how to apply sunscreen

https://instagram.com/p/1bYpeQvIpp/?taken-by=mdmamakeup

Summer is here! Well, “summer” is always here in Los Angeles, at least for a transplant like myself. The sun/weather is the best part of living in Southern California. It’s almost always a beautiful day outside, and there’s always a reason to be outside in it! Unfortunately 80% of the signs of aging (dull skin, uneven tone, wrinkles, etc…) are caused by free-radical damage. The sun is one of the biggest free-radicals you can expose yourself to and luckily for that we have sunscreen… or do we?

Ask yourself- Where do you get your sunscreen protection from?

A. Your moisturizer

B. Your Foundation/Makeup

C. You physically put it on by itself daily

No matter which answer you chose, you aren’t getting the protection you think you are. An SPF 50 lasts on average less than 2 HOURS. That is if you are applying the standard 1/4 teaspoon amount on your face. If you aren’t (don’t worry none of us are) cut that time down dramatically. Now imagine you’re using an SPF 15, 20, or 30, and less than 1/4 teaspoon. We are talking minutes of protection. Once it’s gone it’s gone and the sun is free to do whatever it likes while we remain with our pores clogged with white tinted goop.

So what the hell are we supposed to do?! This post isn’t to make you feel bad or use scare tactics but rather an eye opener to stop the sunscreen myths. I always tell my clients, “When you’re on vacation at the beach do you just put sunscreen on in the hotel or do you take it with you to reapply?” Most always say they reapply. There isn’t a magical sunscreen that is for the face that doesn’t need to be reapplied.

Sunscreen in your moisturizer/makeup/physically applied is great. For most people it will get you to work protected from the sun on your commute. What about us Californians who can’t avoid it? What about UVA/UVB light. Office light ages you just like the sun. How are we supposed to reapply sunscreen?

Here are a few sunscreen saviors that I am totally obsessed with and so thankful for! The first three I love because they are non-aerosol and you can pour the product into travel sized spray bottles and keep one in the glove box, and one in your handbag. The others are face and body. Either way, I hope you are a little more aware of how sunscreen works and how it needs to be reapplied. Now get out there and get your tan on!

See below:

Supergoop! SPF 50 Makeup Setting Spray

Coola SPF 30 Makeup Setting Spray

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50 For Face/Body

Travel bottles (originally for perfume but I like them for sunscreen!)

Going back to the makeup thing, it’s not like you will be reapplying your foundation every hour so here are some simple sunscreen powders to carry in your touch-up bag.

Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging SPF 45 Powder