While protecting yourself from skin cancer and preventing premature signs of aging are the major benefits you get from applying sunscreen every morning, there are some additional reasons you should grab a tube the next time you're getting ready. Many of today's sunscreen formulations have added ingredients that can address a variety of skin issues. Mineral sunscreen agents, for example, are anti-inflammatory and can help to calm irritated skin, Palm says. Many sunscreen formulations also contain moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid to improve the skin barrier, as well as antioxidants such as vitamin C and green tea to protect against damaging free radicals.
Image via Hoxton/Tom Merton/Getty
Photo 8/8
How to Choose and Use Sunscreen
Before you can apply your morning SPF, you need to figure out which sunscreen is right for you. Nussbaum says you should always reach for one that has a broad-spectrum label, as that means it shields your skin from UVA rays (the ones that age you) and UVB rays (the ones that cause burns).
One of our favorite daily sunscreens is EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Tinted, $35, which is formulated for skin types prone to skin conditions like acne and rosacea. In addition to providing sunscreen protection with zinc oxide, it's also formulated with soothing niacinamide, moisturizing hyaluronic acid and anti-aging vitamin E.
As for how to use sunscreen, the instructions are simple. "Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every single day, 365 days a year," Frey says. "Apply it liberally and apply it often." So make sure you carry it in your purse for mid-day reapplications.
