Are You Covered?
Your biggest weapon against aging skin
The Why, How, What & When to sunscreen
I’m the girlfriend that if I see you applying Coppertone in front of me, I will have a panic attack and throw said bottle in the nearest trash. Sorry not sorry! Below I address the differences between sunscreens, the ingredients to look for, and hopefully drill into your head that safe and effective sunscreen is needed to prevent premature signs of aging! My hope is that by the end of this article, you are making a trip to the trash yourself and throwing your old sunscreens away. Promise me, and yourself that you will pay closer attention to the ingredients in your sunscreen, and you will be more diligent about applying it to your face EVERYDAY.
WHY
Women spend thousands and thousands of dollars on procedures to reverse sun damage. I know this because I treat these women every day. Most are above the age of 45, with the majority of them being in their 50’s and 60’s. They grew up in the era where basking in the sun lathered in baby oil was the normal. Little did they know, while they may have had a beautiful tan while they were young, it would result in wrinkles, rough skin and hyperpigmentation in their later years! There is magic in the prevention.
We now have research that proves the damaging effects the sun has on our biggest organ, the skin. While the sun provides warmth, comfort, and happiness, it also causes disease, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Thankfully, we have the ability to protect our skin from the damaging UVA/UVB rays while allowing us to still enjoy the warmth on our skin and the joy that comes from being outdoors on a sunny day…especially in California! My goal is for every one of my patients to understand why sunscreen and Vitamin C are essential to beautiful skin, and to implement it into their daily skincare regimen. Prevention is key, and it’s never too late to start!
HOW
Now that you understand why sunscreen is important to achieve and maintain beautiful skin, let me explain to you how it works in correlation to the two types of sunscreen. Mineral and Chemical sunscreens work in different ways and its important to learn these differences and what ingredients set them apart.
Mineral sunscreens, sometimes referred to as physical block, contain active mineral ingredients such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These minerals protect your skin from damaging UV rays by sitting on top of your skin and deflecting and scattering the rays away from your skin.
Pros –
Offers protection from both UVA and UVB, HEV (blue light) rays and is naturally broad spectrum
Because it reflects the heat rays away from the skin, it’s the best option for those who have heat exacerbated skin conditions like melasma and rosacea
Less likely to be pore-clogging, so this is a great option for acne prone skin
Cons-
Can rub off, sweat or rinse off easily, so a frequent re-application may be needed if doing sports or water activities.
May leave a white tint to the skin due to the zinc oxide. But guess what… I tell you bellow what products won’t do this but will still provide you with the unparalleled protection zinc oxide provides.
Vs
Chemical sunscreens contain organic (carbon based) compounds, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone. These compounds create a chemical reaction that work by allowing the UV rays to absorb into your skin, then be converted into heat, then releasing that heat from your skin.
Pros –
Tends to be thinner and contains particles that dissolve in oils so this sunscreen will often rub in easier, making it the popular choice because it’s easy and fast to apply. It is easier to be formulated for spray can use.
Cons-
Can often contain Oxybenzone. This ingredient has been found to lead to organ system toxicity, endocrine disruption, absorption of pesticides, reproductive toxicity, degrades coral reefs, photoallergies, contact allergies.
Increased chance of irritation in sensitive skin types due to the multiple ingredients combined order to achieve the broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection
May clog pores for oily and acne prone skin types
There is much controversy over sunscreen use. You ultimately have to make the choice that you feel is best for your body. All I ask is that you are using a sunscreen daily, and remembering to re-apply every 2 hours. If you are worried about the chemical ingredients, stick with a physical sunscreen that only contains Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. You can’t go wrong with these and you will be protected!
Our skin is our protective barrier, and our biggest organ. Lets do what we can to protect it, either for health or vanity.
WHAT & When
EVERY. DAMN. DAY
I am very passionate about wearing sunscreen daily, and I want to help you find what sunscreen will be the perfect fit that will set you and your family up for beautiful and protected skin. I say family because I have now gotten my husband wearing sunscreen every day, and he doesn’t hate it!
I understand that the ideal sunscreen is inexpensive and easily sprayed on, removing the need to rub the product in and get your hands all sticky. But I hope this post has helped you realize how important wearing the right sunscreen can be. I have written a blog post and outlined my favorite sunscreen options for each specific skin type. You can find it below. I hope it helps!