You probably already know how important it is to keep your skin protected from the sun. After all, it’s something that pretty much every dermatologist and doctor will preach about! 

However, while this may be the case, statistics show that the majority of the population fails to effectively protect their skin from sun damage. The depleting ozone layer makes this more dangerous than ever as it gives those UV rays easier access to your skin cells, making it hardly surprising that melanoma cases are rapidly on the rise.

If you know that you’re guilty of neglecting your skin when it comes to sun protection, it’s not too late to make a change. Read on as Lavelier explains exactly why sun protection is so important, along with tips on the best ways to shield your skin from UV damage.

Why is it Important to Protect Your Skin From the Sun?

Need to be convinced about the importance of sun protection when it comes to your skin? Let’s take a look at just a few of the ways in which sun protection can help to boost your complexion:

It Reduces Your Chances of Developing Skin Cancer

It’s common knowledge that over-exposure to the sun can trigger the growth of skin cancer. However, do you know how this actually works?

It all comes down to the sun’s UV rays and how they damage the DNA in your skin cells. Your cell DNA is responsible for telling your skin cells how to properly function. When this damage starts to accumulate, it triggers cell mutations, which leads to the development of tumors. 

Skin cancer may currently be the most common form of cancer in the USA, but experts believe that 90% of melanoma cases are caused by sun damage. This means that they could have been avoided if adequate sun protection had been practiced.

It Prevents the Visible Signs of Skin Aging

If you want to keep your skin looking as youthful as possible, then sun protection is essential. 

Over-exposure to the sun dramatically accelerates the skin aging process. It damages the collagen and elastin fibers in your skin, causing their degradation. These proteins are responsible for keeping your skin firm and smooth. The more damage they experience, the faster they’ll break down. This then leads to fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

In fact, research points to how 80% of the visible signs of skin aging on the face are caused by sun exposure. Just like when it comes to skin cancer, this is yet another issue that can be avoided with the use of sun protection.

Already dealing with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles spidering their way across your face? This doesn’t mean that it’s too late to protect your skin from the sun. Getting serious about sun protection now will help to prevent the appearance of even more wrinkles. At the same time, it’ll keep your existing creases from looking deeper and longer. Try combining sun protection methods (which we’ll talk about soon) with a couple of complexion-firming products, such as the Lavelier Coralline Collagen Wrinkle Alpha Treatment, and you’ll see results even sooner!

It Lowers Your Sunburn Risk

Each time you experience a sunburn, you greatly increase your risk of developing melanoma. Not to mention, sunburns can be extremely uncomfortable and painful to deal with! From the initial raw redness to the peeling and flaking that comes later, a severe sunburn could affect your complexion for quite a few weeks.

This is something else that you’ll be able to avoid with the use of sun protection. The better you are at preventing sunburns, the healthier your skin will look and feel in the long run.

It Prevents the Appearance of Discoloration and Hyperpigmentation

When the sun’s UV rays hit your skin, they stimulate skin cells into producing melanin. This is the pigment that’s responsible for your skin’s color. It is also the reason why the skin tans after being exposed to the sun for a while.

In very small amounts, melanin works to protect the skin from sun damage. However, over-exposure to the sun causes natural melanin production to go into overdrive. This leaves the skin with more pigment than it’s able to deal with. Rather than distributing this evenly throughout the skin, all of that extra pigment ends up clumping together in various parts of the skin. This causes those areas to take on a darker color than the rest of the skin, resulting in a discolored and uneven appearance.

Sure, there are plenty of skincare ingredients available that have been proven to lighten the look of discoloration. In fact, you’ll find quite a few of them in the Lavelier Skin Clair Repair. However, even if you use the most powerful complexion-brightening products out there, they won’t have much of an effect if UV rays continue to damage your skin. This makes sun protection absolutely vital.

It Prevents the Skin From Feeling Inflamed

Sun exposure is known for triggering reactions in the immune system, resulting in inflammation. In serious cases, this leads to sunburns. However, even if your skin has only very slightly reddened after being out in the sun, then this means that it’s still being impacted by inflammation.

What’s so bad about inflammation? Everything. Not only does it accelerate the skin aging process, but it can also exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne and psoriasis. 

Again, just like when it comes to hyperpigmentation, there are several ingredients available that can help to soothe the feeling of inflammation. Aloe vera, chamomile, and seaweed are good examples, all of which can be found in the Lavelier Marine Facial Toner. However, they won’t be able to do much if your skin cells are still being exposed to the sun without protection. So, make sure that you’re keeping those UV rays away.

Finding the Best Sunscreen for Your Skin

So, what exactly does good sun protection entail?

Well, the easiest way to protect your skin from the sun is by using a high quality sunscreen. A formula with an SPF of 15 will already help to reduce your melanoma risk by 50%, but SPF 30 would be even better at providing longer-lasting protection.

If you’d like to keep things simple when it comes to your skincare routine, look for a moisturizer that contains SPF. So long as you apply enough of the product (you’ll need about a quarter of a teaspoon for your face), and continue to reapply it every couple of hours, a SPF moisturizer will give you just as much protection as a standalone sunscreen.

That’s why the Divine Day Defense SPF 30 from Lavelier is such a hit. In addition to its UV-blocking agents, it’s also packed with a number of vitamins and antioxidants to ensure that your skin feels fully protected. Even better, it contains a range of hydrating compounds too. From red coral seaweed extract to glycerin, this cream won’t disappoint if you’re hoping to achieve a plump and supple glow that lasts you through the day.

Already have a sunscreen that you rely on? Make sure that you check the expiry date before depending on it to protect your skin. Once opened, a sunscreen will remain effective for three years. With that said, this number drops if your sunscreen is stored in a hot environment. If yours is older than this, which it shouldn’t be if you’re using it regularly, then it’s time for a new bottle!

There’s More to Sun Protection Than Sunscreen

Of course, there’s a lot more to sun protection than simply using a sunscreen. Here are a few other ways in which you can protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun:

Stay in the Shade

Although the sun’s UV rays can still reach your skin cells while you’re in the shade, they won’t be quite as powerful. Whether you shield your face with an umbrella, sprawl out underneath a tree when the sun is particularly hot, or simply remain indoors until the temperature has slightly cooled, the simple act of keeping yourself shaded will go a long way in preventing sun damage. This is particularly the case during the hottest hours of the day. This is usually between 11am and 3pm, although it will vary based on your location.

Clothing and Accessories

While you may want to strip down and show some skin during the warmer months of the year, your skin will be so much more appreciative if you keep it protected with the right clothing and accessories. Dark-colored clothing made from a tightly woven fabric will help to block UV rays from damaging the skin on your body. Likewise, a brimmed hat paired with some wrap-around sunglasses will provide an extra barrier between your face and the sun.

Vitamin C

Although vitamin C won’t do anything when it comes to preventing UV rays from accessing your skin cells, its antioxidant capacity makes it a great ingredient to pair with your sunscreen. It’s an ingredient that’s famed for how it keeps the skin feeling protected from environmental aggressors. This includes the appearance of damage caused by UV rays. 

In fact, the more antioxidants that you can pamper your skin with, the better. They work even more effectively when combined. This quality makes antioxidants a great tool to use when you’re trying to prevent the appearance of sun damage. That’s why we’ve included vitamin A, vitamin E, and two forms of vitamin C in the Lavelier Nourishing Vitamin C Serum. It also contains red coral seaweed extract and wheat germ oil, both of which are loaded with skin-loving antioxidants too. Apply this serum underneath your sunscreen and your skin will look bright, healthy, and radiant all day long.

Summary

When it comes to keeping your skin looking and feeling its best, sun protection is absolutely essential. It’s something that you really need to prioritize. Without adequate sun protection, not only will you be putting yourself at risk of developing skin cancer, but you’ll also speed up the rate at which your skin ages while leaving yourself susceptible to dark spots, inflammation, and sunburns. So, if you want to achieve and maintain a smooth, healthy-looking glow, invest in a good sunscreen and make sure that you follow the extra sun protection tips that we’ve featured above.

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