Protect your skin’s glow with these 3 simple ingredients to beat UV rays daily.
We all know the importance of applying sunscreen before stepping out the door each day, but certain skincare ingredients can actually boost its effectiveness.
By adding just one simple step to your daily routine, you can give your skin extra protection against the harsh, damaging effects of UV exposure.
Here are three simple ingredients to incorporate into your daily skincare routine to make your sunscreen all the more effective.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a great pairing with your sunscreen in your daily sun protection routine. It essentially lifts the SPF of your sunscreen and protects your skin against UV rays.
Vitamin C is not only beneficial in preventing skin damage caused by free radicals produced by sun exposure, but it also repairs the skin after sun exposure. Without such benefits, the risk of sun damage and premature aging increases.
It is also great for protecting your skin against other environmental stressors that could irritate your skin such as pollution.
For best results, opt for a vitamin C serum with stable forms of vitamin C like L-ascorbic acid of 10%-20% concentration. Alternatively, a 5%-10% concentration is more friendly for those with sensitive skin. Derivatives like tetrahydroxyldecyl ascorbate (THD-Ascorbate) are also an effective alternative for sensitive skin.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another great property found in skincare products. Sunscreens are never a 100% surefire protection against the sun, including the most effective of sunscreens. Those with SPF 50 and 30 block 98% and 96.7% of UV rays respectively. These percentages seem relatively high, but over time the gaps in protection from the sun can have varying impacts on your skin.
To fill in these gaps in defence against the sun, the antioxidants in vitamin E neutralise free radicals from UV exposure. They are also highly helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation (dark areas on certain areas of the skin) by evening out complexion.
Vitamin E also supports the skin’s lipid barrier by retaining moisture and stopping irritation from the sun’s harsh, drying effects.
It is also known to work wonders on skin texture. By promoting healthy cell regeneration, it helps in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles worsened by sun exposure.
Vitamin E is listed as tocopherol, d-alpha-tocopherol or tocotrienol in skin products. It is found in antioxidant serums, moisturisers, topical oils, night creams and even sunscreens.
How much vitamin E you should incorporate into your daily skincare routine depends on your skin. Vitamin E is found in sebum, so the oilier your skin is, the more vitamin E it has, and the more likely it is you don’t need as much vitamin E through skincare products. This means that those with drier skin will benefit greatly from using vitamin E products.
Vitamin E, when combined with vitamin C, is known to have enhanced benefits. When used together, they further support the maintenance of smooth, young, healthy skin. Who could resist double the benefits?
Niacinamide
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) acts as a healing antioxidant barrier for your skin. It supports the protective capacity of sunscreens. It shields the skin from UV radiation by elevating protection against sun damage, inflammation, hyperpigmentation and premature aging.
It also boosts moisture retention and skin healing and regeneration, which is especially soothing when a day out in the sun leaves your skin feeling dry and irritated.
Niacinamide is easily found in various skincare products including serums and moisturisers. It is even found in sunscreens if you wish to combine the reparative properties of niacinamide and the essential protection of sunscreens into one simple product.
No matter what skin type you have — oily, dry, combination or sensitive — niacinamide is gentle while being effective. However, it is important to always monitor how your skin reacts to niacinamide products and adapt your use of it accordingly.
Products containing niacinamide can be used morning and night, but using it in the morning is encouraged before going about your day.
With its multiple benefits and friendliness to all skin types, this healing nutrient is a must-add element to your daily sun protection routine.
