Sun Protection
The four pillars for sun protection:
These cannot be ignored…
#1
Unprotected exposure to ultraviolet rays makes our skin look older, faster. (Sad. True.)
Also true… We love the sun. The sun provides us with so much healthy joy. The sun lifts our spirits. The sun warms our bones.
The upshot? We must be wise about our time in the sun, Beauties.
Here’s the dirt: It is estimated that 80% of the skin aging we experience in our lives comes from sun damage specifically. (Lordy.)
How does this happen?
Ultraviolet light from the sun is comprised of UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are DNA mutagens that penetrate the epidermis (the top layer of our skin) and damage our collagen and elastin. This results in superficial wrinkling. UVB rays also trigger melanocyte production, which contributes to hyperpigmentation (those darkened splotches we call sunspots, age spots, or brown spots). Over time, UVB rays can induce cancerous or precancerous lesions.
UVA rays penetrate all the way down to the dermis (the layer beneath the epidermis) and cause damage to both the epidermis and dermis. Damage to the dermis results in much deeper wrinkling and sagging, as well as dilated, visible capillaries that can contribute to chronic redness in our skin. UVA rays also damage our DNA indirectly through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which damage our cellular DNA, lipids, and protein. (All this adds up to duller, weaker, less healthy skin.)
Both overexposure to UV rays (resulting in pinkness or a sunburn) as well as chronic exposure (not enough exposure to result in a burn, but still exposes our skin to UV rays) will contribute to skin aging over time.
So! While it is a beautiful (and necessary!) part of life to enjoy sunlight and reap the benefits of the warm sun, the tradeoff is we must be wise with outdoor time so we don’t sacrifice our skin health.
Here is what we can do…
Find a fabulous sun protection product both you and your skin love. (I am very partial to these as they are both mineral based, chock-full of antioxidants, and provide a complete panel of beneficial plant ingredients as well as complete sun protection.) Wear your sun protection every AM as the final skin care product you apply. You can put make-up over the top if you wish. Wear sun protection even if its cloudy outside (UV rays are still present on cloudy days) and wear sun protection even if most of your day is sitting inside in front of your computer (more on that below).
Be aware that sun protection can rub off (if we eat, drink, talk on the phone, swim, sweat, wipe off our skin, etc., we are gradually wearing away our sun protection). Re-apply as often as needed.
#2
Not wearing sunglasses can cause hyperpigmentation in my skin?!?!
Did you know that sunglasses are just as important as wearing a good sun protection product for your skin while in the sun? (Its true!)
Ultraviolet rays can enter through the retinas of our eyes too, sending signals to kick off one of the melanogenesis pathways, which are the cellular pathways that activate dark spots. (Blerg! Ugh!) This means that hyperpigmentation can develop in our skin all because we were not wearing sunglasses on a sunny day. (Ack.)
Find some shades you love and keep them with you, Beauty, for when the moment of need arises! Not only will you look très chic, but you will also be keeping your skin gorgeous both for now and for the years ahead.
#3
Blue light from computer/tablet/phone/television screens can age my skin?!?!
While not as damaging as unprotected UV light exposure from the sun, the light that emits from your computer screen, phone screen, tablet screen and television screen can potentially cause accelerated aging in your skin (think increased hyperpigmentation, increased redness/inflammation, increased dehydration and increased collagen breakdown that leads to wrinkles and sagging. Eek. Ugh.). The more exposure we have, the greater the potential for skin damage.
There is research ongoing in this area, and while the full skinny on how much exposure equates to how much skin damage done has yet to be fully settled, it is still the wisest plan to limit screen exposure as much as we reasonably can. (Sometimes not super possible if you have a job that keeps you glued to a screen for approximately forever hours each day. If this is you, read on…) Use the below tips to keep your skin in good shape when you must be in front of a screen:
Screen Tips!
Use a really good, broad-spectrum sun protection product every day;
Use good quality skincare products packed with antioxidants;
Put a blue light screen protector over your computer screen/tablet/television;
Switch your screens to night mode;
Keep your phone (and all screens) at arm's length at least.
#4
More than just topical sun protection~
A great quality sun protection product is QUEEN when it comes to protecting our beautiful skin, but there are other helpers (the knights? the nobles?) that also play a big part in keeping our skin as healthy and as luminous as possible…
Use antioxidant rich skin care. If you are using skin care products from Rich Earth, I have good news for you! Every single serum and moisturizer from Rich Earth is jam packed with effective, high-quality, viable, clinical levels of antioxidant nourishment that your skin benefits from. Antioxidants are our skin’s second line of defense against sun damage (after a broad spectrum sun protection product) by helping to ward off skin damage before it can begin.
Eat antioxidant rich foods. If you already eat lots of whole foods (fruits, vegetables, greens, squash, roots, herbs, etc.,) then I have great news for you- your whole body (and your skin!) is reaping the benefits of antioxidant support. If you don’t eat much in the way of whole foods, I also have great news for you…There are so many ways to get these delicious foods into your life there is no way not to find some ways that you truly love.
Here are a few whole food recipe sites you are welcome to peruse at your leisure for just a small peek at the wide range of options available…
Here’s to creating and keeping your most healthy, youthful, bright, lustrous skin for a lifetime.
“Sunscreen is my number one beauty product that goes on even when I am indoors.”
~Liz Goldwyn
“I can only be in the sun for 15 minutes before burning. I have sunscreen on my face every day. If I'm walking on the sunny side of the street, I'll move to the shady side...”
~Julianne Moore
“It's very important to get facials. Facials and sunscreen - people don't believe that black people need sunscreen, but sunscreen with save your life.”
~Jazmyn Simon
“I use sunscreen every single day, even if I'm not going outside in the sun, because I'm near a window. I can always get those UV rays on my face, so I always apply sunscreen on my face and neck. It's like brushing my teeth: I feel weird if I don't apply sunscreen.”
~Michelle Phan
“I have to have my sunscreen. It's so important for wrinkle reduction but also to protect you from the sun. Whatever skin type one might have, whatever age they're at, I think sunscreen is key.”
~ Sufe Bradshaw
“There's rarely a big hat. I think all those things are great, but I'm boring in that I just use sunscreen every day. I don't mess around. I put it on first thing. I have it on now, and I'm sitting inside.
~Jennifer Garner
“If I were packing for a deserted island, I would bring sunscreen, a water purifier, something to start a fire with, my sister, and something for protection.”
~Gracie Gold
“The worst beauty advice that I have ever taken has been from people who have told me that sunscreen isn't necessary.”
~Amanda Schull
“Sunscreen, in the world of beauty, is the ultimate in adulting.”
~Emily Weiss
Sources consulted in writing this blog:
Bare Faced Truth: Sunscreen 101, The Basics
Bare Faced Truth: How Skin Ages
Additional sunscreen facts:
Blog written by Marna Herrington with Rich Earth Organic Skin Care Studio
Blog copy editing and polishing provided by Karen-Eileen Gordon (MsGordonLovesWriting@gmail.com)
This blog is not intended to take the place of in-person consultations with qualified skin care and health care practitioners.
This blog is for the purpose of education and fun only. All images and text in this blog are under the legal ownership of Rich Earth Organic Skin Care Studio, or permission of use has been granted for this specific blog only, unless unambiguously in the public domain. Permission is not granted for this text or these images to be copied and used out of the context of this blog, or for commercial purposes. If any part of the text is quoted in an article or other blog for educational purposes, a hyperlink to this page must be included.