To all of my dear friends who resist-with all of their might-using sunscreen everyday. Sunscreen may not give you a glow that you can see, even your skin tone, or reduce fine lines immediately, but if you don’t use it, you will come to regret it. By then it will be too late to undo the damage. The damage is not just cosmetic. Forget expensive face creams if you’re not going to use sunscreen. If you do just ONE thing, let it be daily sunscreen application. It’s worth doing the work to find one that works for you. My affordable recommendations are given at the end of this article.
There are many articles on the internet about sun-safety that contain questionable/unsubstantiated/debatable/inaccurate/misleading claims like:
* coconut oil has a natural SPF so use that instead of chemical sunscreens.
* chemical sunscreens cause cancer and disrupt the endocrine system.
* sunscreens inhibit the body’s ability to produce vitamin D and lack of Vit D causes cancer.
I read these articles because I’m a hippie at heart and I really do think that whole foods are our best medicine. HOWEVER. I do have degree in medical science and professional background in medical research so It would be irresponsible for me to turn a blind eye to the importance of effective sun protection.
The fact that UV light causes DNA damage is undisputed. The body has an amazing ability to fix errors in DNA transcription and destroy mutant cells but mistakes can go unchecked which leads to mutation and possibly the development pre-/cancerous cells. I will link the shortest, most accessible article I can find in the Reference section of this article below.
All of this ranting just to say: Don’t let the internet scare you. Arm yourself with facts so that you can make informed decisions. It might seem scary at first but I personally find it empowering.
* FIRST line of defence against the sun is to cover up in light, loose fitting clothing, hats, sunglasses etc. This is also good for preventing tick bites so win-win.
* SECOND. Use mineral sunscreens. There are only two: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Use on the body which has more surface area if you don’t like it on your face.
* THIRD. If you can’t tolerate that, use chemical sunscreen on exposed areas. I would avoid oxybenzone though.
Sunscreen doesn’t work (or not work) like homeopathy— you need to use enough: Nickel/almond sized amount on face alone, and apporximately two (2) tablespoons for the face and body. Different sunscreens on different body parts optimize my sunscreens by cost and “clean-ness”. Lightweight sunscreens are expensive and may not be as “clean” in composition. “Clean” sunscreens are heavy, sticky, thick or greasy or all of the above.
Save your favourite lightweight sunscreens for your face and use a more cost-effective, but still comfortable one on your ears, neck and chest. If you come across a sunscreen you find difficult to tolerate on your face, use it on other parts of the body. Don’t forget the backs of your hands!
Here are some of my favourite, relatively affordable sunscreens for the face*
Australian Gold Botanical Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Tinted Face, Fragrance Free (89mL for $19.99)
This mineral sunscreen is light-weight, non-greasy, mineral and non-nano.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+/PA++++ (50mL for $14.81 CAD)
This chemical sunscreen is lightweight, feels like nothing on the skin, is great for oily skin types.
*These links are Amazon Associate links. if you enter Amazon via this link or any of the product links, and purchase within 24 hours, Hyangii will earn a small commission without extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
References
Sun protection. World Health Organization.
How does ultraviolet light kill cells? Scientific American.
Ask the Expert: How much sunscreen should I be using on my face and body. Skincancer.org
What happens to your face when you wear sunscreen might shock you. Upworthy.com