The most important part of any skincare routine…
SUNSCREEN.
What is sunscreen?
Sunscreen protects the skin from sunburns and blocks the penetration of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. That word is important - Radiation. When you think of radiation, it generally doesn’t have positive conotations. By using the term UV rays, it makes it seem a little less daunting, a little less menacing. Don’t let that fool you, The sun and its rays are the biggest contributor to skin aging. Therefore, Sunscreen is the single most powerful anti-aging tool. 80% of the signs of aging are directly resulted from sun exposure, not your age.
Mineral versus Chemical sunscreens
The two main types of sunscreens are mineral and chemical. Mineral sunscreens sit on top of your skin, providing a physical barrier and reflect UV rays while Chemical absorb UV rays after they have penetrated the skin.
How does the sun damage skin and cause aging?
There are 2 types of rays we talk about when talking about UV rays. UVA and UVB. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and UVA rays travel deep into the skin. When UV rays enter the skin, they actually change the DNA of the cell, affecting the skins growth, repair rate, and appearance. It breaks down the underlying connective tissues and all tissues become less elastic, resulting in fine lines and over time, deep wrinkles. You may even notice skin become papery thin, or thickened like leather. When you combine this with the skins slowing down of repairing as we age, and you’ve just doubled the speed of your aging process, so you look a lot older, a lot sooner. Skin cancers are also a risk, and can range from mild to fatal.
Can’t I just get a bunch of treatments and reverse the damage?
It doesn’t work that way. If you start receiving treatments, like chemical peels or lasers, to reverse some of the signs of aging and set your skin on a healthier path, but don’t apply sunscreen DAILY, you’re wasting your money. You are not protecting the investment you’ve made in your skin. Instead of these treatments working on past damage and you working on preventing future damage, you’re cancelling out the efforts you’ve made by continuing to damage your skin. All the treatments in the world can’t keep up if you aren’t protecting your skin daily.
Lets talk some common myths about sunscreen
- The sunscreen in my makeup is enough.
This is not true. You actually need a considerable amount of sunscreen on to receive the benefits, and it needs to be spf 30-50. Experts say 1 oz. or more depending on the size of your body, with an additional .4 oz for your face. I like to recommend the “Two-Finger rule” I squirt lines down my pointer and index fingers to get the amount needed for my face. I use and additional 1-3 fingers for my neck and décolleté. That brings us to another point- neck, décolleté, hands, and any other exposed skin needs sunscreen every day, for the same reasons.
-You don’t need to wear sunscreen unless it is sunny
This is also not true. The sun is there even when it is cloudy, raining, and snowing, therefore the rays are present, and you need to be protected.
-One and done?
Nope! Sunscreen needs to be reapplied at least every 2 hours, and more frequently if you’re swimming and sweating. There are a ton of options for sunscreen, including sprays and powder compacts that can be applied over your makeup.
Sun safety tips and tricks
Some people choose to wear long sleeves, gloves and hats as an extra measure for sun protection.
Work diligently to find sunscreens that you like, whether that be glowy, dewy, mattifying. Play with textures, oils, creams, powders, waters. Ones that work with your skin and lifestyle, ones that smell good, apply over makeup and make you feel good are going to encourage you to use them.
Keep sunscreen in different forms in different places. For instance, I have my cream sunscreen with my skincare, I keep a spray in my car to mist my face and arms, I keep a powder one at my desk, and a glowy shimmer one in my bag.
Speaking of your car, you can get windows tinted or buy sunshades to help block the rays while you’re driving.
Don’t forget to continue to protect the skin that not on your face, like your arms and hands, which are also often as exposed, but less likely to get the same kinds of protection.
Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside to allow it to penetrate and give optimal protection.
Dont forget your eyelids, ears, and behind your ears.