When you think of SPF, your mind might go right to the goopy globs of white gunk your mom would slather over you when at the beach. It never fully rubbed in, and it had that funky smell to it. But she wanted to make sure you didn’t burn, and you didn’t want to argue, so you listened and let her apply the sunscreen. Not without a few whines and eye rolls.
Now, that you’re an adult, you do what you want, when you want (at least in terms of topical creams), and you may look at sunscreen aka, SPF and wonder if you really need to use it. Sure, there are still those days out at the beach, watching a ball game, or visiting an outdoor amusement park where you make sure to apply it. But what about every single day? Do you really need SPF on your face daily?
In short, the answer is yes, you do. If that satisfies you, then that’s all you need to read. Thanks for checking in…but for the rest of us who need more information to feel that we’ve made an informed decision here’s the scoop. You absolutely need the daily protection of a broad-spectrum SPF. But what exactly does it do for you, and how does it fit into your daily skincare regimen? Here is everything you need to know.
Do you really need SPF on your face daily?
Here is everything you need to know about wearing SPF:
The Sun Is Out (Even If You Can’t See It)
There are those cloudy days when you just can’t see the sun. That means the sun can’t affect your skin, right? Nope. It absolutely can burn and blemish the look of your skin. It doesn’t need to be a cloudless day for the sun to wreak havoc on you. The cloud might block your view of the sun, but it doesn’t block the sun’s rays from hitting your skin. After all, it’s light out, isn’t it? You can see in front of you without a flashlight, right? Well, if there’s daylight, then the damaging rays can, and will, affect your skin, and the only way to protect your exposed skin (especially your face) is with SPF.
Constantly Attacked By UV Radiation
You don’t need to be at a sporting event to be attacked by UV radiation. You don’t need to be outside all day, or even in direct sunlight, for it to affect your skin. If you’re outside and the sun is out, UV radiation is constantly bombarding your skin. It doesn’t let up (although the radiation’s intensity can reduce based on the time of the day). Cloud cover only reduces about 20 percent of the sun’s radiation, so cloudy skies will do little to protect you. Even if you go skiing in the winter, the cold weather doesn’t do much for you either (you’ve probably seen people with the goofy sunburns that formed around where they wore their goggles and didn’t apply sunscreen). Precious!
The fact of the matter is it doesn’t matter the time of the year or what cloud cover there is, UV radiation is always present, it’s always touching your skin, and, over time, it wears down your protective barrier and alters your very DNA, which in turn will lead to skin cancer and other serious skin problems. You need to do your part to avoid these issues (as well as maintaining your youthful visage) by applying SPF daily. Remember, tanned skin is damaged skin. Picture a steak sizzling and browning on the grill, yup, that’s your face without SPF. Need I say more? All rays; UVA/UVB, IRA, and HEV cause photoaging, (premature aging of the skin due to sun exposure) that eventually leads to the breakdown of collagen and elastin considered the scaffolding of the skin on your face, causing it to wrinkle, sag and look leathery.
Proper Application
When looking for a moisturizer with SPF, you should opt for products that have at least SPF 30. Applying the proper amount of SPF is just as important, you need a ¼ tsp / 1.25 ml for your face and ½ tsp / 2.5 ml for when applying to the face and neck. If you get sweaty, wet, or stay out in the sun for prolonged periods of time you need to reapply. SPF 15 doesn’t give you the kind of protection you’re looking for (don’t worry, if you want any kind of tan, there are plenty of self-tanning lotions or professional spray-tanning services that will work with you here).
Additionally, you’ll want to make sure every part of your face is covered, which includes your ears, eyelids, and lips. You can apply the lotion direction to your lips, or you can look for lipstick or lip balm that contains SPF in it. These are more water resilient than lotions and will better protect your lips. And, of course, if you’re not sure what would work best for you, the staff here at The Skin Center By CPS will work with you on identifying your skin type and recommend which broad-spectrum SPF moisturizer, SPF powder formulas, and SPF lip balm/sticks will work best for you.
You Don’t Need That Funky, Smelling Stuff
Don’t worry, and you don’t need to use that funky, odor-packed sunscreen you grew up with. (Leave the funkiness to Wild Cherry, but if you insist, for whatever reason, I’m sure it’s still out there in the sphere somewhere) There are plenty of excellent skincare products out there with SPF that smell clean and fresh and for the minimalist, there are many fragrance-free options. Think of SPF as an investment in your future self. Most of the better brands of moisturizers now contain either SPF 15 or 30 (although 45-50 SPF is best). This way, you can moisturize your skin while protecting it at the same time.
If you’ve found a moisturizer that you like, there’s a good chance the company behind it also produces an SPF variation of it, which is great so it will provide your skin the same nourishing ingredients, with the added protection.
Protect Your Skin And Improve Your Look
Protecting your skin is the first step toward slowing the aging process. The better you protect your skin, the younger you’ll continue to look. “I can’t wait to look wrinkled with sagging skin”, said NO ONE EVER! Of course, we’ve all had our blunders here and there, meaning your skin may have started to show some of your age. Whether you have some fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, or scars from those teenage acne years, all of these little things can add up and weigh down your confidence. Not to worry, because these issues can be addressed.
When you contact the professional team here at The Skin Center By CPS, you’ll receive a personalized consultation assessing your skin. We address your concerns, offering advice on what can be done, and what all you can do to improve the overall appearance while also better protecting your skin. While this does start with daily SPF, you’ll also discover additional next steps you should be taking. So, if you’re ready to refresh, rejuvenate and elevate the look and feel of your face, hands, and skin everywhere on your body, give The Skin Center By CPS professionals a call. Skin, it’s what we do!
