Should I add sunscreen to my skincare routine??

[chiaraa217]

I’ve seen many people putting on sunscreen on a daily basis and I never really got why. Does it even do anything to your skin other than protect from the sun? Let me know 🩷

[MegGallow]

I have always worn sunscreen because skin cancer runs in my family and I can say at 26 I get mistaken for being in high school all the time. They only skin care I’ve consistently used is sunscreen and I def stand by it! It doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy just any coverage from the sun will do wonders. 

[WinglessOne]

@chiaraa217  UV rays can cause wrinkles, hyperpigmentation (dark spots/patches of skin), and very uneven skin texture. They can also worsen acne and increase any irritation your skin already has. So yeah, whenever your skin will be exposed to sunlight—all year long, regardless of weather or season (the sun doesn’t stop beaming UV rays in winter and clouds don’t block ‘em all)—you should wear broad spectrum sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30. Even if you’re just sitting beside a window with open curtains/blinds, or sitting in a window seat of a car/train/whatever (if those windows aren’t treated to block UV). 

Some sunscreens can double as moisturizers, so they can save you a skincare routine step in the morning. Ever see someone with glowy dewy skin and wonder how they do it? Sunscreen, probably. 😄 But there are also matte-finish sunscreens, if you don’t like that glowing skin look. 

If you use any AHA* exfoliants, know that those can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. Sunscreen’s a must if an AHA is in your skincare routine. Some folks say the same about retinol but that’s not actually true: retinol doesn’t exfoliate skin the way AHAs do. Still, it’s a good idea to use sunscreen if you do use retinol (or any other type of vitamin A, like adapalene, tretinoin, retinaldehyde, granactive retinoid, etc.) since vitamin A can cause excessive dryness and irritation, which UV rays can worsen. 

tl;dr: wear the hecking sunscreen. 🙂 

*AHA = alpha hydroxy acid. This group includes glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid. 

[JoSometimes]

@chiaraa217 Absolutely! As long as the sun is shining even a little in the winter, we’re receiving a dose of UV rays. As others have mentioned, that can lead to premature aging and increased risk of skin cancer. Some sunscreens like Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 can also double as a makeup primer. 

[CorgiMommy]

@chiaraa217 sunscreen is essential to prevent skin cancer and premature aging.  

[SportyGirly125]

@chiaraa217 I always put on sunscreen daily.