Perhaps the number one recommendation for those concerned about skin health is to wear sunscreen every day. Yep, you heard us right一 every day. In this post, we’ll discuss why daily sunscreen is necessary, when to use sunscreen, and the best sunscreen for face use.
Daily Sunscreen: Is It Necessary?
If you want to reduce visible sun damage (like sunspots, wrinkles, and visible aging) and your risk of developing skin cancer later on in life, sunscreen is your best friend. In fact, there are measurable, physical effects that the sun’s rays have on the skin, causing premature aging and leading to cancer. If we want to reduce our risk, daily sunscreen is absolutely necessary.
How Do I Know When To Use Sunscreen?
It’s pretty easy, luckily; whenever you will be going outside for an extended period of time, you should be applying sunscreen to all of your exposed skin. Since it can be hard to apply sunscreen after you have done your makeup, it’s often recommended to make daily sunscreen a part of your routine. This way, you are never without it when you need it.
How Do I Use Sunscreen For Face Protection?
As mentioned briefly above, the best course of action is to apply daily sunscreen during your morning skincare routine. The best time for sunscreen in your routine is directly beneath your makeup, or, if you don’t use makeup, as the last layer you apply. With sunscreen applied at this stage, your skin will still get all the benefits of the cleansers, toners, minerals, and serums that you normally apply. Topping everything off with a high-quality sunscreen will not disrupt your routine at all一 it will merely enhance it in the long run.
Do I Still Need Daily Sunscreen During The Winter?
Many people wonder when to use sunscreen, and assume that they don’t need it in the wintertime. However, the simple answer to this question is “yes.” Even though the weather is not warm, you still need to protect your face from the sun’s harmful UV rays一 these still get through to the ground during the winter months, even up north in states like Maine or Montana. Daily sunscreen should be a part of your routine for healthy skin in cold weather.
How Do I Pick A Sunscreen For Face Use?
Most sources recommend a light sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection at an SPF of 15 or more. According to WebMD, “it's important to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day.” If you’ll be outdoors for long periods of time and unable to reapply sunscreen, reach for a much higher SPF, as it will last longer underneath your makeup. Ideally, you should be reapplying sunscreen every hour that you are out in the sun.
Does My Foundation Count As Daily Sunscreen?
Unless you are applying foundation as thickly as you would apply sunscreen, the answer to this question is “no.” It’s better to not rely on your foundation as sunscreen because that’s not what it was meant for. Reach for a high-quality moisturizer or specific sunscreen product made for the face.
Picking The Right Sunscreen For You
In general, we find that a physical sunscreen (aka a mineral sunscreen) is preferable to a chemical one. When picking the best sunscreen before hitting up the outdoors, we recommend looking for ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide (particularly the latter one). These ingredients will create a physical barrier for the skin’s protection against UV rays. (Pro Tip: mineral sunscreen ingredients will stick out to you on a label because they will sound like metallics.)
Because we like to follow the advice of dermatologists, we created our very own, Mineral Facial Sunscreen! This lightweight sunscreen dries beautifully with no sticky, greasy feeling, minimal to zero white cast, and provides plenty of protection with SPF 32. It's a great addition to your morning routine!