We are just a couple months out from sweet, sweet summer and soon you will start hearing all Estheticians yelling from the rooftops about how important this particular skincare product is.
Yep, sunscreen.
To the point: Use your SPF and a hat for long exposures (anything over 20 minutes) in the sun. Period.
Now read along for juicy details, with vitamin D talk and natural spf brand recommendations…
Unfortunately, skin cancer has not been banned into the unknown.
That would mean the sun would have also been banned and that would be weird and quite cold.
Skin cancer cases have increased for a few reasons but two that stick out to me are:
2. Toxicity issues.
There are many other factors that contribute to skin cancer, but we have control over the aforementioned. Specifically, UV light exposure, sunscreen toxicity, and vitamin insufficiencies.
Let’s begin with sunscreen toxicity.
"Most of the common sunscreens are loaded with toxic ingredients. The recent Environmental Working Group’s Sunscreen Report found that more than 40% of beach and sport sunscreens contain oxybenzone, a well-known synthetic estrogen that has been linked to cell damage, allergic skin reactions, and hormone disruption."
Another 20% contained retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A, that when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions.
Yes, you read that right. A common ingredient in sunscreens when used in the presence of sunlight may increase your risk of skin problems. And these are just two of the numerous chemicals found in sunscreen.
That absolutely doesn’t mean to stop wearing sunscreen, but I think it’s important to be mindful of what sunscreens we are using, so you are actually protected when you’re wearing it- because that’s the whole point, right?
At the bottom of this blog I have listed my top 3 favorite sunscreens that you can count on for protection. Now that we know to avoid regular sunscreen and look for natural varieties, I can hear the questions rolling in now. But doesn’t sunscreen block absorption of Vitamin D?
Answer: yes.
Clothing + sunscreen blocks 97% of your body’s vitamin D production to be exact.
This is why supplementation of vitamin D is a good adjunct strategy to sun exposure.
Supplementing will assure you that you are getting the vitamin D you need regardless of your time spent in the sun.
Another strategy that may work for some people is spending 20-30 minutes in the sun before 10am and after 4pm without sunscreen. This is the time when the UV rays are less.
20-30 minutes of exposure to your full body can produce as much as 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily!
As a general rule, darker skin tones require more time in the sun to generate vitamin D3 than lighter tones. Make sure to balance this extended time in the sun with appropriate sun protection and supplementation.
Oh real fast before I forget, high SPF ratings are not the answer. Any rating above 50 is merely clever marketing.
The SPF rating does not measure the sunscreen’s total effectiveness but rather its ability to deflect skin burning rays, primarily UVB. The 50+ reading is not better than a 30 or 15. It’s merely clever marketing.
I personally like to use an 15-20spf. Buuuuuutttt here is the thing you have to promise me, to REAPPLY! Every 1-2hours. :) that’s the only way spf works correctly.
Top 3 favorite SPFs for 2021!
Black Girl Sunscreen dries completely clear so it’s perfect to use before any outdoor activity or even under your favorite makeup products.
Also dries clear. Has one of the best ingredient lists I have ever seen! Great for daily use on all skin types.
Looks like the website says they are out of stock but I would check other 3rd party websites. I found plenty who have stock. Their Proprietary blend of responsibly sourced botanicals rich in vitamins, antioxidants and omegas. Curated specifically to help defend, nourish + repair during and after exposure.
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