It’s concerning how often we’ve heard people say “but my burn will turn into a tan tomorrow” when they get sunburnt. Going into the sun unprotected can be extremely harmful to your skin. Not only can you get sunburnt, but in the long run it can cause hyperpigmentation, dark spots, sunspots or in the worst case even skin cancer. For this reason, we cannot emphasise often enough what the importance of sunscreen is and why you should wear it every single day. A common misconception is that sunscreen should only be used during the summer months, when you’re constantly exposed to direct sunlight. You might be surprised to learn that sunscreen should actually be used all year round, even in the winter months when the sun won’t even appear. We will tell you more about the seven ways you can avoid sun damaged skin.
1. SPF is your best friend
Let’s start off with the most important one: always wear SPF. Whether you’re using sunscreen or a moisturiser that contains SPF, as long as you make sure your skin is protected from the sun. We recommend using a product that contains at least SPF 30 to be fully protected. OBAGI360 HydraFactor® Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is a 2-in-1 moisturiser and sunscreen that both hydrates and protects your skin all day long. That makes incorporating SPF into your skincare routine very easy! If you’re in need of even more protection, the Obagi Sun Shield Matte™ Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is your go to sunscreen.
2. Find a spot in the shade
During the hottest days in summer, it’s best to find a spot in the shade, especially when the UV-rays are the strongest between 11AM and 2PM. No matter how loyal you are applying sunscreen every two hours, exposing your skin to a high UV index can still be harmful.
3. Wear protective clothing
If you know you’re going to be exposed to sunlight for a long period of time, it’s best to wear protective clothing in areas you might get sunburnt easily. The shoulders, cleavage and forehead are spots that often get sunburnt, so it’s key to protect those most. Wear a short sleeved t-shirt to protect your shoulders and wear a sun hat or cap to avoid sun exposure on your forehead.
4. Don’t forget about your lips
Do you own a lip balm or chapstick with SPF? It’s not only important to apply sunscreen on your face, but your lips as well. Not applying protective lip balm can cause your lips to age quicker and develop more fine lines and wrinkles.
5. Check the UV index
Before going out into the sun for a lovely tanning session, make sure to check the UV index first. To paint a picture: with a UV index of zero to two, it takes one hour to get sunburnt without protection. With a UV index above 5, it takes only 10 minutes to sunburn your skin. We recommend not going into direct sunlight when the UV index is that high, but if you must, you should apply SPF30 at least once every two hours and seek as much shade as you can.
6. Minimise hyperpigmentation
Once you get older, hyperpigmentation on your skin starts to occur more and more. Protecting your skin from the sun can help to lower the chance of getting hyperpigmentation, but some people might still have dark spots or sunspots on their face. Thankfully, there are skin-brightening products on the market, such as Obagi Nu-Derm® Blend Fx, that help to minimise the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
7. Avoid reflective surfaces
As you might have experienced before, your skin burns more easily when you’re at the beach or on a boat. The reason for this is that water and sand are reflective surfaces and can reflect up to 85% of the sun’s rays. This means you’re exposed to the sun even more which increases your risk of sunburn.