Sun vs. Skin

Suncare

80% of the damage done to your
skin is from the sun.

Why is the sun so dangerous?

Out in the sun, we are exposed to UVA and UVB rays, which is nothing else than, well as the word says, Radiation!
To be more specific: UV radiation.
UVB rays are short-wave rays. They damage the surface of the skin. In the best of all cases, this damage leads to dry skin; in the worst case, you will get a painful sunburn. When people think about sun damage to their skin, they tend to think about this.

But you know what:

The nasty guys are the UVA rays.

They are long-wave rays, and they leave no visible damage on your skin. At least not something that you can see right away. The mean thing is, these rays can reach deeper parts of your skin, and there they cause changes in the collagen of your skin or your skin cells. This process results in photoaging (which means you age very quickly) and in skin cancer! Of course, I'm barely scratching the surface here. There is much more damage they can cause. Ah, I forgot to mention that UVA rays are always around us. Even when we are indoors or when it's cloudy.

Sooo…what can we do?
I think you already know the answer

Nice big hat

Use a sunscreen,
wear the right clothing
a nice big hat and sunglasses.
Cause UV radiation also damages the eyes.

Sunscreen Mysteries

So, now you stand in front of a big shelf full of Sunscreen and you ask yourself: what the heck should I take? And how much do I have to spend?

As always, the big question:
Is the more expensive solution also the better one?


Good news: The answer is no!
Here is what you have to look for:

  • Make sure the Sunscreen protects from UVA and UVB

  • Make sure the following ingredients are included: zink oxide and/or titanium dioxide and benzophenone – they protect best from UVA rays

  • Try to avoid products with oxybenzone or octinoxate because these harms the environment

And that's it.
One recommendation I have regarding the countries to get sunscreen from, is not using USA-based products. There might be good ones, but many studies have shown that the US is way behind in their sun care research and technology.

Let's talk about the application:
Short facts:

  • Apply Sunscreen thirty minutes before you go into the sun

  • Reapply every two hours
    Reason: most chemicals lose their power with time even when you're not sweating.

  • Use a generous amount of Sunscreen
    Victoria's skin cancer prevention recommends: "The average-sized adult needs a teaspoon of Sunscreen for their head and neck, each limb and for the front and the back of the body. That is about 35ml of Sunscreen for one full body application."

  • Store sunscreen below 30°C.\

  • Even if you're using waterproof Sunscreen, reapply after you went into the water. No sunscreen in the world can protect you good enough after you partly washed it away.

  • I recommend using SPF (sun protection factor) 50 in summer. It filters 98% of UVB radiation. Sounds good, doesn't it? And of course, if you're using broad-spectrum Sunscreen, it helps to protect from UVA as well.

  • Use Sunscreen every day, even in winter. Maybe with SPF30 then.

  • BB Cream with SPF is NOT a proper Sun care solution for your face! Use a product that is made only for sun protection!

  • Use sun protection even for your lips \ Minimum SPF20

  • Don't use Aerosol Sprays. For many reasons! They are a waste of your money. 

And now a shortlist of my favorite brands:

  • La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Mineral
    Superfast absorbing! My absolute favorite!

  • Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 70
    just the best

  • Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Stick
    the best Stick around

  • MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense SPF 50 Sunscreen
    best for dry skin

  • Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Lotion Sunscreen With SPF 70
    best for sensitive skin

  • Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive SPF 30+
    Best Natural Sunscreen

  • Vanicream Lip Protectant and Sunscreen SPF 30
    best Lip sunscreen

  • Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
    best for darker skin tones

Finally, don't forget to care for your skin after a day out in the sun.


To prevent dry skin (sun causes the skin to lose a lot of moisture!)
Use a moisturizer with at least one of the following ingredients:

  • glycerin,

  • urea,

  • pyroglutamic acid,

  • sorbitol,

  • lactic acid,

  • lactate salts

  • alpha-hydroxy acid

! Avoid the sun if you have heart issues or if you are under medication!

Don't expose yourself longer than 30 minutes to the sun.

I hope this short overview can help you through the jungle of sun care products.

Now grab your Hat and have some fun in the sun!

Thank you for reading

Any questions?

Feel free to contact me or check my list of sources. There you will find much more information about sun care and skin cancer prevention.

Jessica Grandidier