It’s summer! This usually translates to trips the beach and day drinking at a rooftop bar. Though those trips aren’t as frequent these days, there’s one thing you should NEVER step out of the house without. No, no I’m not talking about your face masks, though they’re just as important as this item. Any guesses?
Yup, some good ol’ sunscreen!
Is there really a better way to define summer than the smell of sunscreen and ocean in the air? Summer is obviously not the only time you should be applying sunscreen. I apply it every single day no matter the weather. Sunscreen is the one product, if you wanted to forgo everything else, that you should be using on a daily basis when stepping out.
When people think sunscreen, they mostly think of lathering it onto their body before heading into the pool or tanning on the beach. However, many people still don’t think it’s necessary on a day to day basis — especially on their face.
In fact, studies show that fewer than 15% of men and 30% of women use sunscreen regularly on their face and other exposed skin when outside for more than one hour. Sunscreen is known to reduce the chances of skin cancer and is such a great preventative for many other skin conditions. But despite knowing this, many people still question its effectiveness and don’t quite understand what “SPF” means. Don’t fret, I gotchyou!
So what exactly is sunscreen and why is it so important?
Sunscreen protects you from the damage of sun rays. Basically, the sun gives off two different kind of UV rays and both of these can be extremely detrimental to your skin. UVA rays cause great long-term damage and are the main cause of aging and wrinkles, whereas UVB rays are the ones that cause sunburn and skin cancer. Sunscreen shields you from these rays and degrades their effect.
So then what’s SPF all about?
SPF is short for “sun protection factor” and measures just how well the sunscreen can protect you from the UVB rays. Basically, however long it takes for your skin to burn times the SPF will equal to how long it’ll protect you in the sun.
Example: It takes your skin 10 minutes to burn under the sun. You put on SPF 50.
10 minutes x SPF 50 = 500 minutes. According to the calculation, the SPF should protect your skin from sun damage for about 500 mins or approximately 8 hours.
However, due to sweating and swimming, SPF wears off much faster than it should. Many experts believe its efficacy is lessened and it’s necessary to reapply every two hours.
Umm… what amount of SPF should I apply?
I would say anything with SPF 30 and above is a safe bet. SPF 15-30 tends to be mild and will protect you from 93% of UVB rays, whereas anything from 30-50 will protect you from 97-98% of UVB damage. Anything above SPF 50 will still give you about the same results and most studies show they end up being just as effective as SPF 30-50.
I’m melanin blessed. I don’t need to worry about sunscreen, right?
Wrong. While melanin helps protect against immediate sunburn, it doesn’t mean your skin still can’t get burned eventually. Also, you’re still very prone to sun-spots, wrinkles, and cancer.
But I hate the feeling of sunscreen on my skin. What do I do?
I totally get it! When asked why so many are hesitant to wear sunscreen, they say they don’t like the consistency and texture of most sunscreen products. And I’m definitely one of them! Well, to ensure that you all use SPF on a daily basis, I’ve compiled a list of great options that are totally non-greasy and have a “barely there” feel. Check out this list below and let me know if you have any other recommendations!
For your face:
1. Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 60 – La Roche-Posay
2. Invisible Shield SPF 35 – Glossier
3. Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 – Supergoop!
4. Sunforgettable Brush-On Sunscreen SPF 30 – Colorescience
5. Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector Sunscreen SPF 42 – Shiseido
6. CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ – It Cosmetics
For your body:
1. Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 100+ – Neutrogena
2. Activated Sun Protector Water-Light Lotion For Face & Body SPF 30 – Kiehl’s
3. Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ – Shiseido
4. Classic Body Organic Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 – Coola
5. Ultra Boat Sunscreen Spray SPF 100 – Banana Boat
Sassy Sherni 