My Relationship with Sunscreen

It isn’t difficult to find warnings about the potential negatives of sun exposure. While it is of course true that too much sunlight can be a bad thing, that is true for almost everything. 

I believe it is equally important to recognize that sunlight has some really amazing positive effects on us as well. It boosts immunity by driving the production of vitamin D, kills bacteria on our skin and promotes wound healing, and stimulates hormone regulation in ways that make it a phenomenal antidepressant. 

Solar energy is what drives the generation (and re-generation) of life on our planet, I believe it is just a matter of finding a healthy balance. This is how I manage my sun exposure, so the sun and I can remain friends all year long. 

No SPF before 8am or after 5pm - I love sitting in the sun. I never wear sunscreen before 8am or after 5pm, in fact these are the hours I try to be in the sun as much as possible. Many people say to always wear SPF no matter what time of day, but the sun just has too many health benefits to completely avoid it. Before 8 and after 5 is when the sun causes the least UV damage so you can sit for longer and maximize your solar therapy. 

Only use mineral SPF - when I do wear SPF, I only wear mineral based (non-nano zinc or titanium dioxide). Wearing chemical-powered sunscreen can cause cell damage and skin irritation because those types of sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays. By contrast, mineral SPF helps reflect UV rays, much like a mirrored shield. 

I eat my inner sunscreen - In the last 10 years my diet has improved significantly, and I’ve seen the difference in my skin. I no longer see crazy pigmentation spots after being out in the sun for only an hour. I attribute this to the increased antioxidants and phytonutrients in my diet, as these compounds help the body neutralize free radical damage and inflammation. When your cells are equipped and ready to handle stress, you won’t see as much skin and collagen breakdown. In fact, I would argue that you might even see that the sun’s UV rays help stimulate the body’s natural healing response when given the right cellular information. The way I see it, my diet is my true weapon for sun protection, while my sunscreen is extra defense. 

Vitamin C protection - Wear topical vitamin C underneath your sunscreen for even more skin protection. Vitamin C helps preserve collagen and inhibits free radical damage within the cells. It’s like spritzing lemon juice on an apple core to prevent it from browning. An apple core with lemon (vitamin C) on it will turn brown (a process called oxidation) much slower than an apple core with its bare flesh exposed to oxygen and UV rays. Wearing vitamin C is a no brainer because beyond the protective benefits, it also helps synthesize new collagen production and is a powerful beauty vitamin for the skin. 

Seaweed and seawater - Seaweed is constantly exposed to the sun and uses the sun’s energy (plus seawater minerals) for regeneration and new growth. Both are naturally rich in vitamin C (along with a ton of other important vitamins and minerals), and you absorb some of this when applied topically. If you have a sunny lifestyle, seaweed is the best thing you can offer your skin.