During the sunniest months of spring and summer, it's more important than ever to ensure proper protection against the harmful effects of the sun's UV rays on our skin. However, relying solely on sunscreen may not be enough. If one doesn't understand the risks of UV exposure or the limitations of sunscreen, it's difficult to properly protect oneself from the sun. Adding antioxidants like vitamin C can enhance SPF if chosen and used correctly.
Sun and UV Damage
UV rays have a positive effect on our health and mental well-being, but they pose significant risks to our skin's health. Not only do they increase the formation of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), free radicals that can damage both the skin's surface and underlying layers, but prolonged UV exposure can also lead to DNA damage, premature skin aging, and even skin cancers. UV exposure can also damage the skin's microbiome, leading to inflammation and interference with our immune responses. It is therefore imperative to protect our skin from the harmful effects of UV rays.
The Effectiveness of Sunscreen Products
Sunscreen is often not enough to protect the skin from the sun. Take, for example, the UVB protection factor, SPF. Laboratory tests for SPF (Sun Protection Factor) use 2mg/cm2 of exposed skin, and the SPF is calculated based on this. Theoretically, an SPF50 offers a 98% protection rate if applied correctly. However, in practice, most people only use a quarter of the amount of sunscreen needed to achieve this level of protection, which is about 0.5 mg/cm2 of exposed skin. Even using half the amount of sunscreen recommended by laboratories (1mg/cm2), it is estimated that it would only provide between one-third and half of the necessary SPF protection.
We can therefore conclude that applying sunscreen is not sufficient in itself to protect us from the sun in practice. Other measures, such as wearing a hat and long sleeves, and avoiding the sun during the hottest hours of the day, should also be part of the sun protection routine.
Vitamin C to Prevent and Reduce Sun Damage
UV rays damage the skin through the oxidation process. Applying an antioxidant such as vitamin C under sunscreen can mitigate potential problems of dark spots, sun sensitization, allergic reactions, and loss of collagen and elastin in the skin. Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant for countering the assault of oxidative stress resulting from UV radiation. Although it does not block or absorb solar radiation, it enhances the safety and effectiveness of sunscreens by neutralizing free radicals that sunscreens alone cannot block.
However, the type of vitamin C used is important, as water-soluble vitamin C, such as pure vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is unstable and can oxidize when exposed to daylight or sunlight, making it unsuitable for morning application. It is a misconception that a sunscreen with SPF50 will remedy this problem. Not only do sunscreen products offer only imperfect protection, as explained in the section above, but they are not formulated to prevent the oxidation of pure vitamin C. It is therefore important to use a lipid-soluble form of vitamin C, which is not oxidizable. Skin Diligent Vitamin C Oil-Serum contains a lipid-soluble vitamin C, a biotechnological ingredient, which can be safely applied under a sunscreen product in the morning.
How to Repair Sun-Damaged Skin?
It is natural for skin to lose water, a process called Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL). The loss of skin hydration is a normal process to maintain body temperature at an acceptable level. During warmer months, perspiration leads to increased hydration loss (water and minerals). The sun and heat dry out the skin at several times the normal rate. Dry skin means that the skin barrier is less able to protect you and itself against external pollutants and pathogens that penetrate the skin. It also means that fine lines and wrinkles are more visible and the skin is dull.
In addition to antioxidants, hydration is therefore essential to repair the skin and restore the moisture it has lost. In skincare, you will need ingredients such as magnesium, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, prebiotics such as inulin to help bring hydration to skin cells, probiotics to help regulate the disturbed skin microbiome, while peptides can help soothe and repair skin cells. All these ingredients are present in our Cellular Hydration Serum.
At the end of the day, when the sun sets, it is important to remove all traces of SPF, hydrate skin cells, and add more antioxidants to fight free radicals. Use the Skin Diligent Bi-Phase DUO - the Cellular Hydration Serum for optimal skin hydration and the Vitamin C Oil-Serum for its powerful antioxidant supply. The bonus is that the dry oil form of our Vitamin C Oil-Serum will further seal in the hydration from the Cellular Hydration Serum, without suffocating the skin.
The Ideal Sun Protection Routine:
Morning:
- Rinse your face with cold or lukewarm water, never hot.
- Apply 3 to 5 drops of Cellular Hydration Serum.
- Apply 3 to 5 drops of Vitamin C Oil-Serum.
- Apply sunscreen.
Evening:
- Cleanse your face with the Triple Action Cleanser to remove sunscreen. Leave on the skin for about 20 seconds to remove the combination of sunscreens and makeup. Rinse thoroughly by gently rubbing the skin with your fingertips and pat dry.
- Moisten a cotton pad with mineral water or toner, then gently wipe your face.
- Apply the Cellular Hydration Serum.
- If you have spent the day in the sun, then apply 3 to 4 drops of Vitamin C Oil-Serum, otherwise use a light moisturizer.
If you are a regular user of Skin Diligent, you know that our antioxidant concentrate, the Vitamin C Oil-Serum, is only recommended once a day, in the morning. However, in case of strong sun exposure, the serum is recommended twice a day.
BUY the complete 3-step routine here
Tailored Nutrition to Help Your Sun-Exposed Skin
- Start eating foods rich in beta-carotene and lycopene, such as tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, and watermelons in spring and summer. These are the red and orange foods that are abundant during the warmer months.
- Eat plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, such as vitamin C, and dark leafy greens during the summer months.
- Drink plenty of water as well as fruits and vegetables with high water content like cucumbers, melons, pineapples, bell peppers, etc.
- Take our Skin & Stress food supplement to stock up on antioxidants and minerals.