You should be wearing SPF year-round, but if nothing else, please wear it in the summer. Sunscreens are a must in protecting yourself from sun damage, pollution, and skin cancer — however, popular chemical sunscreens contain UV filters that harm aquatic life, including coral reefs. Certain studies have also shown that chemical SPF ingredients are more irritating and harmful toward your hormones and skin — a 2020 FDA-funded study found that the only two safe SPF ingredients were Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the primary bases of most mineral sunscreens on the market. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite nontoxic sunscreens from skincare’s leading brands, so you don’t have to sacrifice style for substance.
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Our faces are exposed to harsh UV rays everyday, whether the sun is shining or not. Taking an extra step to add SPF into your daily routine is a great way to keep your skin fresh and young. Many tinted moisturizers offer SPF protectant in the ingredients, but if you are somebody who wants to skip the tint, there are plenty or SPF options. Similarly to a moisturizer, these products are a great, and important, base layer that are easy to build on. Their natural ingredients prevent your skin from feeling oily and sticky, ensuring for all day protection.
Did you know that your lips are the most important place to have SPF? Dermatologist Marissa Garshick highlights that our lips lack melanin, which is something that keeps our skin protected in the sun. As a result, the lips are most prone to sun damage causing them to become dry and crack. Moreover, a lack of SPF on our lips can lead to hyperpigmentation and skin cancer. Due to how exposed our lips are to the elements, it is important to reapply SPF throughout the day. Thankfully, lip products are small, making it a perfect product to stash in your purse.
Taking a day to lay out in the sun with an ice cold beverage is great, until you go inside and realize you got very sunburnt. Having a long lasting, high quality sunscreen is key to any summer day, no matter if you are in the city or the country. With numerous options of sunscreen, we are prone to finding the familiar brand and settling on that, but taking the time to look at the ingredients is key. For those days where we find ourselves at the beach, having a reef safe sunscreen is a great way to make an environmental impact at a low cost. These reef safe sunscreens also contain ingredients such as natural oils, and zinc that are gentle on our skin.
