Why You Should Include Sunscreen in Your Skincare Routine

Research from 2020 showed that women around the age of 18 years old worse sunscreen the most. This was when they would be outdoors for around an hour.

The problem is that sunscreen needs to be a part of your daily skincare routine. Many people only apply it haphazardly when they are going outside.

This isn’t always as useful since they may go days without using any sunscreen. Like face wash and moisturizer, sunscreen needs to become a designated part of your routine.

Keep reading to find out why sunscreen should be a part of your daily skincare routine.

What Is Sunscreen

Most people are familiar with sunscreen but don’t know exactly how it works. This is a skincare product that protects the surface of the skin from the sun's rays.

Sunscreen helps to reflect, scatter, and absorb ultraviolet radiation. It is able to do this for both A and B radiation, protecting your skin.

Experts describe sunscreen as working like a shield or a mirror. It deflects the sun's UV rays, sending them away from your delicate skin.

UV rays can cause a lot of damage to your skin over time. This is something you may not notice immediately, but it will start to catch up with you eventually.

This is why wearing sunscreen is so important and why everyone should do it. It is as important as any other skin care products that you use religiously.

Does Everyone Need Sunscreen

A misconception that some people have is that they don’t need sunscreen. You may think there’s if you are dark-skinned or have a very dark tan.

The people more likely to get a sunburn are usually pale. But this does not indicate who should and shouldn’t be wearing sunscreen.

Everyone needs to wear sunscreen as a part of their daily routine. It protects the skin from damage that you may not be able to see visually.

This is especially important if you often spend time outdoors. This can have a great impact on your skin over the years, catching up to you eventually.

How Much Sunscreen Do You Need?

When it comes to skincare routines, experts recommend 1 ounce of sunscreen per application. This is enough sunscreen to cover your face, arms, legs, and neck.

For your daily skincare routine, you could stick to your face and neck only. If this is the case, you only need about two tablespoons of sunscreen lotion.

Sunscreen should also be reapplied throughout the day, depending on what you are doing. If it is a standard workday and you aren’t sweating, you shouldn’t need to do this.

But if you are being active and doing things like swimming or running, you will need to reapply. Experts recommend reapplying sunscreen every two hours if you are doing these activities.

Importance of Sunscreen

There are many sunscreen benefits that you should consider. This is one of the skincare products that are a necessity for healthy skin.

Most people understand that they need sunscreen, but they don’t know exactly why. This is part of why many people neglect to use sunscreen in their skincare routine.

Here are examples of what sunscreen is able to do for your skin.

Reduces Sunburns

One huge reason to wear sunscreen is to reduce the risk of sunburn. Sunburns are the most obvious sign that you have been in the sun for a little too long.

This is when the heat from the sun and the UV rays have burned the surface of your skin. This is usually mild, but sunburns can become severe.

Sunburns could also lead to long-term skin damage if you get them frequently. Frequent sunburns could even cause skin cancer and other skin problems.

You may even experience scarring from particularly severe sunburns. Sunscreen is an easy way to avoid this problem.

Prevents Early Aging

If you aren’t protecting your skin from the sun, there are long-term consequences. Sun exposure has a long track record for causing premature aging.

Not only does this age your skin faster, but it also does not allow your skin to age well. It can start to cause discoloration, wrinkles, and fine lines.

What are the worst signs of premature aging from the sun is a leathery appearance. This is very unappealing and is difficult to reverse once it has happened.

This is why sunscreen is important, even for young people. Experts recommend always using sunscreen once you reach your 20s to early 30s.

The earlier you start to do this, the less risk you will ultimately have. Sunscreen will protect your skin and preserve the elastin and collagen that keeps it looking young.

Helps With Inflammation

Your skin does not like UV rays and has an immediate inflammatory response. This can cause skin tenderness and redness from the inflammation.

Those with skin conditions like psoriasis and rosacea will feel this especially. Sunscreen helps to deflect the UV rays, protecting your skin from this inflammatory response.

Sunscreen is especially important for people who already have sensitive skin. You may have a higher tendency to get sunburns or heat rashes.

Reduces Skin Cancer Risks

Skin cancer is something that people need to be more aware of. The statistics are not good when it comes to how many people will end up with skin cancer.

A lot of the risk has to come from frequent UV exposure without sunscreen. UV exposure is something that cannot be avoided, but you can use a protection like sunscreen.

You can reduce your risk of skin cancer by always applying sunscreen. The higher the level of SPF you choose, the better it will work.

Keep in mind that the level of sunlight does not determine whether you need sunscreen or not. Even on cloudy or overcast days, UV rays are still penetrating your skin.

Even if you work indoors, you may need to apply sunscreen. You may work around windows, or you may have to commute in a vehicle to get to work.

One way or another, you will be exposed to UV rays during the day. That is why it is better to be safe than sorry and always apply it with your other skin care products.

Helps With Skin Discoloration

Sun exposure is something that can cause a great deal of skin discoloration. This is something that many people work very hard to avoid, but they don’t always use sunscreen.

Discoloration from sun exposure is often called sign spots or liver spots. These are areas of skin that are tan or brown in color that stand out against your natural skin tone.

Elderly people are often seen with them as they have spent much of their life outdoors. But you can develop these sunspots at any age if you do not wear sunscreen when you are out.

It is important to understand that this discoloration is very difficult to get rid of. You may have to perform specific treatments or use expensive skin care products.

That is why it is much better to simply add sunscreen to your daily skincare routine instead.

How to Apply Sunscreen

Now that you know why it is important to wear sunscreen, how do you use it? Sunscreen should be a part of your daily morning skincare routine.

You want to invest in good quality sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. It should be water-resistant and broad-spectrum as well.

Apply your sunscreen at any point in your skincare routine, depending on your preference. You may want to do this when your skin is clean of any products or as the last product you use.

The most important thing is to remember to apply it over your entire face and neck. Don’t forget to get your ears and your hands as well for a more thorough application.

If you are going to be spending time outdoors, you should apply sunscreen to any exposed areas of your skin.

Skincare Routine: Sunscreen 101

You may not know much about the sunscreen benefits and why you should use it. There are many reasons why sunscreen should be a permanent part of your skincare routine.

Some reasons include preventing aging, reducing sunburns, and protecting against skin cancer. It is the best way to still enjoy the outdoors without damaging your skin.

Are you interested in finding high-quality sunscreen for your routine? Contact us today at Minou & Lily to view our high-quality sunscreen options.