Why sunscreen is Important; How to apply sunscreen

By now, you probably know that usage if sunscreen is important. In this post, I’ll be sharing with you how I started using sunscreen and why the usage of sunscreen is important! 

A little back story…

As a little girl, I knew sunscreens were product that could block sun rays from the skin. But I never really saw it as something essential or important because I thought it was only needed by white people to prevent sunburn. So I, a dark skinned girl who had lots of melanin to protect her, needed none of that. So of course at the time, I didn’t think I needed a sunscreen.

Fast forward to my late teenage years, when I began to notice the glaring difference in my skin tone between when I was in school, constantly walking under the sun and during the holidays when I was mostly indoors. That was when I started to rethink the whole “melanin protection” idea. Don’t get me wrong, melanin actually helps. But is it enough? Not at all! After all my findings, I still didn’t see purchasing a sunscreen as something important up until much later, when I noticed there was a lot of hype surrounding sunscreens, especially from very reliable skincare and beauty influencers. So I finally purchased one.

When I got my first sunscreen, I only used it on sunny days. So on cloudy days, I would just skip. If you do this or you’re about to do this or maybe you’ve been thinking about it, just keep it in mind that a whole 80% of the UV rays you’re trying to avoid pass through the clouds so you better put that thing on!

I’ve been using my sunscreen properly and consistently for a while now so I decided to answer the questions I get asked the most about sunscreens!

What is a sunscreen?

A sunscreen is any product that helps to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays by absorbing or reflecting them.

Why sunscreen is important

Sunscreen is important because the sun’s UV rays are harmful and can cause a lot of skin care problems ranging from sunburn, premature aging, wrinkling, skin discoloration to a more serious condition, skin cancer. With regular sunscreen use, you can prevent these from happening.

What sunscreen should I purchase?

When you are purchasing a sunscreen, look out for the broad spectrum ones. They provide protection from both UVA and UVB rays. I would also advice that you get one with an spf value of 30 and above for maximum protection. 

For oily skin types, aqua and gel sunscreens are highly recommended as they are lightweight and will not clog your pores. If you want to know your skin type before making choosing your sunscreen, you can read my article to find out in minutes.

How do I apply sunscreen on my face?

1. Sunscreen application should be the last step of your skincare routine i.e after your moisturizer, typically 15 minutes before you step out
2. Use enough sunscreen: As a general rule of thumb, 2-3 finger lengths of sunscreen is the amount of sunscreen needed for the face. You should also apply sunscreen on the other exposed parts of your body.
3. Always reapply sunscreen after 2 hours of sun exposure and after swimming or sweating.

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