Sunscreen: Do you use it?
There is no secret that I absolutely love all things skin care! I’m talking body buttas, exfoliants, body washes, serums, scrubs, etc. Just know if it’s for the skin, I am for IT. Always.
This summer has been all about experimenting with different products for my face/full body + seeing how my skin responded to each product. That’s how we learn, through the good, bad and ugly of trying things out😅. The biggest game changer from my 2 months of trial + error was sunscreen.
I’ll admit sunscreen has not always been part of my daily skin care process. Truthfully, like many people, I never even considered sunscreen unless I was outside for an extended amount of time, like at the beach or on a hike. It wasn’t until my mid-30s that I made a conscious effort to be sure that the products that I was using on both my face + body included some level of protection from the penetrating rays of the sun.
Now while it is amazing to use products that include some level of SPF, there really isn’t a replacement for a quality sunscreen specific product. There are MANY reasons why reaching for a SPF of at least 30 is recommended for everyday use (these are the ones that are important to me):
- Reduces the risk of skin cancer
- Helps with hyperpigmentation
- Preserves the skin’s natural characteristics (texture/density)
- YOUTHFUL appearance.
Coverage for Melanin
Contrary to belief, people of color do need + benefit from the regular use of sunscreen as a daily skin protectant. Not too long ago there were just a few sunscreen brands, none of which were tailored with us in mind at all (think 1 size fits all). Luckily that has changed and now there are so many options that work great for a variety of skin types + tones. I always recommend trying a few products out to see what works best for your skin and really take the time to notice how your skin responds. The great thing about the skin is it cant lie, when something isnt working it will tell you.
The Sunscreens I tried
1. Farmacy Green Defense SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen
2. Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Sheer Tint
3. Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
4. Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen
5. Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50
Personal Favorite
My personal favorite sunscreen right now is the Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50. I love this product specifically because I tend to have dry skin, so the products that typically work the best for me are the ones that add in extra moisture.
When starting your process of finding a sunscreen or any product for your skin having an idea of how your skin functions in general will give you the bases of what to look for or avoid in a product. For example because I know my skin is dry I avoid products with “drying” ingredients. So before you go to the store, do your research, check out reviews+ double check those ingredients.
The skin is a pretty amazing organ in all that it does to help keep us safe so it makes perfect sense to protect it back by adding little sunscreen to the mix.
Does your skincare routine include sunscreen + if so what brands are you using and loving right now?
