Protect Your Skin with Sun Smarts!

Photo compliments of freedigitalphotos.net

Among many other body essentials, your skin needs to be taken care of and protected. Common sense right? BUT, here's the kicker: not many people take care of their skin correctly. Some opt to not cleanse the skin after a day with makeup, others cleanse the skin far too much; some bathe in the sunlight, while others hide away from it.

In my last post, I touched on a few tips about correctly cleansing and moisturizing your skin. Today, I want to focus on protecting your skin. Protecting your skin is as important as correctly cleansing your skin. Why make all that effort to clean your skin if you are not going to protect it appropriately?

Why should you use sun block?

• The sun causes 90% of aging.
• 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to radiation from the sun.

What you need to know about your sunscreen:

• Only companies that offer 15+ SPF can actually protect against skin cancer. However the higher the number doesn't equal to better protection. SPF 30 only offers 4% more protection than SPF 40. Use a minimum of SPF 30+ and a maximum of SPF 50 (the benefits are very minute after 50), and reapply appropriately.

• Make sure that your sunscreen is UVA and UVB protected.

• For outdoor activity, make sure that your sunscreen is water resistant broad spectrum.

How to apply your sunscreen:

• Do not slather on or put too little. An almond sized amount of sunscreen is the appropriate amount of sunscreen for your face.

• Test different brands of sunscreen to find the consistency you like. If a sunscreen feels too heavy, you probably will not apply the appropriate amount. So test, test, test. If your face is especially sensitive, be sure to try a face specific, non comedogenic sunscreen that dries to a matte finish without leaving any residue. 

• Don't depend solely on makeup sunscreen. Your makeup sunscreen is not as effective as a sunscreen alone. And while the sunscreen within your makeup will definitely help, be sure to first apply a sunscreen moisturizer onto your skin before applying your foundation and any other makeup. 

• Make sure to reapply. You want to make sure that you reapply sunscreen appropriately throughout the day. One time application in the morning will not cut it if you will be exposed to the sun all day. Use SPF mineral powder with sunscreen every few hours to protect all day. 

While taking care of your skin is important, obsession about your physical appearance is unhealthy. Take care of it. And if you break out once in awhile or get some sun kissed freckles, don't break a sweat. Your skin cycles and regenerates. Just be sure to maintain a healthy and consistent skin regiment and you'll be glowing and beautiful.