Shocker: Those few moments of sun you get running errands or grabbing coffee every day can do more damage to your skin over time than going to the beach or on a tropical vacation. Here's how to protect yourself, pronto.
The slipup: Grabbing coffee without reapplying SPF
It's only a 10-minute walk. Surely that amount of sun can't hurt
you. Wrong! "Every one of those 10-minute exposures does harm, because
they accumulate and lead to DNA damage over time," says Elizabeth F.
Callahan, MD, a FITNESS advisory board member and a dermatologist in
Sarasota, Florida. A cloudy day isn't an exemption, notes Elizabeth K.
Hale, MD, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone
Medical Center. "UVA rays penetrate the atmosphere 365 days a year and
can accelerate premature aging of the skin and contribute to skin cancer
development," she says.
Your skin-saving fix:
If you applied broad-spectrum SPF in
the morning, a touch-up before heading outside is a must if it's been
two hours or more. "Keep a mineral-based sunscreen in your purse for
easy reapplication," Dr. Hale says. Try a translucent formula such as Brush On Block Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen (brushonblock.com), and dust on a generous coating. A pressed-powder option: Shiseido Limited Edition UV Protective Compact Foundation Case SPF 36 (shiseido.com).
The slipup: Skipping SPF when you're indoors
When you know you'll be going from the car to the office and back again,
it's tempting to forgo sunscreen altogether. The problem? UV light can
travel right through the windows of your car and office, says Julie Ann
Woodward, MD, an associate professor of ophthalmology and dermatology
and the chief of oculofacial surgery at Duke University. "There are
famous photographs of people who sat by the same window for years and
got terrible sun damage on one side of their face and not on the other,"
she says.
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Your skin-saving fix:
Apply a mineral-based sunscreen in the
morning. Choose one that contains zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide,
which block the sun's rays, and you won't need to reapply it every two
hours the way you would any other SPF, Dr. Woodward says. The reason:
Nonmineral sunscreen has chemicals in it that act like a sponge to
absorb UV radiation, she explains. Once "full" — usually after two or
three hours — it needs to be reapplied. Mineral sunscreen, on the other
hand, is like a mirror that reflects light off the surface of your skin.
"It doesn't require reapplication as often," Dr. Woodward says. "To be
safe, put it on in the morning and again before you head outdoors." Try Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Defense SPF 30 (drunkelephant.com) or MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Creme Broad Spectrum SPF 30 UVA-UVB Sunscreen (sephora.com).
The slipup: Wearing only sunnies to protect your eyes
Your new sunglasses are supposed to block 100 percent of UVA and UVB
rays, but that's not always a sure thing. "The FDA isn't strict about
regulating this, so that claim might not be accurate," Dr. Woodward
says. Chronic sun exposure not only causes wrinkles around your eyes but
also cataracts and cancer. "I find a lot of skin cancers right along
the lash line," Dr. Woodward notes. And unless you wear wraparound
sunglasses, the sides of your face will be exposed to the sun.
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Your skin-saving fix:
Coat the skin under your eyes and on
your lids with new, nonirritating sunscreen formulas designed for the
delicate eye area, Dr. Callahan says. Choose one that's mineral-based,
which is gentler, and labeled "nonslip," meaning it won't migrate into
your eyes. Try SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense (skinceuticals.com).
More Sun Blunders
The slipup: Running outside without a hat
If you have SPF on your face and body, it might seem okay to skip
wearing a hat during your morning jog. Only it's not, says Dr. Hale, an
avid runner. "Sweat accelerates the speed at which sunscreen breaks
down, so you might not have as much coverage as you think," she
explains. Plus, you're exposing the very vulnerable skin on your scalp
to the sun. Hale routinely sees squamous cell carcinoma — the second
most common type of skin cancer — along the part line. "Squamous cell is
correlated with chronic sun exposure rather than a day at the beach,"
she says.
Your skin-saving fix:
Double your efforts with a hat and
sunscreen. Choose a hat that has ultraviolet protection factor (UPF),
and shield your face, neck, ears and body with a broad-spectrum SPF of
at least 30. Swipe a sunscreen stick on burn-prone spots like your ears
and nose. Try Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face & Body Stick Sunscreen SPF 70
($10, drugstores). If you can't — or won't — wear a hat, apply
sunscreen directly to your scalp, Dr. Callahan says. "Spritz a spray
formula right on your part line," she advises. Try L'Oreal Paris Advanced Suncare Quick Dry Sheer Finish Spray SPF 50+ (drugstores) or Banana Boat Sport Performance Clear UltraMist Sunscreen SPF 50+ (drugstores).
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The slipup: Relying on your makeup for coverage
You know by now that your foundation with SPF 12 isn't going to give you
much protection, but what about those BB and CC creams that boast SPF
30? "The problem is, people don't usually apply enough to get the rating
on the bottle," Dr. Callahan says.
Your skin-saving fix:
Pick a BB or CC with SPF 50. "Don't go
for the 20 or even 30, because you're not going to put on enough to get
that number," Dr. Callahan says. "But if you apply one with SPF 50, you
might walk away with SPF 30." Try Kate Somerville IllumiKate CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ (sephora.com). If your application is light-handed, play it safe
and apply a base coat of regular sunscreen — SPF 30 or higher — before
putting on your makeup. Be sure to let the sunscreen layer dry for a few
minutes or you'll dilute it, Dr. Callahan says. Try Coppertone ClearlySheer for Sunny Days SPF 30
(drugstores), which has a lightweight matte finish that's perfect
to wear under makeup. If your skin is dry, opt for a moisturizing
formula, like Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 30 Face Lotion Sunscreen (drugstores).
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Bracelet with Benefits
According to a YouBeauty.com poll, a whopping 48 percent of women have
had a blistering sunburn. That's why it's so important to reapply SPF
every two hours. (However, if you've been sweating or swimming, reapply
immediately afterward.) Since it's easy to lose track of time when
you're having fun in the sun, this new accessory acts as a great
reminder: June by Netatmo (netatmo.com), a jeweled leather
wrap bracelet that tracks your UV exposure and sends alerts to your
smartphone via an app when it's time to hit the bottle again.
