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Every dermatologist out there would agree that one of the most important aspects of any skincare routine is SPF. Sunscreen is a product that you should be using year-round without fail if you’re hoping for skin that looks smooth, bright, and healthy as you age.
However, why exactly is SPF so essential, and what will happen to your skin if you’re neglectful about your usage of sunscreen? Read on as VouPre explains!
What is Sunscreen and How Does it Work?
SPF products are designed to shield the skin from the sun’s UV rays. There are two main types of sunscreen available; chemical and mineral. Both are effective but work in different ways…
Mineral sunscreens make use of minerals to deflect the sun’s rays away from the skin. They’re a great option for those who are prone to sensitivities but, at the same time, they’re notorious for how thick they can be and commonly leave a white cast behind on the skin.
Meanwhile, chemical sunscreens are usually much lighter in consistency. They contain chemical UV filters that absorb the UV rays that enter your skin. They convert this to heat, which is then emitted from the body.
Many sunscreens also contain additional beneficial ingredients, with the VouPre Age Defense Cream SPF 30 being a great example. In addition to its UV filters, it’s also packed with hydrating ingredients, vitamins, and antioxidant-rich botanicals. These will work with the UV agents in the formula to leave your skin feeling even more protected from the sun.
Why is SPF So Important?
You now know how SPF products work, but why are they so important? Let’s take a look at a few of the main reasons to wear SPF daily:
Shields Your Skin From Sunburns
While many of the dangers of the sun don’t show up straight away, sunburns do. This is when the sun’s UV rays cause the skin to turn red and inflamed. The skin usually feels hot too, with a burning sensation that leaves it sore to the touch. These radiation burns not only cause pain and immediate physical damage but they also leave you more susceptible to skin cancer. Experts all agree that the more times you get sunburned in your life, the greater your chances of developing skin cancer.
With SPF, you won’t need to worry about burning – assuming you’re using it correctly! The sun’s UV rays won’t be able to burn your skin, allowing you to soak up that warmth without the subsequent damage.
While it’s true that the summer sun is primarily responsible for sunburns due to the intensity of the UV rays at this time of year, burns are still pretty common in the winter months too. Ice and snow can actually reflect and magnify UV rays, which is just one reason why SPF should be worn year-round.
Prevents and Reduces the Appearance of Skin Aging
Did you know that up to 80% of the fine lines and wrinkles that appear on your face have been caused by sun damage? This may seem like a shocking statistic until you understand exactly how UV rays affect the components that keep your skin looking smooth and youthful.
It all comes down to how UV rays weaken the protein fibers that hold your skin up from within. Collagen gives your skin its structure and volume while elastin provides elasticity and bounce. When these fibers are damaged by the sun, the skin begins to wrinkle and sag.
With SPF, you’ll be able to prevent UV rays from damaging those precious protein fibers. In fact, studies have found that this is quantifiable, with a 24% less chance of seeing increased signs of aging on your skin if you wear sunscreen daily.
Prevents Your Skin From Looking Discolored
Unfortunately, contributing to wrinkles isn’t the only way that the sun causes the skin to look older. Dark spots and discoloration are another disheartening side effect of sun exposure.
This is due to the melanin that your skin produces when UV rays touch the skin. Melanin gives your skin its color, which is why the skin tans in the sun. Melanin also provides a very small amount of natural defense against the sun, hence why the skin produces it.
However, there’s only room for so much melanin in your skin. Once your cells have produced more pigment than can be evenly distributed through your skin, the excess melanin clusters up under certain areas of the skin. This results in those areas taking on a darker color than the rest of the skin.
Although your skin may still produce melanin when you wear SPF, which is why it’s still possible to tan with sunscreen on, over-production isn’t likely to occur. This will keep your skin tone looking even and balanced, saving you from the appearance of hyperpigmentation (which can take years to fade!).
Keeps Your Skin Barrier Feeling Strong and Healthy
Another problem that arises from sun exposure is skin barrier damage. Your skin barrier is your skin’s first line of defense against environmental damage. This means that it takes the biggest brunt of the damage from UV rays.
This disrupts skin barrier function, which can result in a number of issues. From dehydration and dryness to inflammation and acne breakouts, skin barrier problems can take a while to fix.
Keeping your skin protected with SPF helps to ensure that your skin barrier is also safeguarded from the sun. Not only will your SPF block those rays from damaging your barrier but the sunscreen itself will also form its own barrier over your skin’s natural one. This will make it even harder for UV rays, as well as other forms of environmental damage, to seep through your skin’s layers.
Reduces Your Skin Cancer Risk
Last but most definitely not least, let’s talk about skin cancer. You’re probably aware of how UV rays are the most common cause of melanoma. Some experts even say that 9 out of 10 cases of skin cancer could have been avoided if better sun protection habits had been practiced.
How does sun exposure lead to cancer? This is due to how UV rays damage skin cells at DNA level. The DNA in your cells is responsible for telling your skin cells how to function. Once a certain amount of DNA damage accumulates, cell function spirals out of control, causing cancer to develop.
With SPF, you’ll be able to block those UV rays from damaging skin cell DNA in the first place. Not only will this reduce your risks of developing skin cancer but it will also allow your skin cells to feel healthy and able to function optimally.
Making the Most of Your SPF
Now that you understand why SPF is so important, you’ll hopefully start becoming much more diligent in your usage of it. With that said, there are a few extra steps that you can take to make your SPF habits even more effective:
Apply a Vitamin C Serum Underneath Your SPF
Did you know that applying a vitamin C serum under your sunscreen can leave your skin feeling even more protected from UV rays? Science has confirmed this, with many experts saying that any antioxidant will have this effect, although vitamin C is known for being one of the best.
If you would like to give this a try, the VouPre Vita C Serum would be a great formula to do so with. It contains two highly stable and effective forms of vitamin C. It’s also bursting with several other powerful antioxidants, including grape stem cells, vitamin A, and vitamin E.
Apply Your Sunscreen to Every Inch of Exposed Skin
When applying sunscreen, many people tend to slap some product onto the main parts of their face and then leave it at that. However, in order for your skin to be fully protected, every inch of exposed skin needs to be covered.
This means paying extra attention to the often-forgotten areas. These include the hands, the ears, the eyelids, the scalp, and the chest.
Be Generous With How Much SPF You Use
While ‘less is more’ certainly holds true for many skincare products, this isn’t the case with SPF. Instead, when applying sunscreen, be generous! Most people don’t actually use enough product, meaning that they think their skin is protected when it really isn’t.
Ideally, you want to aim to use a nickel-sized dollop to cover your face, or about two tablespoons worth of sunscreen if you’re covering your face and your body.
Don’t Forget to Reapply
It’s often easy enough to remember SPF in the mornings. After all, this is when you’re carrying out your regular morning skincare routine. However, that first application of SPF is only going to provide protection for a couple of hours. After this, protection wanes, making reapplication essential.
Sure, this means that you’ll end up going through quite a bit of product. However, the gorgeous and healthy glow that your skin will be sporting throughout your later years will make this more than worthwhile!
Avoid Using Expired Sunscreens
Found an old bottle of sunscreen at the back of your cupboard? While you may be tempted to use it, think twice before you do. Most sunscreens have a shelf life of a couple of years. However, this only holds true if that product has been stored correctly. This means keeping it in a cool, dark, and dry place – away from light, humidity, and temperature fluctuations.
If yours hasn’t been stored correctly or you think that it may be a few years old, don’t risk the future of your skin. Throw that bottle out and treat yourself to a new one that will guarantee adequate protection.
SPF: The Key to a Healthy Complexion
As you can see, SPF plays such a big role when it comes to how healthy your skin looks and feels, especially as you get older. If you’re hoping to stave off the appearance of aging while keeping your complexion smooth, firm, and bright, sun protection is a must. Take the extra measures that we’ve shared above, follow them year-round, and you’ll be able to keep your skin safe from the visible effects of UV damage.
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