CNN
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You might think you’ve locked in your morning beauty routine at this point. Friend wash one’s face, hydrate your skin and apply your indispensable makeup products. But you may be forgetting an essential part of your beauty routine: sunscreen.
According to health experts, if you want to protect your skin from the sun’s harsh UVA and UVB rays, you need to apply sunscreen every morning, even if you’re completely nourishing your skin.
“UVA rays penetrate glass, so if your room has windows, it’s important to wear sunscreen even when inside,” says the New York-based dermatologist. Dr. Hadley King. “UVA rays are generally associated with aging of skin cells and tend to be responsible for wrinkles, pigmentation and other signs of sun damage. On the other hand, UVB rays are the main cause of sunburn, directly damage the DNA in skin cells, and are linked to most skin cancers. Glass commonly used in car, home, and office windows is designed to block most UVB rays, but it does not protect from all UVA rays. So even if you’re indoors, if you’re near a window, you’re still at risk of exposure to UVA rays and possible sun damage.”
Dr. Harold Lancera Los Angeles-based dermatologist and founder Lancer Skincare, agree. “As a general rule, we tell patients, ‘If you can see where you’re walking without using a flashlight, there’s enough light to require sunscreen,’” he says. . “Indoor light exposure is broad-spectrum and can affect cellular behavior in the skin.”
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If you hang out in a space with no windows and no direct sunlight, your skin can still benefit from applying sunscreen. Listen to us: Phones, laptops, TVs, and even LED bulbs can emit blue light, aka high-energy visible light, which can affect health our skin.
“Visible light makes up 50% of the sunlight spectrum, and it’s the only part of light that the human eye can detect,” explains King. “The blue/violet band of this visible spectrum has a particularly high energy level and is known as high-energy visible light.”
HEV light can penetrate the lower layers of our skin and cause premature aging, hyperpigmentation and possibly age spots and melasma, says King. Both HEV light and the sun’s UV rays produce free radicals, or reactive oxygen species, which cause skin cells to produce enzymes that break down collagen and elastin in the skin. The good news is: HEV light is not linked to skin cancer, unlike UV light.
Previously, we explored 18 game-changing sunscreens loved by skin care professionals across the country. Whether you use traditional chemical sunscreens or prefer mineral sunscreens, we’ve got you covered regardless of your budget.
“It’s a great solution for people who don’t want to reapply sunscreen because they don’t want to mess up their makeup,” says the king of powder sunscreens. “This absorbs excess oil so it can serve a dual purpose as a finishing powder, really extending the life of makeup and providing sun protection.”
Best of all about this mineral — zinc oxide and titanium dioxide — sunscreen: “It’s portable, convenient, and won’t leave a white residue on your clothes,” she says. Plus, it contains antioxidants and protects from UVA rays and free radicals.
“This ultra-gentle sunscreen uses only mineral protection and is suitable for all skin types.” Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. “It is formulated with oat extract to protect and repair the skin barrier.”
“It provides 100% mineral broad spectrum SPF 50+ and contains DNA repair enzymes to help address previous sun damage,” says King. “It’s all zinc oxide and it also contains antioxidants and DNA repair enzymes – which means it actually repairs and protects at the same time.”
Pat the sunscreen on lightly after you apply your AM moisturizer to your face and don’t apply too much product.
“Most people only apply 25% to 50% of the recommended amount of sunscreen,” she says. “The instructions are to apply 1 ounce – enough to fill a shot glass – to the exposed areas of the face and body, a nickel-sized amount for the face alone. Or if you are using a spray, apply until the light is even on the skin. ”
“The stick sunscreen is non-disruptive, ultra-portable, and offers effective UV protection,” says Zeichner. “This bar is non-greasy and blends seamlessly into the skin. It uses zinc oxide along with botanical oils for skin-soothing benefits.”
Dermatologist Dr. Jessie Cheung of the Cheung Beauty and Health in Chicago personally use this mineral sunscreen designed to heal your skin with DNA repair enzymes, peptides and antioxidants.
“This is the kind of sunscreen that really makes your skin healthier, as DNA photolyase enzymes repair damage caused by accumulated UV rays to your DNA,” she says. “This sunscreen has studies showing longer periods of remission with regular use of treated precancerous skin lesions and younger looking skin.”
Joanna Vargas, celebrity estheticians (Mindy Kaling and Jake Gyllenhaal are clients) and founders of Joanna Vargas Skincare and Joanna Vargas Spas in NYC and LA, love this hydrating sunscreen. “It goes on easy, even though it is a mineral-based sunscreen. It’s also great protection for people like me, who tend to be prone to pigmentation on the face,” she says.
“I like sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide because they protect against UVA and UVB rays and against blue light from screens,” says Dr. David Bankfounder and director of Center for Dermatology, Aesthetics & Laser Surgery in Westchester County, New York. “Plus, it hydrates skin, contains anti-aging ingredients (peptides plus birch, yeast, and white plankton extracts), and has a universal skin tone. Beautiful glowing skin with delicate coverage.”
If you have rosacea, then Alessandra Cavallerocosmetologist and founder Spa Bem-TV in San Francisco, recommend a few of these slick sunscreen pumps.
“I love this light-toned sunscreen that matches your skin tone. It can be used alone or in layers under your makeup for those who want a little color on their skin,” she tells us.
King considers this vegan, cruelty-free and stretch mark-safe sunscreen a great choice, as it’s a “moisturizing primer that contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 to help boost intensity skin moisturizer, sea lavender for antioxidant protection and cocoa peptides for blue light protection. ”
Cavallero, an active athlete, recommends this brush-type sunscreen to anyone who exercises.
“It’s easy to apply and you don’t get any sticky residue on your face. Plus, it suits different skin tones,” she says. “It’s also great for those who prefer light makeup because this powder sunscreen can be applied right over makeup with the built-in brush.”
One thing many of our experts say is to make sure you’re using a high SPF sunscreen. “I recommend applying at least 30 sunscreen every morning,” says Dr. Lily Talakouba board-certified dermatologist in McLean Center for Dermatology & Skin Care in McLean, Virginia.
“The difference between SPF 30 and 50 is only 1%,” says Cheung. “SPF 30 blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays.”
If that extra coverage gives you peace of mind, then make this Paula’s Choice broad spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen part of your at-home beauty routine. We love that it’s silicone-free, doesn’t leave white marks, and has an antioxidant formula to keep your skin looking fresh all day long.
Lancer adds: “I love this product, as it includes hyaluronic acid, which is a great addition to sunscreen.
Hyaluronic acid is more than just a well-known skin care ingredient. According to a study in National Library of MedicineThe clear liquid hydrates your skin and fights the effects of skin aging, making it an especially useful ingredient for those with dry or mature skin.
Dr. Rita Linkner of the Spring street dermatology clinic in New York City apply sunscreen just once per day when working from home, so she recommends using a sunscreen of your choice.
“The reason sunscreen is applied more often outdoors has to do with the factors that cause your SPF to wear out when you sweat or swim,” she says. “When we are indoors, our behaviors are less intense and do not require increased frequency.”
Linkner is a fan of this full-spectrum sunscreen with shea butter to add moisture to the skin.
Talakoub uses this sunscreen daily. “The antioxidant-rich blend provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection in an ultra-lightweight, super-excellent formula that absorbs quickly to create a smooth matte finish,” she says. ” she speaks. “It can be easily put on makeup.”
“Gamay Grape Stem Cells help reduce the appearance of UV rays and combat the appearance of photo-aging, while sunflower sprout extract improves skin radiance and luminosity,” says Lancer. for a healthy glow,” says Lancer of her nonstick sunscreen. “It also incorporates chamomile extract, which helps calm and soothe the skin. “It was important to me to create a sunscreen that protects from UV rays while providing a complex of anti-aging benefits.”
Renowned esthetician and founder of SkinLab Joshua Rohrer. “It absorbs very quickly and is a combination sunscreen – part chemical and part physical. Aloe vera and vitamin E are great when you are exposed to the sun to prevent dehydration. It also has a nice, elegant feel to it. ”
Rohrer says the cream is worth it because it is suitable for all skin types, glides on easily and absorbs into the skin without leaving a sticky finish.
“SPF should be applied to all areas of open skin, including the lips, where there is thin skin with very little protective melanin,” says Cheung. “Lips don’t tan, they burn, and there’s a high risk of skin cancer.”
Swiping on this avocado-softening balm from Fresh smells so good you’ll want to eat it, although we don’t really recommend doing so.
