Applying sunscreen is a must-do step
Are you ready to take your skincare routine to the next level? Picture this: a glowing complexion, protected from the sun’s harmful rays, and aging gracefully. It’s all within your reach if you incorporate sun protection into your daily life. Whether you’re embarking on a new adventure, enjoying your daily activities, or braving the changing seasons, applying sunscreen is a must-do step that future you will thank you for.
When and where should I use sun protection?
If there’s one step you never want to skip in your morning routine on all days, adventures in life, daily activities, and across all seasons, you need to consider applying sun protection. Future you will be so thankful that you did! UVA (remember, the rays that cause ageing) are present all year round, whatever the weather, whatever the season, and wherever you may be. These rays easily penetrate through surfaces like glass and windscreens. By applying sunscreen, you directly reduce the effects on your skin and health from sun exposure. So, what seemingly unassuming activities do we need to consider for the use of sun protection? And trust us, you may have never thought of these before – education here is the key.
Did you know? Sun protection is only really effective at its fullest for around 2 hours. After that, it starts to break down, and the strength of protection lessens. By reapplying every 2 hours, you are offering your skin the maximum protection that your SPF was intended to offer.
Obvious and maybe not-so-obvious sun-exposed activities
- Going to the beach, lake or swimming pool
- Having a picnic under a tree
- Sitting inside a café or restaurant by a window
- Driving or taking public transportation
- Watering the plants in the garden or on the balcony
- Site-seeing on a weekend city trip
- Working, reading or relaxing inside by the window
- Walking the dog
- Outdoor Sports, Hiking, Running, Skiing, Biking, Walking
- Attending a music festival, a wedding or an outdoor event
- The window seat on an airplane
- At the markets to get groceries
Did you know? Sun protection has an expiry date! While the sunscreen won’t suddenly stop working once it’s expired, its original effectiveness cannot be guaranteed.
Is sun damage cumulative in my daily life?
Yes, as long as there is daylight (even on cloudy days), then UV rays are coming directly for you. The damage to skin cells and the possibility of skin cancer forming happens over a lifetime. If you have not been protecting your skin from a young age, sun damage may start to show up in your 20s. The harm caused by the sun is typically underestimated. A damaging sunburn that compromises your skin cells doesn’t need to be a blistering red peel; those little times here and there over a lifetime in the sun all add up and form DNA damage that presents itself later on. It may seem arduous to apply sunscreen even if you are working from home, walking your dog, or catching public transport, but it is crucial to maintaining the health of your skin. Think about your daily activities specific to your lifestyle. Going for a run or walking the dog every day? Sitting outside enjoying breakfast at a café every weekend? On your lunch break at work, eating outside a few days per week? Commuting by car to all your destinations everyday? Playing with the kids a few times a week at the local park? Walking to catch public transport on your way to work 5 days a week? Are there any changes you could make to continue the things you love doing?
Going for a beach day?
UV exposure is higher at the beach, as the sun’s rays reflect off the sand and water. Although the sun is dangerous to the skin wherever you are, your skin is at a higher risk of burning at the beach, even when you’re in the water! When swimming and sweating out at the beach, it is even more crucial for sunscreen reapplication – you will need to reapply sunscreen at a minimum every hour. It is also worth knowing what water-resistant sunscreen means. Water resistance regulations aren’t standardized globally, but they are usually based on an immersion test. It should retain the stated SPF value after approximately 40-80 minutes, after having been in water or any vigorous activity that induces sweat. Labels such as ‘waterproof’ and ‘sweatproof’ claims are not viable labels and are forbidden as this is impossible for a sunscreen to achieve. Ever heard of ‘reef-safe’ sunscreen and wondered what it is? Since the beginning of 2021, Hawaii has banned sunscreens that carry oxybenzone and octinoxate, as some studies have shown these substances may cause coral bleaching in reefs. In all honesty, ‘reef-safe’ sunscreens are currently not regulated enough, and more scientific evidence is required to prove if both organic and inorganic sunscreens are safe for our coral reefs. However, in the grand scheme of things, sunscreen is still a small contributor, and larger contributors of coral bleaching are linked to rising water temperatures and agricultural run-off.
How should I apply and reapply SPF for my day?
The good news is that if you have read this far, you are ready to take your sun protection seriously. It’s time to nail down an easy go-to daily skincare routine. Need clarification on the best way to apply and reapply cosmetics with SPF? We at RoseKin recommend using an SPF layering method. Applying multiple products containing SPF gives optimal protection against the sun because you can be certain that your face is completely covered. One thing to know when layering multiple SPF products is that the SPF factor numbers don’t consecutively add up – meaning that SPF 50 plus SPF 30 does not equal SPF 80. Instead, the maximum protection factor is based on the highest number of the SPF that you’re using. So, if the highest SPF number is 50, that’s the most protection you’ll get, if adequately applied. As we know, we would need to apply 2mg/cm2 for sunscreen to get the labelled protection. Applying makeup with SPF will require a lot more to reach that level of SPF. Therefore, combining SPF products is a great way to ensure your skin looks fresh whilst receiving the appropriate protection. Start with a strong base. Think about using a moisturising day cream or sunscreen with an inbuilt SPF of 30 or above. You would then apply a liquid foundation on top of your base that blends well into the skin. You can opt for a powder foundation to set all this in. This will also be the best solution to reapply SPF throughout the day without disturbing your makeup.
Important to remember
Incorporating sun protection into your daily routine is the key to achieving a radiant and healthy complexion. From beaches to cafés, and everywhere in between, protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Remember, sun damage is cumulative, so make applying and reapplying sunscreen a habit. Embrace the beauty of every moment while keeping your skin safe and protected. Your future self will thank you for it.
We would love to here from you and answer your questions you might have. Send us a message on Instagram we can’t wait to hear from you!
You only have 1 version of your skin – don’t forget to protect it as much as possible.
WHEN YOUR SKIN TELLS YOUR STORY, YOU DESERVE TO LOOK YOUTHFULL – PROTECT IT DAILY
#YOURSKINNEVERFORGETS
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