It's a good month for a re-cap! I'm sure I have mentioned all of these things at one point or another through this blog, or in my treatment room, but I still hear these myths and mistakes from my clients when discussing sunscreen.
1) You think it's sunblock.
I wrote
a post about this last year. There is no such thing as sunblock. No sunscreen will block out 100% of UV rays. Protective clothing, a hat, and seeking shade during peak hours (generally 10-2pm) are all components of safe sunning. Because the active ingredients in sunscreen degrade with exposure to UV, it is important to reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming to ensure you stay protected.
2) You're not wearing sunscreen when it's cloudy, or you're not planning to be outside.
Think you can skip the sunscreen on cloudy days? Think again. While cloud cover can block some of the UVB rays, UVA passes through clouds and glass. These rays penetrate deep and do the damage we often refer to as "photo-aging". You can find a post I did on UVA and UVB
here. Think of applying your sunscreen like brushing your teeth. Every day. Rain or shine.
3) You're not wearing enough.
Are you dabbing it on? A sufficient amount is needed to get the adequate protection. Here's the rule:
Apply a line of sunscreen down the first two fingers of your hand, that's enough for your face and neck (reference the handy photo). For the body, it's approximately two tablespoons. Any less than that and you're not receiving the coverage listed on the label.
4) You think "it's in my makeup, so I'm covered".
When I ask clients if they are wearing sunscreen daily very often I hear "Oh, it's in my makeup." This is an extension of not wearing enough. I've yet to see a client that applies as much makeup shown in the picture above, and certainly not all over the neck. This goes for powders too. The FDA is currently reviewing whether powders can even claim an SPF, due to the fact that there is no established quantity of powder needed to achieve the protection. Now don't get me wrong, I love the fact that companies are incorporating sunscreen into these products, but it should be supplemental protection and not your only coverage.
So are guilty of any of the above? Good news, if you are, they are all quick fixes. Broad spectrum coverage, with a feel you love, every single day. Questions? As always, email or message me!
