UV protection all year round, everywhere, at all times
Wherever you are, whatever day it is while you read this, put on sunscreen!
Getting a tan is in fashion, it's a way to express “I went on vacation!” or “I spent hours at the beach,” but can it work against us? We know that “the skin has memory” but, are we aware of what that means?
If you haven't started using sunscreen, what are you waiting for? We have the bad habit of thinking that UV rays only affect us when we're wearing a swimsuit. Nothing could be further from the truth, and here is the proof.
The photo that made the difference
On September 2, 2022, something changed for all those who are somewhat concerned about taking care of their skin. Avi Bitterman tweeted the following: “Cheeks and neck of a 92-year-old woman, who used moisturizing creams with UV protection on her face but not on her neck for over 40 years.”
The tweet went viral, alerted those skeptics of the power of sunscreen, and even became meme material. The mark on her skin marked us, those of us who only protect ourselves if we step on a beach. It made clear the importance of using sunscreen on both the face and neck and the rest of the body. But above all, it became clear that we must protect our face both in winter and summer, as the sun does not turn off after October.
With this simple photo, the combo of hydration and UV protection is crowned and proves to be much more powerful than any fast food offer. It certainly has been for this 92-year-old woman, who sacrificed her neck to show us that you can age with a flawless complexion, without the need for cosmetic surgery, thanks to a good habit.
Discover the rest of the skincare basics in our article "Fondo de armario versión beauty"
Now that we see the wolf's ears, what do we do?
First, we need to understand that ultraviolet rays are no joke and are not stopped by a cloud or bad weather. They are the source of the appearance of spots or even melanomas, which are a type of skin cancer, so protecting ourselves all year round is key. Getting tanned could end up costing us a lot! Moreover, the skin has memory, so the cells that have suffered burns pass that information to the upcoming cells. We drag the suffering of our skin for years, summer after summer, and once we accumulate a lot of damage we can end up suffering a more serious illness like the ones mentioned earlier. Be very careful with those jokers who apply cream making silly drawings. Sun tattoos are a trend worse than low shots.
For efficient protection, we must use the right cream, like a moisturizing cream with UV protection, or one that suits our skin type. Sharing cream with the whole family on a beach day is fine, but we should have our own personalized one for daily use.
If you are already preparing for summer, you may have noticed that, there are more and more types of creams! For the little ones, it's best to play it safe with waterproof cream, and that they can spend as much time as they want in the water. And if you also enjoy a good dip, remember to reapply cream once you have dried off.
For tanning lovers, there are also the tanning accelerators or the bronzers, usually in oil or spray formats. Tanning accelerators protect us while enhancing the natural golden tone of our skin and help in the pigmentation process. When buying, pay attention to the SPF, as some have very low protection like SPF 8. It is more advisable to buy a combination of both, bronzer and accelerator, which probably have a high protection factor. A shout out from here to those who say they will never get tanned with cream.
Finally, if you know you'll be spending hours and hours in the sun and you still have space in your beach bag, a face cream it wouldn't be a bad idea, since as we can imagine, the resistance and texture of the skin on the face is very different from that of the legs or back. Therefore, the most recommended thing is to apply the double-action face cream (hydration and protection) every morning, and on summer days, reinforce with a high SPF cream in case of intensive sun exposure.
The technique is always important. We will follow the rule of 7 teaspoons, one teaspoon for each area. Let's count: the two arms, the two legs, the torso, the back, and the face. If you're one of those who falls asleep on the beach, don't forget the back parts or the soles of your feet!
Another super technique is to apply the face cream on the two index and middle fingers, almost in warrior mode, as we see in the video:
The times, one of the great mysteries. According to experts, a SPF 30 cream will protect us for 10 times its strength. Let's do the math:
30x10= 300 minutes = 5 hours
So a SPF 30 cream will protect us for up to 5 hours after application. We could follow this rule in winter or on cloudy days. In summer, on beach days, or if we are exposed to the sun at noon, we recommend reapplying before this time passes. During these stronger hours, from 12 PM to 4 PM, the recommended average is every 2 or 3 hours, and even so, the best decision would be to stay away from the sun. So, if you're out on the terrace and already on your third round, it's probably time to reapply. Also, it never hurts to open the umbrella or wear a cap. Don't let sunburn turn your day of rest into a day of misery.
EXTRA
Our skin struggles to absorb, so the best option will be to give it time and apply the cream about 30 minutes before sun exposure. We don't want to get burned even before the day has started. For this, double-action creams for hydration and UV protection are highly recommended, as we've already mentioned.
Given what we've seen, can we say that UV protection cream has become one of your essentials?
June 23, 2023 - Amaia Ruiz
