Here I go again, wear your sunscreen everyday rain or shine. That’s really all I should have to say, but many of us need to be reminded of the many reasons we need to protect ourselves from damaging UV rays. 

Perhaps we should go about this a bit differently this time. I am going to address the most frequently used reasons our clients come up with for not using SPF.

1. I need my vitamin D and SPF will cause a deficiency!

Umm no it won’t, you only need about 20 minutes of noontime exposure on your head, neck or back of your hands to make about 1000 IU’s of Vitamin D. Or take a supplement, the human body doesn’t know the difference between the two. So go take a walk…on your lunch break, your waistline will thank me.

2. You only need to wear SPF on sunny days!

Again, umm no you don’t. You need to protect yourself against both UVA and UVB. The majority of us protect against UVB, the burning rays we can feel. Listen to this,  UVA damages the skin at much deeper level than UVB. UVA damages skin cells called keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis, where most skin cancers occur. It is present while it’s day time…raining or cloudy year round.

3. I don’t like to use it, it makes my skin look white and oily.

We have several options that are oil free and absorb easily into the skin, leaving the skin feeling soft and hydrated. If you don’t like ours find another, they are out there.

4. I look better with a little color!

You call it color and I tell you it’s your DNA screaming at you to get the heck out of the sun. Really when your skin turns color it’s your body’s imperfect way of trying to protect itself. The only safe tan is a fake tan. Another option is to learn to love your inner pale chick or dude, I do.

5. I use tanning beds, they don’t have UV.

Umm, yes they do. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “tanning beds emit does of UV as much as 12 times higher than the sun. People who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. According to recent research, first exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent.”

6. I am naturally tan.

All skin, regardless of color needs SPF protection…see above.

We want you around to enjoy facials and everything else that life has to offer, so play it safe. Wear a big hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, your DNA will thank you.

You say sunscreen, I say protection. Whatever you call it, it’s the most important step in skincare. From preventing premature aging to helping fight skin cancer, sunscreen is necessary. But! Experts say most of us don’t use it correctly. Why? Because sunscreen is dose specific. Even though makeup contains some, it doesn’t usually contain enough. Here are nine essential steps towards effective skin protection:

1. Wear SPF 30. Under your makeup you need at least SPF 30. Our 2 faves? Tu-el’s Essential Protection Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 30 and Tizo 3 SPF 40.
2. Get “broad spectrum” protection. Your sunscreen needs protection from both UVA and UVB. UVA “ages” the skin damaging deeper in the skin and UVB burns. UVA is there is it is daytime, if you are indoors and while it’s raining. It’s in your fluorescent light bulbs, even. And 80% of UV rays still get through the clouds.
3. Apply sunscreen liberally. When applying, don’t forget the back of your neck, tops of your ears, décolleté, and any other skin that will be exposed, like the back of your hands.
4. Teach kids to love sunscreen. It’s a healthy habit that can last a lifetime. A large portion of lifetime sun exposure happens before the age of 18.
5. Be time sensitive. If you can, avoid the sun between 11 am and 3 pm. That’s when the rays are the most intense.
6. Apply and reapply. Spending the day outdoors? Bring extra sunscreen to reapply every few hours.
7. Take care with SPF. If you find that you’re still getting burned or tan, try a higher SPF or apply more frequently.
8. No clouds, still sun! Even in Portland where the skies are often gray, you still need to wear sunscreen — every day.
9. It’s Anti-Aging! Think of Sunscreen as Anti-aging not anti-burning. If your immune cells aren’t under attack from UV they can do the job of healing and repairing your skin from past damage, making you look younger!

Happy sun protection!