Do You Wear Sunscreen Every Day? No, Really.
It’s that time of year, chicks: The time when people start looking for that perfect sunscreen for their face—one that won’t cast them in a white glow, won’t poison aquatic life and won’t give them a face full of pimples. Also, it has to smell nice, absorb well, wear nicely under makeup, and not leave the skin too shiny. But not too matte either, am I right?
It’s a tall order! And since the questions have already started rolling in from you guys, we’re going to do another Five ____ We Love series, only instead of reviewing five amazing foundations, we’re going to review sunscreens.
But first, the titular question: Do you wear sunscreen every day? You know the RIGHT answer is “Yes! Even in the winter! Even when I’m at the office all day!” But let’s be real. Do you really? Question not rhetorical. And no judgments! We want to know the truth.
Dish.
Still from Fast Times at Ridgemont High
i dont wear it, even though you helped me buy that awesome clean brand last year. i am bad. :(
i also appreciate the word titular in this post.
I rarely wear sunscreen, even in the summer. Not on purpose, really, but I just completely forget about it until after I’ve already got a burn going on.
I wear it on my face every day,but not my entire body. I do keep a small bottle in my car just in case. But more often than not I forget its there.
Yep, I sure do. Just bought some John Masters SPF 30 on Monday. I love it.
I used bare minerals foundation with spf15 and when i’m not wearing make-up i use keihls moisturizer with spf. though eversince i read your book, i put it away and i havent been wearing it. waiting for my free juicy beauty mineral moisturizer in the mail and ill be back in business:-)
No way! The only safe active sunblock ingredient is non-nano zinc oxide, which leaves a white film on your face. I only use it when I’m going to be out in the sun all day, and even then, I use it sparingly. There is no evidence that proves sunblock prevents skin cancer, and in fact, with increased sunblock use over the last 50 years, skin cancer rates have only gone up! That’s because these active ingredients like oxybenzone and phenol are endocrine disruptors, altering the way the body stores and “reads” estrogen. They also prevent sunburn by absorbing the light..well, that energy has to go somewhere, and it ends up as free radical damage on your skin. Additionally, our body creates vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight. Having low levels of Vitamin D have been shown to cause cancers, especially breast cancer, so moderate sun exposure is not only safe, but beneficial to the body.
If you’re concerned about preventing signs of aging, the best thing you can do is eat lots of fresh, raw, antioxidant rich foods, limit your sugar intake, exercise, and use products on your skin that don’t have negative effects on your body!
No, because I don’t think most sunscreens are safe…many are linked to skin cancer. I try to get a little sun every day for the vitamin D, but otherwise only use sunscreen when I know I’m going to be in the sun over 30 min. Apparently coconut oil has an SPF of 30?! I love coconut oil!
Yes, on my face and neck. However, thanks to your book, I switched from Coppertone “Faces” to Desert Essence Daily Defense spf 15 – it’s awesome, and miraculously doesn’t leave any white residue. I’d be interested in your feedback on what level of SPF is ideal for a daily use sunscreen. Thank you for all that you all do! I’ve learned so much from your book and blog!
Every single day! just because I feel very insecure when I don’t.. haha :)
My favorite sunscreen is by a brand called DeVita.. They have the best and strongest sunscreen for face AND body and absorbs really well without leaving a white cast.. and last but not least, 100% Vegan!!
Susan, I’m a huge fan of coconut oil for many things, but I have a hard time believing that it has an spf of 30. Some natural plant oils have some minor spf, so maybe coconut oil is some protection. Where did you hear it was 30?
Yes. I made it a habit to wear sunscreen everyday long time ago……have to alternate between non-oily sunblocks during summers and sunscreen moisturizer during winters. DEVITA all the way for winters…used it for the first time this winter..Love it. No whitish hue. Otherwise I have alternated between Burt’s bees and Soliel for kids. Whitish hue not such a problem..let it sink in. I am brown so I have to worry about looking a ghost.
I have to get my stuff from the US but I have heard European formulations of the same brands are way better.
Typically I don’t wear sunscreen..partially because I’m a busy mom and I forget…but partially because I’m afraid to, especially on the forehead where the skin is more absorbent like your scalp. I have no problem going out and getting a little “pink” when I’m playing with my kids and I have a fair complexion. The days I do feel I need something is when we are spending a whole day outdoors like at the beach or something similar. I’m VERY interested in what you might find that is safe to reapply multiple times per day for such events! Aside from that, I also agree with the need for vitamin D so I’m not anti sun..just not a sun worshiper. Living in Canada “they” say that we don’t get enough vitamin D even in the summer because of our proximity to the sun!
Stephanie Greenwood, I love your products and your chemical of the day blog, which I read regularly. But as a skin cancer survivor I really need to take exception to your statements that there is no proof sun block prevents skin cancer. In fact, there is plenty of clinical peer-reviewed evidence that sun block, used in combination with other sun safe strategies, such as avoiding lengthy exposure the sun, seeking shade, wearing hats and long sleeves etc. prevents skin cancer. Most recently an Australian study found that daily sunscreen use lowered melanoma risks significantly. Skin cancer rates have gone up in recent years because tanning has become more fashionable, and spending time in the sun has become more accessible (e.g. cheap flights to sunny places). Similarly, there is no amount of Vitamin D that will prevent or repair UV damage to your skin. Ingredients like oxybenzone and phenol etc. may be cause for concern, but skin damage from UV rays is, in my opinion, a much more direct threat to your well being. I suggest blog readers who are concerned about this issue check with their doctor or dermatologist for further advice.
I’m really looking forward to the sun block review as I do wear a clean zinc based sunblock whenever the UV index is higher than 2 and I’ll be outside for more than 5-10 minutes.I would love to find one that is less greasy, less white, and sits better under make-up.
http://www.skincancer.org/recentattackssunscreen.html
http://www.skincancer.org/ask-the-expert-does-sunscreen-cause-cancer.html
Nahhh. No sunscreen for this girl – unless I’m planning a day in the sun at the beach or wherever where I will be intentionally sunning myself. Everything in moderation; where I’m from in Canada I do not get moderate sunlight daily especially in the winter!
I’m a redhead with freckles and fair skin in my forties, and every time I go to the dermatologist the doc says “great job keep it up with the sunscreen”, but in fact I don’t wear it. I wear a hat and sunglasses in the summer and stay out of the sun between 10 and 2 during that time of year. I stay in the shade. When I take outdoor water aerobics I wear a surf shirt with long sleeves. So far so good.
I always make sure my face moisturizer is and SPF 15. I put it on my face, neck, chest, and the backs of my hands every morning, so the 10 minutes of sunshine I get each day on my way to the subway doesn’t actually give me any vitamin D. I try to remember to put on stronger stuff when I’ll be out for longer. I’m sure they’re not good for the planet, but I really am a fan of the aerosol style sunscreens from Neutrogena. (Except on my face because they sting my eyes–for that I use Neutrogena.)
Yes, I’ve used a sunscreen on my face every day of the year for many years. Currently using John Masters SPF 30 which is one of my favorites. There are several that have come out in the last few years that are mineral based and don’t contain the potential cancer causing chemicals such as oxybenzone, and that don’t have nanoparticles. Brands such as Episential and SanRe.
I use sunscreen everyday. Green People brand for children. It has a lot of zinc in but i mix it with Essential- Care foundation and it blends in really well and leaves a really natural finish. Makes my foundation last longer and looks better. I have roseacea and any sun makes my face red. Since doing this i haven’t had any flare-ups. Because looking paler also makes me look younger i win all round. I am setting up a shop in the UK and want to stock good safe priducts. What do you all recommend?
Absolutely – it’s my moisturizer. I have worn it under my makeup for years.
Yes, every single day, even when it’s not sunny, since 1999 (I’m 35 now). Last year I purchased Erbaviva FPS 15 sunscreen at http://www.lovelula.com and it became my all time favourite. It’s suitable for face and body and it’s a really all natural product, developed for children but great for adults too. It comes in a beautiful white tube (125g / 4.2oz), texture is really nice and creamy, yet totally non-greasy, my oily face looks nicely matte with this (not overly matte, though, simply naturally healthy). No white cast at all. The lavender and chamomile scent is lovely and dissipates quickly. Plus, I am Brazilian and live in Rio, which means hot wheather around 340 days per year, and I’m glad to tell you that Erbaviva sunscreen never caused me any breakouts. Really recommend this! Active ingredient: titanium dioxide 5%. Inactive ingredients: aqua (water), prunus amigdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, cetearyl wheat bran glycosides and cetearyl alcohol, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, camellia sinensis leaf oil, sodium levulinate, oryzanol, potasssium sorbate, allantoin, organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower oil, organic anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower oil, linalool.
I forgot to mention: since I have light Asian skin, I do wear a higher SPF sunscreen when I go to the beach. This would be Avene FPS 50+, which works well, but I’m still looking for a more natural choice.
I wear moisturizer with SPF everyday on my face, but not my body. I currently use Eucerin’s Everyday Protection 30 SPF which I love, but I’m currently on the prowl for a more natural version. I’m considering 100% Pure Pomegranate Spf 20.
CANNOT WAIT until you guys review sunscreens! I desperately need some for this summer but I never know which ones to get!
I have stopped wearing sunscreen. About a year ago. I’m happy with antioxidants, and I know they’re not enough, but I don’t wish to put something-else in my body…
I use bareminerals foundation which has spf 15 but I don’t wear sunscreen everyday on my face. I have super sensitive/combination skin, so it’s hard to find a sunscreen that doesn’t feel like it’s burning my skin or making it oily. Looking forward to some suggestions!
Jenna, I was at the 100% Pure store recently, and was told that the Pom SPF 20 actually tested more like SPF 30 but the owner wanted to be cautious so called it 20. I’ve tried the Pom, and it feels a bit thicker than their new Argan Oil SPF 30, with a bit more of a smell to it. Still a nice product though (the 20 is a mix of zinc/titanium, while the 30 is just zinc oxide).
Yes! I wear sunscreen every day, but I am terrible about “touching it up” after 2 hours before I go outside for walks, etc. I love Keys, but right now I’m trying out the Devita Solar Protective Moisturizer. Very light and no white sheen on my face, but makes the skin look very sheeny until I do the Jane Iredale thing.
I wear sunscreen on my face every day, just through my tinted moisturizer, but rest of my body only if I’m intentionally out in the sun. I get a lot of flak for how often I reapply (and am also way paler than everyone else). I just bought some Chocolate Sun SPF 30 for the summer…can’t wait to see what you recommend!