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Important Tip: Use Sunscreen!

Sep 24, 2007

As the picture shows, it is never too early to use suncreen on your face and body. Now, I’d be the first to admit that I’m not always as religious about using sunscreen on my arms and legs but for my face, its a top priority every single day.

Its a fallacy that if you refrain from going out into the sun, you don’t need sunscreen. Or, that if you stay home with all the windows and doors closed, you don’t need sunscreen. Closing your windows and doors and staying indoors doesn’t prevent the UV rays from reaching you. So yes, maybe you won’t tan, but your skin isn’t protected from UV rays either.

And for anyone who indulges in anti-aging creams and cures, its best you start now with sunscreen. That is the best anti-aging cure you can hope for because it is a fact that the sun’s rays and UV rays damage the skin and causes skin to age and in extreme cases, skin cancer. Sunscreen blocks or filters these harmful UV rays thereby reducing the skin damage and therefore acting as an anti-aging measure.

I found this very helpful article about sunscreen and what kinds of sunscreen one should look out for. This other article about sun protection too is very insightful. In gist:

Use a sunscreen that blocks or filters UV-A and UV-B rays. These are broad spectrum sunscreens.
Use a sunscreen that is SPF15 and above. According to reports, there is no evidence that very high SPF will actually protect your skin more but here in the tropics, SPF 50 is the norm. The Japanese have their own system of rating sunscreens with PA+++ for the highest and PA+ for low ratings.
Reapply often especially if you are going to be out in the sun. However, for practical purposes, I can only see this reapplication for the body for most of us who work will have our faces made up and thus, reapplying sunscreen isn’t much of an option.
When applying sunscreen do not forget areas like your neck and ears. Men or women with short hair tend to forget the back of the neck and the tips of the ears which can burn easily.

For myself, I use L’oreal UV Perfect sunscreen for my face because thus far, it has worked best for me and it blocks both UV-A and UV-B rays. Biotherm Sunfitness isn’t bad too as its non-sticky.Â My foundation too has SPF. For my body, I use the one by the Australian Cancer Council. Its only available for purchase in Australia.

This post was actually prompted by my discussion with a friend about using sunscreen. I was appalled that anyone would not use sunscreen because I’m a great proponent and advocate of using sunscreen if not for beauty, then for health reasons. I’ve read some articles that say that sunscreens may not be all that good for you because of the chemicals, but in general, the pros have thus far outweighed the cons.

So, slap on the sunscreen. When you are 50, your skin will thank you for it!

Edit: This tip applies equally for both men and women. If you don’t use any other skincare on your skin, use sunscreen. It does make a difference.

Picture courtesy of vamcmag

8 Comments so far

KY September 24, 2007 3:58 pm

I hope men also can use

PB says: Especially the men! Men seem to think that sunscreen is only for women but it isn’t. Seriously.
S-Kay September 24, 2007 8:22 pm

I stay indoor most of the time and only apply a corrective base with SPF25 before putting on my liquid foundation and powder. Is it enough? Or would it be better to go for a higher SPF.

The bf used a sunscreen before coz he’s always out in the sun…but then he got too lazy. Haha.

PB says: I suppose yours should be enough. I use SPF 50 only because its the sunscreen that’s worked best for me so far. I’m just not so sure as to whether a pure sunscreen is better or a cosmetic product that contains sunscreen. Perhaps someone could answer this for us
KAREN September 25, 2007 12:26 am

Wow, you really changed my outlook on that. Its never too late 2 start using sunscreen hey! im gonna make my 18 yr old daughter start too. thanks! ill be thanking u in 20yrs lol

PB says: Yes, start them young and they’ll thank you for it! But its never too late to start too! Thanks for coming by.
S-Kay September 25, 2007 1:10 pm

Yeah..was thinking bout whether pure sunscreen is better or not coz I kinda hate putting too many layers of products on my face. But I’m gonna try the L’oreal UV thingy and see =) Must must use sunscreen especially when I think I have more chances of having dry wrinkly skin when I’m old. Hahahha.

PB says: I think many people have vouched for sunscreen protecting the skin from the wrinkly effects of sun damage. I for one won’t like that too! Good practice using lots of sunscreen for now!
soh February 19, 2008 11:32 pm

does pa+++ provides higher or longer protection against UVA than pa+???i heard that the higher the spf , the longer the protection and not the higher the protection against UVB.anyways, is te l’oreal sunblock oily??there are like 3 versions of that l’oreal sunscreens.oh and please reply to my email.thanks
Paris Beaverbanks February 20, 2008 10:55 am

Soh: Based on what I read, yes PA+++ offers higher protection than PA+ but I am no expert. The higher the SPF means you can stay out in the sun longer without burning which therefore offers better protection. I find the L’oreal UV Perfect suitable for me and not too oily but some people do find it a bit oily. Here are my reviews on the L’oreal UV Perfect anti dullness and L’oreal UV Perfect transparent sunblocks.
bentobox April 24, 2008 11:21 pm

Has anyone heard of sunblock helping to delay aging? I read something about UVA aging the skin faster than usual. Anybody can verify? I thought sunblock is for people with fair skin