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Not every daily adventure is a beach trip or a hike in the woods, but if you were to ask your skin, a trek from class to class on UCF’s sprawling campus can be just as harsh. Studies show that sunscreen is one of the most significant ways you can protect your skin’s appearance and health. It doesn’t take much to implement sunscreen into your daily routine; just apply it after moisturizer and get ready to slay the day! Here are three key reasons why sunscreen is so important and some popular brands to include in your morning routine.
To put it bluntly, sunscreen prevents skin cancer, especially here in Florida, where skin cancer rates are much higher comparatively than the rest of the United States due to our tropical climate. According to Aim at Melanoma Foundation, an estimated 1 in 10 Floridians have been told they have skin cancer. Even on a cloudy day, the sun’s UV rays can have detrimental effects on your skin. 90 percent of UV rays can pass through cloud cover even though it may not feel as harsh. Just by using SPF 15, you decrease your risk of squamous cell carcinoma (the second most common type of skin cancer) by 40 percent and reduce your risk of melanoma by 50 percent, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Wrinkles, wrinkles, and more wrinkles. It’s a well-known fact, especially to native Floridians, that sun damage can cause premature aging. But how does it cause wrinkles and aging? While you’re relaxing in the sun, the UV rays are actually breaking down important nutrients in your skin, such as collagen, that keeps your skin looking smooth and firm. You’re also breaking down your skin’s immunity, making it much more vulnerable to the sun’s rays. There are two key types of UV rays that affect your skin differently. UVA rays may lead to aging and skin cancer while UVB rays are responsible for those pesky sunburns.
Speaking of sunburns, you don’t want to have a tomato face heading to class or the club. As we all know, sunscreen protects you from sunburns. Let’s take a deep dive for a second into what a sunburn actually is. The experts at the Skin Cancer Foundation describe sunburns as “an inflammatory reaction to ultraviolet (UV) radiation to the skin’s outermost layer.” For those out-of-state students who may not know, the signs of a sunburn are painful, red, itchy skin, and in some intense cases, blistering.
Now that we know a few reasons why sunscreen is important, let’s take a look at some sunscreen brands to add into your morning routine:
Photo by Supergoop
The viral Supergoop Glow Screen Sunscreen: This is a tinted sunscreen that adds a dewy look to your everyday makeup routine with SPF 40 to protect your skin. Retailing at $38, it’s perfect for all skin types and can be worn on its own or as a primer. Click the link to buy now!
Photo by Sun Bum
Sun Bum Daily Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer: Retailing at $21.99, this Sun Bum Daily Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer has an SPF of 30 so that you don’t have to add an extra step to your skincare routine! They have options for both mineral and non-mineral sunscreens, but if you want the most protection possible definitely check out the mineral option. Mineral sunscreen sits on top of your skin and acts as a physical barrier to protect your gorgeous skin against evil UV rays. Click the link to buy now!
Photo by Glossier
Glossier Invisibleshield Daily Sunscreen +: Retailing at $25 and is perfect for those who maybe don’t love wearing sunscreen. The water-gel consistency adds SPF 35 to your skincare routine without the regular heavy sunscreen feeling. It feels similar to a serum while still protecting your skin. Click the link to buy now!
Your skin is beautiful, so it’s important to treat it with love. Adding sunscreen to your morning routine is one of the easiest ways to keep it healthy. Let’s protect our skin and rock the day!