Sunscreen! Why is it Important?

 Hey guys!!!

                                I have a question for you.....

                                                  Do you wear your sunscreen??

If yes, Excellent. You are doing the best thing for your skin.

If not, why? What is the reason?

Sunscreen is the most important step in your skincare routine. If you don't use it the rest of the routine will not matter. There are many benefits to using a sunscreen.

Before I explain why you should wear a sunscreen you should know....

The sun has two types of harmful rays, UVA and UVB. UVA penetrates deep into the skin and causes long term skin damage, aging, and wrinkles. UVB causes sunburn and turns your skin red. 

You MUST wear your sunscreen every. single. day. Rain or Shine. When it is cloudy outside the sun's rays are stronger. Up to 80% of the rays can pass through the clouds. If there is snow on the ground the sun's rays can reflect up to 80% of UV rays increasing the risk of sun damage. Finally, the higher the altitude, the greater the UV exposure.

1. One of the most important reasons is that it lowers your risk for skin cancer. Skin Cancer is one of the most common form of cancer in the United States. By using sunscreen everyday, you cut your risk for cancer in half.
2. Applying sunscreen everyday also prevents premature aging. Unfortunately, once you get sun damage from the UV rays it causes photoaging of the skin. It means discoloration, and a breakdown of collagen, which contributes to lines, sagging, and wrinkles. 
3. Sunscreen will also help maintain an even skin tone. It will prevent discoloration and dark spots from forming due to sun damage. People with darker skin are more susceptible to hyperpigmentation.
4. Sunscreen prevents sun sensitivity. People with sun sensitivity conditions, such as lupus and rosacea, when they are exposed to UV rays it can lead to redness, burning to the skin, and overall severity of the conditions. 
5.  If you have acne, you should still be wearing sunscreen. It will not get rid of your acne, but it will help prevent acne scars from forming. (For a while I couldn't the perfect sunscreen so now I have a few post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation so trust me.)
6. The UV rays can damage your skin's blood vessel walls which will cause them to thin. Because of the thinning it will leave the appearance of bruising or bleeding. 

When you are looking for your perfect sunscreen make sure you are getting SPF 30 or higher and most importantly make sure you are applying enough. You should apply at least two fingers worth of sunscreen or more and you must reapply every couple of hours. Don't forget your ears and neck! (All over the body too if anything is exposed)

Another thing to keep in mind when in search of the sunscreen make sure that on the bottle it says "Broad Spectrum." This will let you know that it will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays.

What can be done if you wear makeup? Well, some people reapply their sunscreen on top of their makeup with their fingers carefully or you use a powder with sunscreen and touch up. Another option is a setting spray with sunscreen in it. Unfortunately, with the powder and the spray you can never be sure you applied it evenly or enough, but it is better than nothing. 

Spray sunscreens may seem easier to apply, but when you are trying to spray, it will apply very uneven and will not be effective in protecting you. It is also bad for the environment. 

Lastly, don't forget your lips. There are lip balms with sunscreen in them. 

The most important thing to do at the end of the day is you must remove your sunscreen with a double cleansing method. A cleansing oil or cleansing balm will properly remove the water resistant sunscreen and following it with a water based cleanser.

What are some of you guys favorite sunscreens??? Do you prefer physical or chemical sunscreens??