Sunscreen.

Going without might as well be a capital offense. We haven’t met a beauty guru who hasn’t recommended wearing sunscreen under your makeup. Just how crucial is sunscreen? We talk about acne and wrinkles all the time, but sunscreen doesn’t get enough, pardon the pun, screen time when it comes to beauty and wellness.

Get too much sun and you risk sunburn. Under a microscope, you would see damaged cells and blood vessels. Repeated sun damage causes dry, wrinkled, and even leathery skin! Sun exposure isn’t just about protection from sunburn. The sun’s most serious threat is skin cancer. Melanoma, in particular, is fast becoming the most common of all cancers. Fortunately, this fatal disease can be avoided by simply preventing sun damage.

Applying the proper amount of sunscreen seems to be the most logical thing to do. However, some people are hesitant because sunscreen is known to have a strange, sticky texture. The benefits far outweigh the discomfort… so wear sunscreen, people!

The Benefits of Wearing Sunscreen Under Your Makeup

The knee-jerk reaction when it comes to sun damage is to avoid the outdoors at all costs. But unless you’ve morphed into a vampire, why miss out on all the fun? We’re all for enjoying the sun WITH proper skin care and the RIGHT sunscreen.

 

Wearing sunscreen under your makeup provides tons of benefits. Seeing this need, a lot of products now incorporate sunscreen so that makeup appears flawless on you.

Benefit #1: Protects your skin from harmful rays

Our skin needs sunlight to help make vitamin D – a nutrient essential for normal bone formation. Unfortunately, ultraviolet light can cause skin damage. Our skin’s outer layer contains the pigment, melanin. Melanin is responsible for protecting the skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet rays burn the skin and eventually cause our skin to lose elasticity and age prematurely. Getting a tan happens under sun exposure because sunlight causes the skin to produce more melanin.

Too much ultraviolet (UV) rays not only cause sunburn. It can also damage skin cells because it can penetrate the skin and go deeper in. Fair-skinned people or those who don’t have much melanin burn easily. If you have this skin type, best to cover up sensitive areas by wearing protective clothing, applying sunscreen, and limiting exposure outdoors (especially between 10 am and 2 pm).

Benefit #2: Prevents aging

It goes without saying that sunscreen prevents premature aging. Who doesn’t want healthy, radiant, younger-looking skin? It’s never too early to start with an anti-aging routine. But if you missed out on a few years, begin right away. People aged 55 years old and younger had 24% less chances of developing signs of skin aging with regular use of sunscreen compared to those who never used it at all

Benefit #3: Reduces hyperpigmentation and unevenness

Hyperpigmentation is a harmless, common skin condition. Its characterized by patches of skin that are darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. This happens because of excess of melanin, the pigment that produces skin color, in the skin.

Sun exposure increases hyperpigmentation and can exacerbate uneven skin tone. Sunscreen is a great solution. Be meticulous. A broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays work best.

Benefit #4: Encourages your skin’s health and prevents skin cancer

It goes without saying that sunscreen goes beyond beauty. We think that the most important health benefit is skin cancer prevention. Daily use of sunscreen shields your skin from skin cancer risks such as the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma.

Benefit #5: Helps fade scars and marks

When scars and marks are protected from UV rays, its appearance easily blends in with the rest of your skin – especially when completely healed. With regular use, sunscreen can help reduce brown spots and redness. Moisturizing properties also aid in helping scars fade faster.

How to Wear Sunscreen Under Your Makeup

Step #1: Complete your skincare routine normally

Establish a regular skin care routine for cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. We couldn’t emphasize this more. Why? Because healthy, clear skin is able to absorb sunscreen more efficiently. The best sunscreens cost a pretty penny. You want to make every drop count.

Step #2: Apply moisturizer with sunscreen in it

You can always opt to apply a separate sunscreen and moisturizer. But some products do double-duty. Select multitasking products such as moisturizers that have sunscreen in them. We highly recommend Penny & Pine’s Day Intense Moisture Cream SPF 30 for its hydrating and protecting properties. Its one of the few moisturizing creams with a sun protection factor of 30. That’s good mileage for a small amount. Simply apply the cream in the morning and evening on dry, clean skin. (And remember to focus on sun-exposed areas).

Step #3: Apply sunscreen under foundation

The rule of thumb for sunscreen is to wear it all day, everyday. That being said, this brings up a lot of other questions… what kind of SPF do I need? How much should I put?...

While we are all for multi-tasking products, (and while we love SPF-infused foundations) we recommend going the extra mile especially if you’ll be under the sun for the better part of the day. Wear sunscreen underneath your foundation as it also provides a good base for makeup.

Simply apply, wait a few minutes and apply your favorite foundation. This is to allow the sunscreen to penetrate the skin.

Step #4: Apply powder with SPF in it or finishing spray with SPF in it

Ideally, you’d have to reapply sunscreen, especially throughout the day. But we know that you couldn’t take off makeup and keep reapplying everything when the need arises (oh the horrors!). So to keep skin protected (as well as to keep makeup meltdowns and UV exposure at bay, invest in finishing sprays with SPF and pressed powders with SPF). Give it a go. See which ones feel weightless. We personally prefer matte-finish mists and powders because it helps keep makeup looking fresh all day.

CONCLUSION

Skin care doesn’t mean having to miss out on the fun under the sun. Got any skincare tips you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you! Do comment on the section below.