You may have seen on the packages of BB and CC creams their SPF and PA ratings. The friendly sales assistant from your favorite cosmetics store even swears you can forgo sunscreen since the product has enough SPF. Heck, even this Yahoo article says there's no need for sunblock. So would this mean BB and CC creams, along with their light concealing properties, make sunscreen obsolete?
Read on to find out.
Image courtesy of Amy Nguyen (absolutelyfobulous.com)
Before we talk about the adequacy of BB creams for sun protection, let us first review how they are applied. Jen (fromheadtotoe.com) made this video of how she uses her BB cream. I pretty much use mine like she does, minus the blush, concealer, lipstick and eye makeup. Applying little dots and smearing them all over your face is also the standard instruction from sales assistants from cosmetics shops.
Assuming we all use the method just shown, do BB creams provide adequate protection from burning and aging UVB and UVA rays? The answer is NO.
First, we have to understand that in order for us to get adequate UV protection using susncreen (the usual source for sun protection), at least 1/4 teaspoon must be used for the face alone. It may not sound like a lot, but here's a video of Veronica Gorgeois demonstrating her usual skincare routine (including sunscreen). If you watched it, you'll see she looked like she's put too much sunscreen, but actually, she's applying just the right amount! Compare that to the couple of pea-sized amounts used for BB cream application, and then you can see why they are not enough for sun protection.
1/4 teaspoon is roughly the size of a peso
Another reason is also the difference in the ingredients of these creams as compared to sunscreen. BB creams have moisturizers, tint and "pixie dust" or various beneficial extracts with certain claims, among other ingredients used to supplement the product's function. Sunscreen, on the other hand, are formulated solely for sun protection, hence the main ingredients are mostly filters and the other agents which will help these ingredients impart protection.
In short, for adequate sun protection, do not fall for the false sense of security BB and CC creams market and rely on them alone. Try various sunscreen which will work with your product for that flawless, well-protected skin.
What a coincidence, I just wrote about this http://scatterbraintures.com/2014/01/10/separate-sunscreen/ Though, I don't have the same belief on bb creams vs specifically labeled sunscreens. They say that the SPF number is measured by testing 2mg of sunscreen per square cm of skin, 2mg spf 30 bb cream will give the same protection as 2mg spf 30 sunscreen.
However, if you put the needed no. of grams of bb cream to get the whole spf-rating on the label, it will look like you put on toothpaste on your face.
Exactly! I agree that BB creams have similar level protection as a sunscreen if the SPF and PA ratings are equal. But putting 1/4 tsp of BB cream, I imagine, would be a nightmare.
What a coincidence, I just wrote about this http://scatterbraintures.com/2014/01/10/separate-sunscreen/ Though, I don't have the same belief on bb creams vs specifically labeled sunscreens. They say that the SPF number is measured by testing 2mg of sunscreen per square cm of skin, 2mg spf 30 bb cream will give the same protection as 2mg spf 30 sunscreen.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if you put the needed no. of grams of bb cream to get the whole spf-rating on the label, it will look like you put on toothpaste on your face.
Exactly! I agree that BB creams have similar level protection as a sunscreen if the SPF and PA ratings are equal. But putting 1/4 tsp of BB cream, I imagine, would be a nightmare.
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