Finding the best sunscreen for certain types of skin can be a challenging task. Getting one off the shelves might not be wise because people won't know how their skin would react to the sunscreen.

Dermatologists advise people to always use sunscreen or sunblock when going out. UV rays can cause sunburn or worse, skin cancer so a layer of sunscreen can help prevent those skin problems.

Hollywood A-lister Drew Barrymore, who is very active on Instagram, recently posted about her now-favorite sunscreen, the Elta MD Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 Moisturizing Facial Sunscreen, which she swears of its efficacy. In the post, Barrymore lamented that she usually gets a break out when trying out new sunscreens and there could only be two options for her — a skin pigmentation or acne.

Use of sunscreen has become an important routine for people when going out because it helps them protect from certain types of skin diseases.

Barrymore finds the brand "lightweight" and contains a "good number of SPF." Some sunscreens can get greasy and a bit shimmery for day to day use. But no matter how much Barrymore rave about the sunscreen, what may work for her may not work for certain skin types.

If consulting a dermatologist is not an option, here are some things people can remember when picking out sunscreen off the shelves.

1. Skin Type

Tracing a history of skin cancer from family members can help people pick the right sunscreen. It is better to understand how the skin reacts to topical solutions. If in the past, the skin suffered from acne breakouts and allergies, choose a milder type of sunscreen initially.

2. SPF

It has become a rule of thumb that the higher the SPF of the sunscreen the better. It is not quite accurate. Sunscreen with higher SPF may not necessarily mean it is more effective than the others. SPF 15 can filter out UVB (ultraviolet rays) as much as an SPF 30 can.

3. Broad Spectrum

UVB rays can cause sunburn and skin cancers, while UVA is the culprit for the early onset of aging. Dermatologists advise people to get a sunscreen that states it has broad-spectrum protection. If a product doesn't have a broad-spectrum label, then it must be clearly stated in the packaging so as not to confuse the consumers. Products without the label can only protect users from sunburn but not from skin aging or skin cancer.

3. Read the labels

Like in food, people are encouraged to read and understand the labels. Dermatologists advise people to find at least one of the following when picking out a sunscreen: avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, sulisobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide.

4. Use

If going to the beach and the idea is to stay in the water for the whole day, find the sunscreen that is water resistant. This way, you won't have to re-apply every so often. When going out for an outdoor run and the sun is up, go for the water- or sweat-resistant sunscreen. Some of these water-resistant sunscreens can protect users for up to 40 minutes and even up to 80 minutes. But people must not mistake water-resistant for water-proof. Sunscreen must be reapplied every few hours when staying out in the sun all day.
Having a healthy skin is not only about looking good but also about preventing skin diseases.