Hello beautiful,
Today I wanted to talk to SUN. Our big, beautiful, make you feel good golden ball of light. What would life be without her? But before we soak up her sunny rays let’s get down to the nitty gritty on some facts.
I think that most of us would agree that we have now heard & read over and over and over again…. “wear your sunscreen!”. If you are not completely convinced on the “whys” here are some facts that might surprise you.
So what exactly happens when we go out in the sun UNprotected?
-It creates inflammation in the skin and over stimulates the melanocytes which are then triggered to over produce pigment and we end up with a muddled uneven skin tone called hyperpigmentation. Once we have it, it is very stubborn & challenging to treat.
-the sun creates free radical damage to the skin destroying the collagen & elastin, which is the scaffolding/foundation of our skin, speeding up the rate at which we see our fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging in the skin.
-the sun creates free radical damage to the skin destroying the collagen & elastin, which is the scaffolding/foundation of our skin, speeding up the rate at which we see our fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging in the skin.
-it’s responsible for 90% of our skin aging (stat from skincancer.org)
- Unprotected sun exposure over time thins the skin (because it destroys the collagen & elastin) exposing the veins closer to the surface especially around the creases of the nose, cheeks & chest.
- Sun exposure can worsen acne by causing inflammation and can eventually trigger additional breakouts as well as slowing down the healing of scars.
-Sun is one of the top triggers for rosacea flare ups
-and of course can cause skin cancer
So what can WE do to help:
Here are 5 simple steps to keep our skin healthy and protected:
-Choose a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen with an SPF of 30. (zinc, micronized zinc based)
-I prefer sunscreens that are plant based with antioxidants to keep skin nourished & protected. Keep in mind you’ll be reapplying the sunscreen several times throughout so you don’t want junk ingredients in it.
-apply a potent vitamin C serum daily! This is another crucial line of defense to protect skin cells from free radical damage and a 2nd line of defense from the UV rays that still get through our sunscreen.
-wear a hat if you are out and about for long periods of time, it will shade your face
- invest in a UV shirt, they are awesome! I always carry one with me when I know I will be outdoors for a while walking, hiking, snorkeling.
OK…Let’s get out there and enjoy this beautiful island while keeping our skin happy and protected. Remember, sunscreens have come a long way! There are smooth, lightweight ones, mattifying formulas for an oily/acneic skin, to even a mineral powder format that just needs to be dusted on. If you have any questions or need an excellent sunscreen please let me know, I’m here to help.
See you soon!
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