In the words of Baz Luhrmann, ‘If I could offer you one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.’ You can spend all of your money on a 10-step Korean skincare routine, have regular facials, Botox, Profhilo, fillers, everything that the beauty industry can offer. Still, if you are doing all of these things without wearing sunscreen daily, you are wasting your time and money. There are three types of radiation from sunlight: infrared, visible and UV radiation.
Infrared radiation and visible light does not cause problems to our skin. UV light energy, however, does. Our skin cells’ DNA absorbs it, influencing the skin’s normal growth and appearance. This DNA damage can lead to genetic changes or mutations, leading to skin cancer. UVB rays are often referred to as the burning rays. They are the ultraviolet rays that cause sunburn. Even though these rays are stronger during the summer, they can still cause damage during the winter. UVA rays are the aging rays; they penetrate deeper into the skin and cause free radical damage to our collagen.
Wear daily
Collagen is what we need to maintain a healthy, vital skin. As we age, we lose 1 per cent of collagen per annum after the age of 25, so we need to be preserving what we can. Wearing an SPF daily throughout the year will help protect what collagen we have left. One of my favourite sunscreens is the Skinmade Sun Oil.
It provides SPF 50 and is full of antioxidants that help repair the DNA damage caused by the sun. Unlike nearly all sunscreens on the market, it does not break down in the sun, so no reapplication is needed for eight hours. This sun oil is also 100 per cent natural (or body’s ingredients), cruelty-free, vegan and suitable for all skin types. It’s my desert island product!”
