Many people are surprised when I say I wear sunscreen year round, everyday. But it is the second most important weapon I have in my anti-aging beauty arsenal. Contrary to popular belief, women of color need sunscreen just as much as other skin tones. Yes, skin cancer is lower among people with darker pigmented skin, however, photo aging, (that’s skin wrinkling and loss of elasticity due to sun exposure), is the same for everyone. In fact, studies have shown that there are real benefits to sunscreen use in people under the age of 55. There are so many types of sun protection it can be really confusing to sort through them all. So I’ll share how I narrow it down.
Which SPF and What UV?
So the common belief is that the higher the number of SPF, the more sun protection you’re getting. Well, that’s partly true, but when you get into the higher numbers, (between 30-50) there’s not really much difference in coverage. So I usually don’t go higher than 30 on my face or my body. What’s more important when choosing a sunscreen is finding one that is broad spectrum. That means it protects your skin from both UV-B and UV-A rays. UV-B ultraviolet radiation is the type that you’re exposed to when you get a sunburn and can lead to skin cancer. UV-A is the type that triggers photosynthesis resulting in freckles, wrinkles and liver spots.
Ingredients to Avoid In Sunscreen
The next way I narrow down my sunscreen is by flipping over the bottle and checking out the ingredients. If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, then you know I stay away from parabens, mineral oil and petrolatum, but with sunscreen you also need to be careful to avoid the following:
- Retinyl Palmitate – This is a form of Vitamin A that when exposed to UV rays can actually change skin’s DNA and lead to lesions and tumors. The FDA has even stated that pregnant women using sunscreen with this chemical can cause damage to their unborn child.
- Oxybenzone – This manmade chemical is absorbed very quickly through the skin and could lead to cancerous tumors. Also, when unused products with this ingredient hit the environment, it has devastating developmental effects on animals and wildlife.
How I Incorporate Sunscreen Into My Beauty Regimen
If I’m not already using a moisturizer with an SPF included, like this one, then I add my own. I’m a fan of Kiss My Face Sun Care Oat Protein SPF 30. I usually just slather on a bit of sunscreen above my moisturizer but below my foundation or primer. Or I’ll mix one squirt each of moisturizer, sunscreen and foundation on my hand and apply as a tinted moisturizer.
Tips to Remember
- Sunscreen can help keep your skin looking younger and stave off photoaging
- Use a sunscreen that’s labeled “broad spectrum”
- Use a sunscreen with an SPF between 15 and 30
- Avoid sunscreens that have retinyl palmitate and oxybenzone as ingredients
• What’s in your anti-aging arsenal?
