I get asked all the time, what is the one single product that I would recommend for the skin. That is easy.
Sunscreen
Really? Not a $195 cream that a celebrity swears by? Not a $200 facial?
No. Sunscreen is the best defense against wrinkles and skin cancer.
What does Dr. Bader recommend for sunscreen? What are his thoughts?
- Higher cost does not mean better product.
- You do NOT have to buy a sunscreen from your doctor’s office.
- A big name product often means a big price. A big name product does not always mean a better product.
- Aestheticians and Non-Dermatologists, including plastic surgeons, know very little about ingredients in skin care products. That is not whom I would get my advice from.
- Look at the ACTIVE INGREDIENTS!
- Use MINERAL BASED sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. These are the best! These are the safest! These block UVA and UVB!
- Avoid chemical based sunscreens. These only last a short time and are only good for certain wavelengths, not all. This is why several chemicals must be used.
- SMELL IT! Make sure you like the way the product smells. If you don’t, you wont use it.
- HOW IT LOOKS: Make sure you like the way the product looks on your skin. If it doesn’t look good, you won’t use it!
- HOW IT FEELS: Make sure you like the way it feels on your skin. Some like a dewy product, some do not. If you do not like the way it feels, you will not use it.
- PRICE: Make sure you like the price! There are many brands out there that have very good sunscreens and it does not have to be expensive. More expensive brands add things you just don’t need and may not do anything at all.
- SPF 30 or greater.
- ADDITIVES – extra bonus that is not REQUIRED, but you may want and you will pay for it!
- Hyaluronic acid–in humid environments, this hydrates the skin reducing the appearance temporarily of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Niacinamide–this vitamin has been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer WHEN TAKEN ORALLY (pills). There is very little evidence supporting the benefits of topical application, although some small studies exist. Companies that add this to their sunscreen rarely test for any benefit, so it is really uncertain if any exist. In short, it is really a marketing ploy and less of a claim of medical benefit at this time.