Why You Should Join the Sunscreen Queendom.
Ah, Sunscreen, you smell like theme parks and sporting events. I will never forget the sting you bring to my eyes as I am sweating profusely on the beach. And let’s not forget you save my life, every day.
Okay, that last line was a little dramatic, don’t you think?
Trust me, I’m the queen of drama and I will be the first to admit that. But this lotion protects you from the scariest free radicals out there. LIGHT. The sun, our big beautiful fiery ball in the sky, gives us life and happiness, but she can also rip that joy from you just as fast if you don’t have the proper protection from her. Exposure to UV rays alters the DNA in the skin and causes a multitude of problems nobody with a zest for life wants. These rays can be broken down into two categories, UVA and UVB rays.
To drive all my alphabetical whores crazy, I am going to start with UVB rays. These rays are also called the burning rays and are what your mother screams to you about before you spend the day kayaking up and down the river or hiking the grand canyon. These are the strongest and most damaging rays, being delivered at the highest frequency. They cause sunburns, aging, and cancer in the skin. These are also the rays that provide us with the happy Vitamin D. Don’t worry, you will still receive this delicious vitamin while wearing SPF.
UVA rays are also known as aging rays. Not everyone fears fine lines and wrinkles as much as Halle Berry or John Legend, but these rays have longer wavelengths. Meaning they penetrate deep (heyo) into the layers of your skin. These rays weaken and demolish the collagen and lasting fibers in the dermis, which means wrinkles and saggy skin. Say goodbye to your firm dump truck of an ass Brianna. These rays also penetrate through glass and clouds. Meaning you will always be in the danger zone.
Clearly, the sun’s rays are something to be afraid of, but we are also living in an era where technology rules us all. And I have news for you.. Blue light is just as damaging!
Blue light exposure for as little as 60 minutes leads to cell shrinkage and death, speeding up the aging process and leaving your beautiful firm skin, not so bouncy. Excessive blue light exposure can also cause pigmentation variances in your skin, think sunspots minus the sun.
Cool, but Skin Cancer doesn’t scare me.
Well, it scares me bud, and as your esthetician, I am going to pass that fear on to you. There are three types of skin cancer, melanoma being the most dangerous and the one we are most warned about by our fellow dermatologists. Melanoma appears on the skin in the form of irregular moles. In another post, I will dive deeper into how to detect these suspicious moles, and how to know when it is time to go visit your local derm for a skin exam. The other two forms of skin cancer are Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. These forms of cancer appear as “pimples” or scaly spots on the skin that will not heal. They can be removed from your skin and will not cause further issues. But just know, this shit is no joke. You can be exposed to this cancer at a young age and it may or may not show up until later in your life. There are teenagers suffering from this horrible mutation. They are battling to win the fight every day. Early detection could save your life, but so can the daily use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.
How does sunscreen protect me anyways?
The nerd in me appreciates the nerd in you for asking this. There are 2 types of sunscreens on the market, Mineral (or physical) sunscreens, and chemical sunscreens. They work in different ways to protect your skin.
Chemical sunscreens are most likely the sunscreens your mom slathered onto your skin as a kid, and are also the sunscreens responsible for killing our reefs. Chemical sunscreens are made with carbon-based compounds. They are typically thinner and absorb into the skin easily. But here is the thing.. they work by absorbing the rays INTO your skin and then releasing them in the form of heat. They also take 20 minutes post-application to begin working at all.
Mineral sunscreens are the future. It is the sunscreen I will preach about until the day I die, and beyond that assuming the internet is forever;) These sunscreens provide instant protection from the light upon application and act as a shield for your skin, reflecting the enemies. Captain America would be so proud:’) Let’s not forget, minerals are ~natural~ the word that makes my hippie heart pitter-patter.❤ Unfortunately, because these sunscreens sit on top of your skin, they can be rubbed off easily. Reapplication is key, whether you take my advice and go for a mineral sunscreen or loyally stick with your classic chemical goop.
Well, how am I supposed to know the difference?
Occasionally a brand makes it easy on you and advertises their chemical warfare right smack dab on the front of the bottle. But most of the time you are going to have to get a little wrist workout in and FLIP the product over. And there you will be, face to face with an overwhelming, never-ending list of ingredients. Although it seems like rocket science, I’m going to try to put my professor pants on and make this shit simple. Look for “active ingredients” usually they separate these, so your search is not like the geocaching my dad made me do as a child. If the ingredient ends in -OXIDE it is a mineral! Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the most common ingredients that you will see. Anything else is most likely a chemical, typically it will end in -ZONE or -LATE. The most common active chemical ingredients are Avobenzone, Octisilate, Oxybenzone, and homosalate.
But Jesssss, mineral sunscreen makes me look like a ghost.
Although flashback Mary was an icon during 2017, I understand no one is actually going for that look on the daily. The simplest way I have eliminated this problem is by manipulating my daily moisturizer, COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream, I love you! I take a pea-sized amount of my moisturizer and a small dollop of sunscreen into the palm of my hand. I channel my inner art major and mix those babies together. This does a couple of things, it warms the product which allows for easier skin absorption and the moisturizer gives the sunscreen a little help sinking into the skin instead of just masking my epidermis.
But adding sunscreen to my routine is a lot of work, I’m a booked and busy girl.
I’m pretty empathic but… I DON’T CARE! I don’t care, I do not give a f*ck. You can’t do any work if you are under anesthesia getting chunks of your skin cut out by an overworked dermatologist. You can’t have a booked schedule if you are in a doctor’s waiting room. You can’t go on that hot date with your hometown crush if you lose your largest organ. You can’t celebrate hot girl summer after hot girl summer if you are wrapped head to toe in bandages and forced to avoid all light for the rest of your life. I know it’s graphic, but you will never learn if I don’t spell it out for you.
Okay, but I hate the slimy finish it gives my skin
Please re-read the previous paragraph :): You’re really starting to get on my nerves. You need sunscreen. And no, there is not a different miracle serum you can use instead. Also, last time I checked the GLAZED DONUT LOOK IS IN! Finally, thank god we got through those matte, dead-skin-vibe trends. A hydrated glow is sexy. I want to see my reflection on your forehead. Blind the haters with your glow. Suck it up, and get used to feeling hydrated, it’s going to add years to your life.
Okay fine. I will convert to your sunscreen cult.. which one should I buy?
Time to get your shopping on. I have searched high and low for a mineral sunscreen that does not ball up and make me look like I am losing skin by the chunk. Not all have this problem, my esthi bestie can make any sunscreen work with her skin. (Damn you, Lindsay) Not everyone was “blessed” with a dry skin type that drinks up any product you give her, like a freshman desperate for a buzz on a Thursday night. This is where CocoKind has come to my rescue. I’m not sponsored by this brand, but if they approached me I would instantly spread my legs. I love this clean, ethically sourced, reasonably priced, and all-around inspiring company more than my first pair of Calvins still living deep in my panty drawer. Their SPF 32 mineral sunscreen blends with any and all moisturizers and protects from all 3 of those skin-destroying lights that we discussed a couple minutes ago. Dare I say this sunscreen leaves a slight glow to my skin that strangers on the street envy. It’s sunscreen girl, get on my bandwagon.
Long story short I am loyal to CocoKind. Now for my body, obviously I can’t be using half a tube of this liquid gold every day. Maybe when I finish paying off these students loans and wake up and realize I am living in an overpriced city I will be able to live this luxury. But today is not that day. So again I went out to search the bay area for a body mineral sunscreen and to be honest I have not found a specific one that I drool over daily, yet. But I do tolerate the SunBum, Coppertone, and the Bare Republic mineral SPFs. I really have to make chemistry happen with a body moisturizer to avoid the white cast from these. When my whole body is exposed to the sun I will rotate my reapplications with chemical sunscreens, because even experts don’t always take their own advice. My all-time favorite chemical sunscreen is the Hawaiian Tropics Sheer Touch. It smells divine and leaves my body with a shimmering gold finish. I will take any opportunity to feel like a goddess that I can. If you have a tried and true sunscreen, please keep me in the loop.
Let’s play a game, go read this article to that cutie you’re crushing on, but before you start, make a deal that every time they hear the word sunscreen they have to remove a piece of clothing.. Happy stripping! (While you’re naked you can put on some sunscreen;))
