As we start to see the signs of fall – the crunching leaves, the temperature dipping a little, and the announcement of Starbucks PSL returning to an instagram feed near you – you still hear your esthetician telling you to wear your sunscreen. Regardless of time of year, cloud cover, or when the sun sets, I’m here to let you know that when it comes to signs of exposure on your face, neck, hands, and chest, SPF really needs to be a daily practice.
To answer your question of “but why?”, we need to look at UV radiation. The sun emits different types of UV radiation, the most common being UVA and UVB. Zinc oxide is the only single ingredient that successfully blocks both UVA and UVB rays, while chemical sunscreen needs a blend of different ingredients to filter out both types of rays. Regardless of what type of sunscreen you choose to use, the type of UV radiation is why we wear UV protection year round. While my favorite sun-care is TiZO, known for being zinc based and their tinted versions working well with all skin tones, whatever you’ll enjoy wearing daily is the best choice.
UVB is what we call burning rays, while UVA rays are aging rays. We are exposed to both types year round, with UVB being stronger during the summer – which is why we are diligent on our sunscreen application while we spend days on the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk eating Thrashers French fries. While you see the effects of UVB rays with a crispy sunburn, UVA rays are sneaky. Year round, even on cloudy winter days, those UVA rays are there. and UVA rays are what you won’t see the effects of until years down the road when you inevitably look in the mirror and say, oh my god, where did all of this sun damage come from?! Oh and don’t forget – UVA exposure is also linked to skin cancer.
Did you know that in addition to water and white sand, snow also reflects UV rays, increasing the UV value exposure? That means sunny day walks on the beach in January, shoveling snow, and going snow boarding and skiing are all activities that not only require sunscreen to make sure you don’t get a sun burn (OK, you’ll prob only burn from shredding the slopes all day), but increase those aging rays as well. Keep a sunscreen stick in your pocket so your skin keeps it cool year round.
Needing sunglasses year round is a great reminder that that sun is impacting your skin, too. Overcast days can still be bright, and my favorite obnoxious reminder is that we would be dead without the sun, so even if you can’t see it, it’s still impacting you ✌🏻.
I really don’t like to fear monger the sun, as you can tell by my previous blog post, where I explain how to reap the benefits of the sun while protecting yourself. So I’m going to remind you here too (as well as when you’re getting a facial with me), that the sun is our friend and we need the sun. So take your morning beach walks during the winter! But the best way to keep your sun-care habits is to make it an every day practice. If it’s easier, find yourself a moisturizer that has sunscreen in it, although that will mean investing in a separate nighttime moisturizer. My preference is to have my favorite moisturizer that I wear day and night, and my favorite SPF that I can apply every day, and slip in my bag for reapplication
As we approach the colder months sometimes we struggle with the shift in temperatures and dehydration – and wearing sunscreen to bed can dry out your skin! So always always always cleanse your skin at night, and follow with hydration and more occlusive products if you’re struggling with dehydration or dryness. Some of my favorites are Lift Away, to remove SPF and cleanse while keeping your skin hydrated, Enrich for a heavier night cream, or Nourish to apply over your favorite moisturizer and help lock in all of the hydration and goodness you just fed your skin.
