Summer is here and with the sunny beach and park weather, comes lots of outside activities. The awareness for skin protection from the sun is obvious when the sun is out. But, did you know that it should be used year round? Sunscreens protect the skin-damaging and harmful ultraviolet A (UVA) rays & ultraviolet B (UVB) rays that hit the earth from the sun. Even on cloudy days, more than 50% of the harmful UV rays can penetrate our skin.
It’s important to choose sunscreens with broad-spectrum or multi-spectrum. This offers protection from both ultraviolet A rays (UVA), which can increase skin cancer risk by penetrating deeply into the skin layers, prematurely age the skin and cause wrinkling. And, ultraviolet B rays (UVB), which are responsible for skin burns.
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measures the amount of rays blocked. SPF of 30 blocks 97% of the rays. Higher SPF’s block only slightly more of the rays and should be reapplied every two hours when outdoors, on cloudy days and when swimming or heavy sweating. Sunscreens do have a shelf life and last about 3 years.
I love to use a different sunscreen for my face and body. Facial sunscreens include anti-aging, primers and anti-aging treatments that work with makeup. Body sunscreens contain moisturizing oils, antioxidants and emoillents to revitalize the skin and can include bronzing or shimmers to give the skin a radiant look. Here are a few sunscreens that you can try.