During the sunniest months of spring and summer, it is more important than ever to ensure you are properly protected from the harmful effects of the sun's UV rays on your skin. However, relying solely on sunscreen may not be enough. If one does not understand the risks of UV exposure or the limitations of sunscreen, it is difficult to protect oneself properly from the sun. The addition of antioxidants such as vitamin C can boost SPF if chosen and used correctly.
Sun damage and UV rays
UV rays have a positive effect on our health and mental well-being, but they pose significant risks to our skin health. Not only do they increase the formation of ROS (reactive oxygen species), free radicals that can damage both the skin's surface and the underlying layers, but UV exposure over time can also lead to DNA damage, premature skin aging, and even skin cancer. UV exposure can also damage the skin 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, or SPF. Laboratory tests for SPF (Sun Protection Factor) use 2mg/cm² of exposed skin, and the SPF is calculated on this basis. In theory, 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 0.5mg/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 a 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 your 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 issues of dark spots, sun sensitivity, allergic reactions, and the loss of collagen and elastin in the skin. Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant for countering the onslaught of oxidative stress resulting from UV radiation. Although it does not block or absorb solar radiation, it strengthens 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 sun, which is not suitable for morning application. It is a mistake to think that a sunscreen with SPF50 will solve this problem. Not only do sun care products only offer 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. The Skin Diligent Vitamin C Serum-in-Oil contains a lipid-soluble vitamin C, a biotechnological ingredient that can be safely applied under a sun care product in the morning.
How to repair skin weakened by the sun?
It is natural for the skin to lose water, a process called Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL). Loss of skin hydration is a normal process for maintaining the body's temperature at an acceptable level. During the hotter months, sweating leads to an increased loss of hydration (water and minerals). Sun and heat dry out the skin at a rate several times higher than normal. Dry skin means that the skin barrier is less able to protect you and itself against external pollutants and pathogens entering the skin. This also means that fine lines and wrinkles are more visible and the skin looks dull.
In addition to antioxidants, hydration is therefore essential for repairing the skin and restoring the moisture it has lost. In skincare, you will need ingredients such as magnesium, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, prebiotics such as inulin to help provide hydration to skin cells, probiotics to help regulate the skin's disrupted microbiome, while peptides can help soothe and repair skin cells. All these ingredients are found in our Cellular Hydration Serum.
At the end of the day, when the sun sets, it is important to remove any trace 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 Serum-in-Oil for its supply of powerful antioxidants. The bonus is that the dry oil form of our Vitamin C Serum-in-Oil will further seal in the hydration from the Cellular Hydration Serum without suffocating the skin.
The ideal routine to follow for sun protection:
In the 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 Serum-in-Oil.
- Apply sun protection.
In the evening:
- Cleanse your face with the Triple Action Cleanser to remove sun protection. Let it sit on the skin for about 20 seconds to remove the combination of sunscreen and makeup. Rinse thoroughly while 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 spent the day in the sun, then apply 3 to 4 drops of Vitamin C Serum-in-Oil, otherwise use a light moisturizer.
If you are a Skin Diligent regular, you know that our antioxidant concentrate, the Vitamin C Serum-in-Oil, is only recommended once a day, in the morning. However, in case of heavy sun exposure, the serum is recommended twice a day.
BUY the complete 3-step routine here
Appropriate nutrition to help your sun-exposed skin
- Start eating foods rich in beta-carotene and lycopene, such as tomatoes, carrots, peppers, and watermelons in the spring and summer. These are the red and orange foods that are abundant during the warmer months.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, 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 such as cucumbers, melons, pineapples, peppers, etc.
- Take our Skin & Stress food supplement to stock up on antioxidants and minerals.