I love lounging on the beach just as much as the next person, but you know what I don’t love? Getting burnt or discoloration because of the sun! In order to prevent this and protect myself, wearing sunscreen has become a crucial part of my day.
Sunscreen should be the last step in your skincare routine every morning. Make sure you use it after your moisturizer so that its protective features are maximized and so that other skincare products don’t keep it from doing its job!
Why wear sunscreen?
Everyone knows that overexposure to the sun’s rays can cause premature aging, wrinkles, skin cancer, sun burns, and more. The ozone layer in our atmosphere is becoming thinner and getting more and more holes, so more and more harmful rays are penetrating our environment and harming our skin.
That’s why it’s super important to wear sunscreen to protect ourselves every day!
What type of sunscreen should I get?
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a “broad-spectrum protection [that] protects against UVA and UVB rays, SPF 30 or higher, [and is] water-resistant.”
It doesn’t matter what form of sunscreen you use – stick, spray, lotion, cream, etc. – so long as you wear it each day and remember to reapply every couple of hours.
SPF stands for “Sun Protection Factor” and measures how effective a product is at protecting you from the sun’s UVB rays.
If you want to block UVA rays too, you can use a broad-spectrum sunscreen or a product with “PA” on the label. PA means the “Protection Grade of UVA rays” and is more common in Asian cosmetics and products. The more plus signs there are after the “PA” (e.g. PA+, PA++, and PA+++), the more protection it provides from UVA rays.
Protecting your skin has become a lot easier nowadays since many makeup products, especially foundations, include SPF in their formulas. They aren’t substitutes for sunscreen, but if you’re in a rush and only have time to dab on some B.B. cream, then they’re better than nothing! Try the MISSHA B.B. cream– not only is it a cult favorite, but it’s got an SPF of 42 and PA+++. That’s three plus signs! (Unfortunately, their shade selection is really limited.)
Okay, you talked a lot about UVA and UVB rays, but what are they?
UVA and UVB rays are types of sun rays that harm your skin.
UVA rays make your skin look older and induce wrinkles, brown spots, and discoloration. It’s also not blocked by window glass. Think “A” in UVA for “aging.”
UVB rays cause the sunburns you think of when you go to the beach one summer day. Think “B” in UVB for “burning.” These rays can’t get through window glass, so you don’t burn when you’re inside a building. That being said, you’re still susceptible to premature aging from UVA rays, even when you’re inside!
When do I wear sunscreen? Do I have to wear it in the winter?
The answer to those is yes, every day, even in the winter!
My rule of thumb: If it’s daytime, wear sunscreen. Even if it’s cloudy or rainy or snowing, the sun is still behind the clouds; the clouds aren’t a good enough barrier to block the sun. You’re still susceptible to the rays, so protect yourself!
You know how snow is blinding when the sun is directly overhead? Surfaces reflect sunlight, so you can still technically get burnt, even in the winter. That’s why you should always wear some sun protection! Blame the snow or the glass or even the sand on the beach.
It’s an obvious choice to wear sunscreen in the summer and maybe in the spring, but protecting your skin is a year-round thing! Think of it as an investment for your future self, too.