Sunscreen 101: The What, When + Why to Wear It Every Day

While you can never underestimate the power of a consistent, effective and natural skincare routine, there is one item you should never forget—sunscreen. With more than five million cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year, it is America’s most common form of cancer. Here’s some more hard facts:

• About 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers and 85% of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
• More than two people die from skin cancer in the U.S. every hour
• Having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma
• An estimated 90% of skin aging is caused by the sun
• People who use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher daily show 24% less skin aging than those that don’t use it daily.

 

Now that we’ve got your attention, let's increase our skin cancer awareness just in time for Skin Cancer Awareness Month and take a look at the what, when and why of Sunscreen 101.

What: Type of Sunscreen to Use on the Face

If you’re worried that applying sunscreen to your face will make it too greasy or cause breakouts, we suggest starting with one that is formulated for your skin and created by a skincare company. A daily protection sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will guard the skin against harmful UV rays and premature aging. Lightweight and fast absorbing, it also contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin while also protecting it.

 

When: Working it Into Your Skincare Routine is Easy

When it comes to applying sunscreen to your face, you want to incorporate it into your morning skincare routine by applying liberally to your face and neck after your moisturizer and before your makeup. It’s recommended to reapply for all day protection. For added benefits and effectiveness, use a vitamin C serum first. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that combats stress put on the skin from the sun’s UV rays, and helps slow the aging process while protecting the skin.

 

Why: It’s the Most Important Thing You’ll Do for Your Skin All Day

Practicing safe sun is probably the most important step you take in your daily skincare routine. The reality is, why do the rest if you don’t protect your skin from aging and skin cancer? Even if you don’t plan on being outside or in direct sunlight, your skin is still at risk. You can damage your skin after brief periods of time in the car, plane or train, or when it’s cloudy outside. While clouds and glass windows educe some of the sun’s UV rays, they don’t block all of them, and the damaging and deadly effects of too much sun is all the more reason you should have an overall sun protection plan in your life. Because while the sun can feel amazing on your skin, it can be its worst enemy too. From covering up, to staying in the shade, and understanding your sunscreen, practicing safe sun every day will do wonders towards living a healthy lifestyle overall.