Did you know that you can get a 50 percent decrease in the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, when sunscreen is applied daily? (Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology) Since May is National Melanoma Month, it’s the perfect time to integrate a healthy sun protection approach into your daily skin care routine.
Not only is it good for your health, sun protection is the #1 anti-aging product I recommend to my clients. It prevents premature wrinkles, reduces the chances of getting sun spots and hyperpigmentation and is a must for the sake of your health. Here’s five things you need to know about sunscreen to ensure you’re getting the best protection for your skin:
1. Sunscreen must be applied generously.
2. Don’t get overly confident with a high SPF number.
3. Sunscreen built in your foundation makeup is just not enough.
4. If you’re prone to sensitivity or breakouts, choose a sunscreen formula with Zinc Oxide.
5. Sunscreens degrade from sunlight and your skin’s natural oil.
This is why reapplying sunscreen every few hours is so necessary. However, reapplying often is not always practical. Are you supposed to wash your face, reapply sunscreen, reapply makeup and repeat this every two hours during the day? Not so easy. The fastest, easiest, and most effective way to ensure that your skin is protected all day is to dust your skin every few hours with a good mineral powder formulated with sunscreen. They are considered “dry” sunscreens and make reapplying very simple. My personal favorite (and the one I use faithfully) is Bare Minerals purepressed base mineral foundation. It provides 20 SPF protection each time you dust it over you face, neck and shoulders. Sunscreen re-application has never been so quick and easy!
Be smart and protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.