Sunscreen: Why You Need It In Your Skincare Routine Today
Sunlight comprises ultraviolet (UV) rays, both infrared and visible radiations. Not only does sunlight provides our Earth with energy, warmth, light, and life force, but it also helps to maintain a healthy amount of oxygen in our air through photosynthesis.
Direct sunlight in the early morning for 10 to 15 minutes daily is beneficial for your skin and eyes, as it is a good source of vitamin D. Benefits that you can enjoy includes making you happier, reducing the risk of certain cancers, and boosting fertility. It is also known that our moods can be significantly boosted with sufficient sunlight exposure. Sunlight also stimulates the production of dopamine and serotonin, which helps to release melatonin for better sleep.
However, overexposure to sunlight can result in certain damages that might cause depletion of the skin’s vitamin A, leading to loss of elastin and collagen. This is how things like wrinkles, loose skin, and sunspots develop. Hence, we must be mindful of how we protect our skin before it is too late.
There are two types of UV radiation found in sunlight:
UVA
UVA occurs consistently all year round, regardless of the weather. It penetrates deep within your skin, resulting in increased tanning. While it often results in the temporary tanning of your body, UVA causes your skin to age prematurely. This is caused by radiation, damaging the production of collagen and skin immunity, ultimately leading to oxidative damage or skin cancer.
Even if you are not directly under intense sunlight or not exposed to the sun for more than a few minutes, such as walking to your car, going to the supermarket, or hanging your laundry, you can still be exposed to sufficient UVA, resulting in the damage listed above.
UVB
UVB is responsible for the burning sensation and redness associated with sunburns, in addition to damaging skin cells and developing skin cancer. Instead of just passing your top layer of the skin as UVA does, UVB penetrates deep within your body where your cell divides, causing affected cells to mutate, increasing their chances of developing cancerous cells.
The damage to cells can remain dormant in your body until you hit a certain age when your body is not as adaptable as before in maintaining cell division and checking for abnormal mutations.
Does sunscreen block out UV rays completely?
No. Though wearing protective clothing and a wide enough hat can block UV rays. However, you still receive any available reflective light on your face even if you put on a hat. Sunscreen with adequate SPF offers protection for your skin, allowing you to tan without suffering from burns caused by UVB.
Unfortunately, most store-ready sunscreens are not as beneficial for you as they prevent sunburns. Many store-ready sunscreens contain toxic chemicals that harm your body, especially if the product is SPF 30 and above. This is because once the sunscreen is more than SPF 30, it needs to contain certain chemical or synthetic ingredients to encourage your body to absorb the sunscreen.
Such chemicals include avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, octinoxate, and homosalate. These chemicals cause allergy and disruption of hormones while also damaging waterways, coral reefs, and the surrounding environment. In fact, SPF 30 is already more than enough for adequate skin protection.
What about organic or natural sunscreen products?
Instead of using chemicals to encourage your skin to absorb sunscreen protection, most natural or organic sunscreens are made up of either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which forms a physical barrier on the skin’s surface, reflecting sunlight and scattering them away from the skin. LoveNaturall’s WotNot Naturals sunscreen products for babies and adults – (1) 30 SPF 100 per cent natural baby sunscreen (for baby) and (2) SPF 30 Natural Face Sunscreen & BB cream (for adults) are made up of vital natural ingredients, such as:
- Beeswax and candelilla wax for locking in necessary moisture, preventing your skin from drying.
- Zinc oxide protects the skin from UVA and UVB.
- Jojoba oils, shea butter, and safflower bind the skin cells together, thus preventing skin cracks.
- Aloe vera leaf juice helps the skin to boost the absorption of moisture from the surrounding.
Our baby sunscreen is suitable for babies 3 months and older, while many in the market cater to 6 months and older. Other than that, our sunscreens are ideal for everybody, especially individuals with eczema, sensitive skin, and psoriasis. It is also reef-friendly!
Conclusion
Now that you know the benefits of sunscreen, especially natural and organic ones, it is highly recommended to incorporate that into your skincare routine. While there are no fixed rules on when to apply them, one guideline is to apply sunscreen about 20 minutes before heading out of your house. If you have an existing skincare routine, you might want to use your serums first, followed by moisturiser, then sunscreen, and lastly, makeup. Overall, despite sunscreen, you would still like to limit your time under the sun.
For more information on LoveNaturall’s WotNot Naturals sunscreens and other organic skincare products, you may do so at https://www.lovenaturall.com/.