What to Do to Get the Best Sun Protection (and Why It Matters So Much)
If you care even a tiny bit about your skin—whether it’s for aging gracefully, maintaining a clear complexion, or avoiding skin cancer—then sunscreen needs to be your ride-or-die. It’s not optional. It’s not just for beach days. It’s something that should be part of your every single day routine. All year.
Here’s the truth bomb: 80% of visible skin aging is due to sun exposure. Yes. Not stress, not poor sleep, not chocolate (thankfully) or your genetics. Just the sun. Wrinkles, sagging, spots, dullness—most of it is photoaging. And while we’re at it, let’s not forget that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., with over 5 million cases treated each year! The sun isn’t playing around.
And here’s the kicker: your skin remembers every single drop of unprotected sun exposure you’ve ever had! So even if you’re on top of your SPF game now, your skin is still battling damage from all those summers when your sunscreen wore off while you were playing outside, or those quick walks from the parking lot to the grocery store when you didn’t think it “counted.” It all counts. Sorry.
How to Get the Best and Most Efficient Protection
If you’re relying solely on American sunscreens, I’m going to lovingly nudge you to level up.
The U.S. is still stuck using old and outdated sunscreen filters that haven’t seen meaningful innovation in decades. Meanwhile, Asian and European sunscreens have access to newer, more robust, and more cosmetically elegant filters that offer better UVA protection (which is what causes most aging) and often feel amazing on the skin. They’re lightweight, non-greasy, no white-cast and feel great under makeup!
The best part? Many of them are less expensive than the high-end sunscreens you’d find in the U.S. So not only are they better, they’re also more accessible. Win-win.
If Pigment Is a Concern (And for Most People, It Is)
If you deal with melasma, freckles, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, sun spots, or really any kind of uneven pigment, you need to add a second layer: tinted sunscreen.
Why? Because tinted sunscreens contain iron oxides, which help block visible light—especially blue light—which is a major trigger for pigment production in the skin. Regular SPF alone won’t protect against this, unfortunately. But layering a tinted SPF on top of your Asian or European sunscreen? That’s your pigment-protecting power move.
It doesn’t matter what brand your tinted sunscreen is—American or not—as long as it contains iron oxides and has a tint that you like.
Don’t Forget to Reapply
Sunscreen breaks down after two hours—even the best ones. So if you’re out and about in the sun, especially during peak hours, it’s crucial to reapply. I know it’s a hassle, especially over makeup, but this is just one of those things in life that is annoying. If you’re not wearing makeup its easly, just slap it on again (with clean hands please!). If you have makeup on, there are ways to reapply sunscreen without ruining it, by applying with a sponge or makeup brush. There are tons of videos demonstrating this online. Yes there are powders and sprays, but those are kind of just a stop gap and provide only partial protection.
Leveling Up with Sun Patches
If you’re spending the day out in direct sun—think hiking, golfing, beach days—there’s an amazing tool I want you to know about: sun patches.
These are thin, clear patches that you apply to clean, dry skin. They offer up to 12 hours of sun protection on the covered areas—seriously! No cream can do that! They also contain peptides for some added skin benefits. These are so great for lines around the eyes or areas where you pigment and you really don’t want to mess around. So instead of reapplying sunscreen to the same area over and over, pop on a sun patch, and just apply your SPF around it like usual.
Sunscreen Is Your Foundation, Not Your Only Line of Defense
Sunscreen is essential, but it’s not everything. You’ll get even better protection by pairing it with physical barriers, like a wide brimmed hat and UV-protective clothing.
In Australia, they use a method called “Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, and Slide.”
Slip on sun-protective clothing
Slop on sunscreen
Slap on a hat
Seek shade
Slide on sunglasses
This approach is basically the gold standard, and it works!
Bottom line? Your future skin is begging you to take sun protection seriously today. And with all the modern options out there, it’s easier (and more enjoyable) than ever to do it right!
Where to Buy the Good Stuff
Right now, most Asian and European sunscreens can only be purchased in the U.S. through a few international beauty retailers. Here are some of the sites I personally recommend:
Links to the sun patches I mentioned above and my favorite tinted SPF that works well for layering.
