Slathering on sunscreen earlier than an outside exercise is an important a part of secure solar practices. However it may include an disagreeable facet impact: Sunscreen dripping into your eyes as quickly as you begin to sweat. In the event you’ve ever skilled this, you recognize it may significantly sting.
Earlier than you contemplate skipping SPF—or your out of doors exercise—know this: There are just a few dermatologist-recommended hacks you may attempt to preserve your sunblock away out of your eyes.
However why in 2023 can we even nonetheless need to cope with this sunscreen-in-eyes state of affairs? “Typically, sunscreens within the U.S. have been formulated for a sure really feel and end on the pores and skin,” says Teo Soleymani, MD, a dermatologist at UCLA Well being. “Over the previous 20 to 30 years, the cosmetics trade has been huge on discovering merchandise which are stackable with make-up and different merchandise, or issues that really feel weightless or invisible in your pores and skin.”
There’s additionally been a premium on sunscreens which are non-comedogenic, i.e. that received’t clog your pores, he says.
There’s a draw back to all of this, Soleymani says: It tends to make sunscreens skinny and water-soluble—that means, they’re extra more likely to run if you sweat or get moist. “Every time we glance to make merchandise that received’t clog your pores and shall be weightless, it limits the flexibility to create a product that’s not simply rinsed off,” Soleymani says. “However what’s your physique’s greatest rinse? Sweat that comes out of your pores.”
That brings us to what, precisely, you are able to do to maintain your sunscreen in place and out of your eyes. Soleymani has just a few recommendations.
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Use a sport sunscreen
The identify isn’t only for present—these sunscreens are literally formulated in another way than others, Soleymani says. “It’s the identical idea as waterproof mascara,” he says. “It’s formulated in a approach that adheres to your pores and skin a bit of higher and is rather less hydrophilic—water loving—so it received’t slough off along with your sweat.”
Rethink chemical sunscreens
As an entire, chemical sunscreens, corresponding to these with substances like avobenzone, “are usually much less efficient at being water-proof than mineral-based sunscreens,” Soleymani says. In the event you sometimes sweat loads throughout exercises, it’s greatest to keep away from utilizing these in your face.
Attain for mineral sunscreens
Mineral sunscreens are sometimes thicker than their chemical counterparts, however that’s a great factor if you’re attempting to forestall them from sweating off. “They don’t run. Mineral-based sunscreens have a tendency to stay loads higher due to the zinc and titanium used,” Soleymani says. “The one annoying a part of them is that they keep in your pores and skin for a very long time.” (His professional tip for elimination: Strive make-up remover wipes to get the sunscreen off on the finish of the day or if you’re washing up after your exercise.)
Contemplate UV protect glasses
In case you’re not aware of them, UV protect glasses block UV rays and have a tendency to cowl a bigger space of your face than your normal sun shades. In the event you pair them with a hat, you could possibly doubtlessly protect the higher half of your face from the solar while not having to make use of a lot sunscreen in that space. “Quite a lot of baseball or tennis gamers put on them,” Soleymani says. “That may present a great quantity of UV safety with out essentially needing to cake on a layer of sunscreen.”
Look into zinc oxide sunscreen
Zinc oxide sunscreen is what lifeguards used to smear on their noses and underneath their eyes within the ‘80s and ‘90s to supply robust solar safety. “That was actually efficient and wouldn’t run with water or sweat,” Soleymani says. “The one factor folks didn’t like was that it was very noticeable.” Happily, zinc oxide sunscreen has progressed since then, and a few firms now supply merchandise that go on clear. Soleymani says it’s price no less than contemplating utilizing this round your eyes to each shield your pores and skin and create a barrier.
Total, Soleymani recommends simply being “sensible” if you’re figuring out within the solar. “Be wise,” he says. “In the event you’re going to be out for greater than 20 minutes at a time throughout excessive UV index occasions—10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—put on sunscreen. And, should you’ll be out for greater than an hour, reapply.”