Your Excuses for Not Wearing Sunscreen, Debunked

"It's not sunny". "Sunscreen breaks me out". And so on. We address all your concerns (and excuses) for not applying SPF every day.

WHEN I FIRST DRAFTED THIS PIECE, IT BEGAN WITH "WE´RE TOLD YEAR AFTER YEAR, THAT WE MUST WEAR SUNSCREEN YEAR ROUND - SO WHY AREN´T WE"

I’ve changed my tact, however, as in the last fortnight alone I’ve had three conversations with people who’ve all said something to the tune of “But why would you wear sunscreen if it’s not hot?”

Perhaps this is a reflection of the beauty industry echo chamber I orbit within.

I was of the understanding that everyone knew we needed to wear sunscreen whatever the weather, they just didn’t want to. A sentiment that echoes throughout the beauty industry, one I have heard supported countless times by dermatologists, is that sunscreen is the most important thing you can apply to your skin - for both health and aesthetic reasons. 

The fact remains, however, that very few of us are taking that advice seriously. 

My intention was to write about how we can choose the right sunscreen for our skin, as I know many people opt out as they find it uncomfortable, they dislike the scent, they find it breaks them out, they’re unsure how to correctly apply it and so forth.

I will deliver on this intention! But first, given the above, I think it’s worth touching on why the SPF message continues to be drilled into (some of) us. 

WHY IS SUNSCREEN SO IMPORTANT?

I’ve gone into pretty significant detail on this here, but in short- the sun’s rays combine UVA and UVB. Both are of detriment to the skin. Both contribute to the development of skin cancers.

UVA is a longer wavelength and is associated with skin ageing, while UVB is a shorter wavelength that contributes to skin burning.

DO I REALLY HAVE TO WEAR SUNSCREEN IF IM NOT IN THE SUN?

UVA can penetrate clouds, glass windows, and water, meaning it is present year round. As a rule of thumb, if it’s light enough to read without switching on a light, you need sunscreen to protect exposed skin from UVA rays. 

This in mind, “But it’s not sunny,” is not an excuse I entertain when it comes to the SPF debate. Do as you wish, but here’s my take on the other most-frequently-used reasons those close to me (you know who you are) fall back on when it comes to sunscreen. 

"IT FEELS SO THICK"

This is usually the catch cry of those who still believe all sunscreen comes in a 2 litre jumbo beach pack. If you tell me that sunscreen is too thick for daily wear, you are outing yourself as someone who only wears sunscreen on family holidays and probably hasn’t strayed from the one formula since 1997. 

Facial sunscreens and body sunscreens are, now, formulated very differently. A higher SPF (sun protection factor) does not make the sunscreen any thicker, however I’ve found (through multiple sunscreen trials) that facial sunscreens are formulated with more “skincare benefits” than sunscreens for the body.

There are so, so many sunscreens available now, from creams to fluids to serum consistencies, meaning your sunscreen can be as weightless (or as thick and creamy!) as you like without it affecting your level of protection.

"I AM WEARING IT, I JUST TAN THROUGH MY SUNSCREEN ANYWAY"

Unfortunately, any change in the colour of your skin (unless you’re applying makeup or false tanner) is your skin cells signalling that they are in trauma. Your skin turning pink or red (ie. a sunburn) isn’t the only sign that UV rays are damaging your skin- a tan is signifying the very same thing. 

The solution here is a higher sun protection factor (where possible), more frequent reapplication, and working other protective factors into your day like a hat, protective clothing and seeking shade.