PSA: You Still Need Sunscreen
- victoria
- Oct 11, 2018
- 3 min read
Fall is here and with it comes cooler weather (finally!), chunky sweaters, booties, seasonal lattes, and...dry skin and chapped lips?
Okay, so maybe fall isn’t all good things but the changing of the seasons means changing your beauty routine. That light-as-air moisturizer that was your summer favorite is being retired in favor of a heavier, more hydrating cream. The pinks and corals that were on everyone’s lips during the summer are being traded out for burgundy and crimson.
But there’s one aspect of your routine that shouldn’t be changing: sunscreen application.
You may think that you can skip sunscreen on cloudy days or that your SPF 15 foundation is enough (it isn’t) but all you’re doing is setting yourself up for premature aging and skin damage. Read: wrinkles and sunspots.
Yes, even though the sun is no longer mercilessly beating down on your face you still need to put on sunscreen.Your skin is getting bombarded by UVA and UVB rays every day, regardless of whether or not the sun is out.
To understand why you need sunscreen, we need to talk about the aforementioned UVA and UVB rays. What are they and what do they do? UV stands for “ultraviolet”, this type of light is invisible to the human eye. But just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it can’t hurt you. There’s ultraviolet a and ultraviolet b, UVA and UVB respectively. UVA is known for its skin damaging properties. This type of light is responsible for the vast majority of skin damage and premature aging. Also, you aren’t entirely safe from UVA rays indoors, as they can go through glass. If you work or study near a window, you need to put on sunscreen. UVB is lesser known but equally malicious. UVB rays cause sunburns and play a large role in causing skin cancer. Luckily, they’re blocked by glass, but you still need sunscreen.
Here are some other tips:
Use SPF 30 or higher
Wait 15 minutes after applying sunscreen before going outdoors. The sunscreen needs time to sink in.
If you’re outside, reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
I’ve found that the easiest way to make putting on sunscreen a habit is to just replace your daytime moisturizer with sunscreen.
If you’ve been diligent about sunscreen application, good for you! If you haven’t, you’ll be paying for it later on in life, but now is the time to get into the habit.
Here are some sunscreens for you to try!
Cost: $19.00
If you prefer a more natural sunscreen there’s this one by Supergoop!. This sunscreen has a ton of 5 star reviews on Sephora. This is a CEO favorite!
Cost: $16.99-$35.99, depends on where it’s purchased.
Many people avoid using sunscreen because it’s too greasy, or smelly, or it leaves a white cast on their skin. This sunscreen does none of those things.The bottle says that it “Transforms to a water-like lotion.” Which is exactly what it does! Plus, it’s fragrance and paraben free. It might be expensive, but it’s worth it.
Cost: $12.99
For a more cost effective option there’s this sunscreen from Sun Bum. It’s oil free, gluten free, vegan, and it leaves your face moisturized and slightly dewy.
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Links to info:
https://uihc.org/health-topics/what-difference-between-uva-and-uvb-rays https://www.aad.org/media/stats/prevention-and-care/sunscreen-faqs
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