SPF is your BFF

We all know the importance of wearing sunscreen during the Summer months to avoid sunburn and damage but it should be worn all year round, not only to protect your skin from skin cancer (which doesn’t only happen during Summer) but to assist with anti-aging.

SPF is the most important step in your skincare routine and we should be wearing it every day. Yes, even during Winter and on overcast days, Up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays can pass through clouds, so if you assume it’s OK to skip your UV protection on an overcast day, think again!

IT REDUCES SIGNS OF AGING

UVA rays from the sun damages your skin, making it more prone to the signs of aging. All that hard work you’re doing with your skincare routing, applying vitamin A (retinol) and the rest of your skincare products, well you’re basically undoing it all if you don’t wear an SPF during the day.

Over time UV rays damage the skin and its underlying connective tissue, leading to the development of wrinkles and lines, not to mention pigmentation (age spots) which become more visible as we get older. Pigmentation from sun damage isn’t visible straight away and we usually don’t see it until later in life as we get older.

Sun damage from UV rays causes photo-aging of the skin, which is characterized by a thick leathery appearance of the skin, discoloration and a breakdown of collagen. This all contributes to lines, sagging and wrinkles.

Studies show that those below age 55 who apply sunscreen regularly have 24 percent less chance of developing these signs of aging than those who don’t.

SPF has been scientifically proven to reduce the early onset of fine lines,

wrinkles, and dark spots, so why wouldn’t you want to

add it to your routine?

Then there’s also the increased skin cancer risk, an all too common occurrence in Australia. Although it may sound scary, it’s the reality, and wearing an SPF massively reduces your melanoma risk and any damage to your body that may come with it.

These are some common questions and statements I hear a lot from clients regarding SPF.

My foundation already has a spf, why should I apply more?

Foundations and moisturisers with an SPF content in them have been around for quite a while – you’ll notice on the label of some of your favourite foundations that they may have ‘contains SPF’ written on them. The only problem with this is that the SPF content is watered down by the rest of the product, meaning it’s a lot less effective and provides nowhere near as much protection as you need.

I don’t like the greasy oily feeling of sunscreen on my skin and it makes me breakout.

Sunscreen has come a long way from our childhood, we all remember the thick white paste that use to leave that greasy feeling on your skin. Now days many of the SPF products available have been formulated with certain ingredients that address specific skin conditions, without clogging your skin, some even contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and skin-loving antioxidants for added benefits, so it sits flawlessly, even under makeup.

Who else remembers that myth “my acne/breakouts will dry up and clear out if I go out in the sun?”

It’s very far from the truth. When exposed to infrared heat from the sun, acne flares up even more. The heat is damaging and will irritate your skin.

Remember SPF can still give you the protection you need from UV rays without that greasy feeling.

I don’t go out in the sun so why should I wear an SPF?

UV Rays can still penetrate through glass and cause damage to the skin.

If you’re spending the day in a room with sunlight streaming through the windows or even when you’re in your car, you're receiving a similar amount of UVA rays as you would be if you were outside. (Yes, even if your windows are tinted.)

There are three main reasons why experts say you should wear SPF indoors, all involving what you’re exposed to:

• Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays

• Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays

• Blue light from smart devices, computers and TVs

Sunscreen vs Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays

Ultraviolet A rays, which can cause signs of aging like loss of elasticity and wrinkles, penetrate windows and cloud cover, It is “crucial” to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen even though you are indoors.

Sunscreen vs Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays

Then there are Ultraviolet B rays, which can damage the skin's DNA, creating the inflammatory response that leads to red sunburn.

A sunburn peels when the cells are beyond repair and die off. Those cells that remain increasingly get damaged over time through exposure, resulting in skin cancer.

Sunscreen vs blue light

The blue light emitted from digital screens — including your computer, phone, tablet and TV — can affect your skin in two ways:

Blue light can increase the production of melanin or pigmentation in the skin, which could lead to melasma and age spots.

Blue light can also create free radicals, which might cause inflammation and lead to the breakdown of collagen and elastic tissue in the skin.

I had a spray tan/fake tan so I don’t need to wear sunscreen

A common myth with spray tans or any other fake tanning solution is “A fake tan darkens my skin so it protects me from the sun and UV rays”.

That myth is completely false!

Spray tans and self tanning solutions DO NOT contain UV protection.

Any fake tanning solution does not improve your body’s ability to protect itself from the sun, it doesn’t matter how dark your skin is, you will still need sun protection.

It really is that simple – SPF is the most important part of your skincare routine!

When looking for an SPF, the best formulas to go for are broad spectrum SPF's – these are the ones that protect against both the UVA and UVB rays that come from the sun. UVB rays are the ones that cause sunburn and skin cancer, UVA rays cause premature aging. As well as decreasing the risk of sunburn and premature aging, wearing an SPF decreases your risk of developing skin cancer.

Although it may sound scary, it’s the reality, and wearing an SPF massively reduces your melanoma risk and any damage to your body that may come with it.

At Mystique Skin & Beauty my go to sunscreen is O Cosmedics Mineral Pro 50. It’s a lightweight, non-comedogenic mineral sunscreen giving a translucent protection. It contains powerful physical sun reflectors. This sunscreen is perfect for all skin types, even those with breakouts and more heavier oil flow as it doesn’t clog your pores. It is also available in tinted.

Mystique Skin & Beauty is located in I AM LILYG Hair Studio Biggera Waters and is a proud O Cosmedics skincare stockist. Not only offering skincare advice and educating clients on the importance of wearing an SPF daily but also providing information on the importance of using a cosmeceutical skincare range.