Let’s be honest. When Mom told us to put on sunscreen in our teens, we didn’t listen. Or if you were like me, you’d apply the smallest amount, because you really wanted to get tan and were told that sunscreen would prevent you from achieving that golden glow. Fast forward to today, with some discoloration and Melasma, I’m really paying for those days. It’s only recently, within the past 5 years, that I’ve really start to take care of my skin. As I go into my late 20’s I really understand the importance of being more proactive with skincare, avoiding too much sun, and wearing sunscreen every single day.
Over the years I’ve heard lots of myths and stories about sunscreen – you can’t get tan if you wear sunscreen, anything over SPF 50 is ineffective, all sunscreens are made equal, etc. I’ve always wondered the truth and over the past few years, I’ve dug in and done some research and started buying buying sunscreens that do more good than harm. My skin is very sensitive so It was important for me to understand what each of the products on the label were doing and how they helped my skin.
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What makes the sun harmful?
It’s important to understand what makes the sun so harmful to us in the first place. There are two types of UV radiation – UVB and UVA. UVB causes sunburns, burning the superficial layers of the skin and playing a huge role in skin cancer. UVA are rays that penetrate deeper into the thickest layer of your skin, causing more long – term damage. and premature aging. It’s important to know that not all sunscreens are created equal and a lot of sunscreens don’t block both types of UV rays.
Chemical vs mineral blockers.
There are also two different types of sunscreens – chemical based and mineral based. Chemical based sunscreens absorb the UV which ultimately causes long-term skin damage. Think Coppertone, Banana Boat, Australian Gold, etc – everything we use when we were younger. Mineral based sunscreens can protect against both UV rays by using ingredients like titanium dioxide, or most commonly, zinc oxide. These active ingredients create a shield on your skin and deflect the UV rays. Active ingredients in chemical based sunscreens such dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, homosalate, and octocrylene absorb and dissipate UV radiation. If you have sensitive skin like mine, mineral sunscreens with physical blockers instead of chemical blockers are your best bet – ingredients like zinc oxide are actually said to help with sensitive skin, acne, rosacea and redness. While there are chemicals in all sunscreens, it’s important to find one’s that are as natural as possible. I really love buying baby sunscreens because I find that they typically have less chemicals in them, are more clean, and are much more gentle on the skin. All of these are also rated 5 or less on the Think Dirty app – if you haven’t checked it out, take a look and see how clean your beauty products are.
My go-to mineral sunscreens:
Makeup with sunscreen:
Aside from wearing sunscreen, here are a few things I do to make sure my skin looks and feels its best:
- Drink lots of water! I know we hear it all the time but it really does make a difference! I try to drink a gallon of water a day but that’s sometimes really hard to do, so my rule is to get in 4 cups before noon and then I know I’m at least halfway there!
- Wash your face! I try to take off my makeup ever single night – sometimes I get lazy and don’t do my full routine but at least I’m going to bed with a clean face.
- Even when I’m laying out I try to cover up my face as much as possible! Invest in oversized sunnies, a cute hat, or use your coverup.
- Get facials and exfoliate! I swear by facials and have noticed such a difference in the texture, tone, and elasticity of my skin. Ideally, I try to get one every 4-6 weeks but they can get pretty expensive so talk to your esthetician and see what’s recommended for your skin.
- Eat your fruits and veggies! So obvious, I know! But whenever I cut out gluten, soy, corn, sugar, alcohol, and dairy my skin looks and feels so much better. Try to be mindful of what you’re putting in your body.
Do you have a favorite sunscreen or beauty tip to keep your skin looking it’s best?
