Cruelty-Free Sunscreens for Mature Skin

Being at the beach last week reminded me how important a good sunscreen is. Mature skin has challenges that younger skin does not. By this age, most of our faces (I’ll include the décolleté area) have been severely damaged by the sun. And while most of the damage is done in our youth, we must be careful about protecting it from the sun. Regardless of your age or time of year, it is very important to apply sunscreen every day. Today I’m updating a popular post and sharing a rundown of the best cruelty-free sunscreens for mature skin. I have a huge arsenal of trusts, here are some of my favorites for your face and body.

Here are some other helpful posts you might want to read about sun protection:

Sunscreens are divided into chemical and physical, but to be honest they are all chemical. Some are assumed to be safer and more effective.

Which sunscreen is best for mature skin? It’s what you’re going to use consistently and use enough of. Most people use a thimble of sunscreen and spread it very thinly. Please take a look How Much Sunscreen Do You Need?

The Best Sunscreens for Women Over 50

Physical cruelty-free sunscreens for mature skin

Physical sunscreens provide the best protection and are the gentlest, as they reflect harmful rays. They are called sunscreen because they prevent the rays from being absorbed by your skin. Zinc oxide is the gold standard in sun protection, as it blocks even more rays than titanium dioxide. My dermatologist and National Rosacea Society I believe mineral (physical) sunscreens are the best kind to use with my rosacea as they are less irritating.

They tend to leave a white cast, so many companies add tints to help them blend in better. I have used for many years Elta MD UV Physical Broad Spectrum SPF 41. I used it instead of foundation to give my face a smooth look. Then I switched Australian Gold Color Face SPF 50 to get that extra coverage.

Josie Maran makes a beautiful Broad Spectrum SPF 47 moisturizer I have used and loved for years. I would never trust a moisturizer with SPF alone, but this one contains 5.1% titanium dioxide and 6.4 zinc oxide, so it’s very protective and soothing.

My current favorite sunscreen for my face this is MDSolarSciences spf 50. It has water-resistant, broad-spectrum UV protection that leaves a smooth, matte finish. I carry this stick I have one in my bag and in my car for extra protection throughout the day.

I’ve been a huge fan of all things Colorscience for years. They consistently produce reliable, superior products with high SPF that many dermatologists recommend, including mine.

i used this ColorScience Illuminating Primer indoor and outdoor for years. With 20 SPF of 5% titanium dioxide and 4.5% zinc oxide, it helps brighten your skin and smooth its appearance. It’s not enough for me on its own, but I love how it softens things up and my foundation goes over it very well.

i love this too Unforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50! It comes in 3 “shades” which is a bit misleading as it rubs off to be completely invisible. I have the original, which is a universal peach that fades and leaves no film or shine. you can add Unforgettable Brush-Applied Sunscreen Mineral powder On top of your make-up at any time of the day without spoiling your make-up. It’s expensive, and other brands make similar products, so you can have these types of products around.

Color Science Total Eye 3 in 1 Renewal Therapy The Broad Spectrum SPF 35 Concealer ingredient list is more like an eye cream, but with a powerful SPF that you can use on your entire lid, from under eyes to brows.

How Much Sun Protection Are You From?

It’s important to note that the total SPF you use is not calculated by adding one product to another. Assuming you apply enough, it’s as high as the strongest single SPF product you’ve ever worn. I find layering helps ensure that I don’t miss a point.

I’ve been reading about these compact mirrors that show you where you’ve applied sunscreen and where you might have missed. Most are compact magnifying mirrors equipped with a built-in camera that displays your sunscreen application and the effectiveness of your sunscreen. They come at different price points and none are cheap, but they can be very valuable. This works with your phone.

Chemical sunscreens for mature skin

There is some controversy over the safety of chemical sunscreens. I wrote here. The FDA has decided that only titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are safe, but we all make our own decisions and for many of us we can’t tolerate physical sunscreens.

This is Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 It is the best seller everywhere. It gets absorbed by your skin without leaving any residue, so the makeup goes on easily. It contains zinc oxide, but I have this category because the other sunscreen ingredient is octinoxate. It is transparent, light and contains hyaluronic acid that helps moisturize the skin.

Sunscreen for Lips

An often overlooked place where women (and men) suffer from sun damage is their lips. I placed a new order this is Mdsolarsciences tinted lip balm With SPF 30 and it will keep you posted. This Colorscience Lip Balm has an SPF of 50much higher than most.

More products to protect your lips-

I’m neurotic about protecting my skin from any future sun damage. I read as much as possible and I’m always trying new ones. I have no problem qualifying someone as “not for me” if they’re streaky, greasy, or generally unpleasant. If I don’t like it, I don’t use it, which makes it worthless to me.

Other Highly Recommended Face Sunscreens

Although I haven’t tried these, I see them being recommended over and over and I’ve heard great things.

Additional Ways to Protect Your Skin from the Sun

While sunscreen is a must, I wanted to emphasize that there are additional ways to protect your skin from the sun. I think of walking on the shady side of the street, and I do it willingly. Just as SPF is the rating in sunscreen, UPF is the rating in hats and clothing for sun protection. UPF 50+ is the highest rating in clothing offered and blocks up to 98% of UVA and UVB rays.

I highly recommend keeping a UPF 50+ sun hat handy. I have linked my favorite sun hats to this post for you. Another way to protect your skin is to wear UPF clothing. brands like colibar, Cabana Lifeand others are designed just for that.

What are your favorite sunscreens?

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to wear what makes you feel safe.