By: Yvonne Juarez
Think sun damage doesn't apply to you? Here are some surprising myths about skin protection that'll make you think twice about how you're treating your skin:
- I’m only susceptible to sun damage in my bathing suit! Think again…you might be fully dressed, head-to-toe and completely vulnerable to the sun. Lightweight cotton only provides SPF 5 for your skin. That’s practically nothing!
- I put sunscreen on this morning…I’m fine until I go to bed. No! Sunscreen can wear off as your skin rubs against clothing, towels or other surfaces, or displaced by sweat, swimming or washing your hands. You should be re-applying every few hours, and some experts recommend as often as every 80-90 minutes. Using a water resistant formula will help preserve your protection, but when in doubt, always re-apply!
- I’m indoors. No need for sunscreen today! Chances are, you’re inside a building loaded with windows, or in a car surrounded by them. The average person spends 9,100 hours commuting to work over their lifetime…just picture your hands sitting on that sunny steering wheel, completely unprotected. And that doesn’t even include all the other hours of driving you’ll do!
- I put sunscreen on my face and neck daily. I’m good to go. Nope. Here’s a surprising fact: one of the most common places melanoma is detected is between the toes. Sun goes EVERYWHERE. Your sunscreen should too!
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month which makes this the perfect time to talk about sun care! In March, Layers by Scentsy introduced a line of SPF sun care products: SPF 50 and SPF 15 skin lotion and SPF 15 lip balm - available in fragrances from Scentsy’s tropical line: Havana Cabana and Rio Beach.
We all love putting luxurious lotions on our skin and lips while covering our body in amazing fragrance, but it’s also important to remember how to care for your skin beyond the surface. The skin is your largest organ and should be protected!
But, if you’re anything like me, remembering to apply sunscreen every single day is a challenge. Quite frankly, I forget to do it far too often and am left with this lingering guilt, complete with a little voice in my head that says, “Just do it already!!” Avoid the guilt and start protecting yourself today. Here are four easy-to-follow tips to make it easier to remember (and maybe even enjoyable!):
- Update your after-shower routine! Are you in the habit of slathering regular body lotion all over after a shower? Just swap your regular body lotion for a bottle of good-smelling sunscreen. If you have a product you love, with a fresh scent you look forward to, you might actually enjoy applying it!
- Keep some in your purse for touch-ups throughout the day. Think of it like make-up. You should be equally concerned about re-applying your sunscreen as you are about re-applying your lipstick. Trust me, in 20 years, good sunscreen use will far out-weigh any beauty benefits your lipstick can offer.
- Make it accessible for the whole family. Put it in a cute basket by the back door. Put it in your husband’s briefcase or office. Put a bottle in your kids’ diaper bag. Don’t just store it in the medicine cabinet—the more accessible it is, the more you’ll remember to use it!
- Beyond sunscreen, wear protective clothing like hats (have you seen the amazing hats Princess Kate has been sporting?), sunglasses and long sleeve shirts. Limit time in the sun, particularly between the harshest hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Remember: all these tips are for year-round, not just summer months! Your skin is still vulnerable throughout winter and even on overcast days, clouds let roughly 30% of UV rays through. Protect yourself!
Layers by Scentsy SPF Lotions offer broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays and smell like a perfect tropical vacation to boot. You can wear something that feels good, smells good, and most importantly, does good things for your skin!