New Products to Swoon Over in the Name of Self–Care
With spring in full bloom, and summer here soon, our natural inclination is to get out in the sun, but that looks a lot different this year.
While we’re all practicing social distancing to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, it’s always important to protect ourselves from harmful UV rays. This means wearing sunscreen, even if it’s just to head out for essentials. Some might not realize —I certainly didn’t — that standard glass still leaves you exposed to some of the sun’s harmful rays. So, even if you’re inside in your favorite sweatpants, you’re still susceptible to sun-related skin damage.
Exposure to UV (UVA and UVB) rays can lead to a myriad of skin issues: hyperpigmentation, inflammation, fine lines, and skin cancer. Finding a good sunscreen is an absolute must.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you’ll want a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30, as it’s been clinically proven we need this level to provide enough protection against the adverse effects of sunlight. (The best protection is between 30-50, anything higher is just marketing.) And for the best results, sunscreen should be applied every two hours.
It’s also important to know that there are different kinds of sunblock — “chemical” and “physical”. The former is absorbed into skin through sunlight, the latter (i.e. zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) sits on top of skin to provide a protective barrier.
With so many options out there, it’s helpful to know what to look for when shopping for one. Lucky for us, there’s an arsenal of new sunscreens to help us up our SPF game (self-care, my friends, has never been more important). These products, which come in drops, creams, sprays, you name it, are packed with added moisturizing benefits.
Dare I say, this new spectrum of products actually makes sunscreen fun? Online shop away!
A Few of My 2020 Favorites
<Glowscreen SPF 40>, GoopGlow
This invisible chemical formula makes skin look so good you’ll forget its sunscreen you’re wearing. Worn alone, it gives a pore–blurring glow, and with makeup, an added glow effect.
<Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide (SPF 30)>, First Aid Beauty
A mineral sunscreen that promises what its name suggests: light, invisible, and weightless.
<UV Replenish Broad-Spectrum SPF 44>, EltaMD
The favorite of dermatologists (mine) and facialists across the board. And an added perk: it’s boosted with hyaluronic acid, so it not only protects, but moisturizes and plumps skin too.
<SPF 30 Booster Drops>, Cover FX
Invisible SPF 30 drops are perfect to layer under makeup. Apply a few drops right after your serum or moisturizer. Love this product!
Until next time, stay safe, wash those hands, and slather on that sunscreen while social distancing, folks!
- Caitlin Brown
