I did not think that I needed sunscreen. I thought that sunscreen was related to tanning and that the sun would do nothing to my skin unless I was out on the beach or outside for a significant period.
I didn’t really burn despite having lighter skin either. Mostly, I would get a tan if I was outside for longer than usual.
My family didn’t regularly apply sunscreen. Or talk about sunscreen.
When I did use products that had UV protection in it, it turned me even more away from using anything with SPF. On the occasion that I used foundation that had sunscreen, I would get massive hives that would land me in the emergency room later on that day.
Basically, I believed that spf was the devil and that I would avoid it at all costs.
I did see the dermatologist, and as any good dermatologist would say, it’s important to wear sun protection. I was ready to live a life without sun protection. Until I realized that I was only allergic to one SPF ingredient. OXYBENZONE. I realized that there was a pattern in the products that I was using. I didn’t break out with moisturizers that didn’t have oxybenzone. Knowing this just made me cautious in checking product ingredients and determining whether they had oxybenzone or not. Other than that, sunscreen remained on the back of my mind.
And then, I turned 30.
DUN DUN DUN.
Okay, it really wasn’t that dramatic. What really happened was that I was binge-watching Tiktok videos as one does during the pandemic and I fell into a rabbit hole of skincare videos. Some from dermatologists. Some from estheticians. Some from influencers. But all generally saying the same thing.
Wear your sunscreen.
Not just on the beach, but every s i n g l e day.
I mean, my own dermatologist couldn’t convince me to wear sunscreen but if you make a Tiktok out of it, I guess that makes sense.
Reasons why you should wear your sunscreen:
- Exposure to UV rays can result in skin cancer, premature aging, and degradation of extracellular matrix components.
- It can help protect the skin barrier against UV rays.
- There are a myriad of options in sunscreen now. There are even whole sunscreen lines at Sephora. I used to think of sunscreen as either the enemy in my makeup or a spray can with a funny smell, but there’s truly so many options now that almost every brand has their own version.
- Sunscreen is a vital part of your daily morning skincare routine. You may be following a 10 step skincare routine you learned from Youtube, but without sunscreen, the improvements may come slowly, if at all.
I wanted to write my first post on this subject because I really didn’t know how important it is in my skincare routine. I have always had sensitive skin. I don’t necessarily have my ideal skin right now, but I would like to think that at least if I do one thing today, it’s that I am able to put on sunscreen.
I think it’s important to remember there are a lot of skincare options available in the market now. Back in the day, if someone hears the word spf, one instantly thinks of sunscreen sprays that only seem to come out during summer season.
Right now, there are a lot of options, not just in big stores, but also through the Asian skincare market. There are so many Asian and Australian spf options. These options are also formulated differently such as serums, mists, and balms.
Please protect your skin barrier and wear it daily 🙂
Let me know if you have any favorites or if you would like a dedicated post on my favorites.
