. Physical sunscreens tend to work immediately after application.
11. Lastly, sunscreens should be re-applied every 2 to 3 hours irrespective of sun exposure. By each hour, the effectiveness of the sunscreen goes down, so re-apply it. It is not necessary to wash off your face or remove makeup before re-application, you can just layer it above them.

Which sunscreen do dermatologists recommend?

Dermatologists generally recommend sunscreen with all-spectrum protection with a minimum SPF of 30. All the 10 sunscreens listed above are clinically proven and tested by dermatologists.