This morning I dropped by the Vita Liberata office for a spray tan, and when I shared a photo with my friend, he asked: “Do people not do use tanning beds anymore?” In my twenties, tanning beds were the holy grail. I tanned 2-3 times a week, and never worried about the damage it would do to my skin. What I didn’t know was, the UV radiation from tanning beds can lead to premature skin aging, wrinkles, brown spots, as well as skin cancer. Along with my multiple sessions under those lamps, I didn’t wear sunscreen.
Sunscreen just wasn’t part of my skincare regimen. Because why would I want to block the sun from giving me a natural glow? This way of thinking led to enhancing the hyper pigmentation I was prone to from acne scars, and something I am still trying to recover from. The fact is, people who use tanning beds before age 35, increase their risk for melanoma by 75 percent. After discovering how I was destroying my skin, I stopped. I suffered from adult acne for 2 years (which finally subsided with the help of prescription Retin-A, last year). SPF was introduced into my daily beauty routine around this time, and I am now diligent about protecting my skin.
Since UV rays are present all year round, it’s important to wear sunscreen everyday. One of the biggest misconceptions is, SPF only needs to be applied in the summer, when you’re under the sun. But that’s just isn’t true. Even if you aren’t laying out on the beach, or by the pool, you need to wear appropriate skincare. To make it easier for myself, I wear makeup that already has SPF in it, like the Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 by First Aid Beauty. I also apply Invisible Shield by Glossier, after my serum and moisturizer.
There are so many options on the market. Wearing sunscreen is just not optional. If you don’t already use sun protection every day, now’s the time to start. Shop from my favorite products below.
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