These 6 Ingredients Don't Mix Well With the Sun

One of the best ways to protect yourself from free radicals — those pesky unpaired atoms that cause premature aging — is to wear products rich in antioxidants. Vitamin C is arguably the most potent out there, and it also helps to brighten and even out your complexion at the same time. Unfortunately, it's considered a "volatile" ingredient, meaning it degrades quickly. Formulators have spent big bucks inventing products that maintain vitamin C stability, but once the product is applied to your face it starts the process of breaking down. One of the best ways to combat this is to wear an SPF of 30 on top. This is true whether you're out in the sunshine for hours, at the office, or walking around on a cloudy day.

"People think the sun must be bright in order to cause damage, but you must wear sunscreen on overcast days, too," notes Dr. Scott Wrye, a plastic surgeon based in Reno, Nevada. "You will sunburn just as easily on an overcast day. Apply sunscreen every day of the year — rain or shine."

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