We live in an age where we are bombarded by advertisements that oversell a product with pretentious claims that may be unfounded. Tanning is one such practice that has found acceptance over the years in the skincare and beauty segment. But is it safe? If the experts are to be believed, then no form of this natural color change is good for your skin.
This includes sun tan, tan lines, and self-tan. But the good news is that you can remove tan and rid your skin of its effects. And the best and easiest way to go about it is to layer up your face with sunscreen. Thus, applying sunscreen for the face prevents your skin from hyperpigmentation and protects the local skin from UV damage, even in the winter season. Tanning is not something to be proud of, especially on your face. It is, at the very basic, your skin desperately trying to heal itself. Surprised? There is a lot more you didn’t know about tan. Read to find out!
Why is tanning not a beauty process but a sign of alarm?
First things first. Sunscreen for face works as an all-weather skincare product that treats tanning and helps treat several skin-related issues. It is, therefore, important to find out why your skin turns darker when exposed regularly to the sun. Our skin is made of several layers of body tissues, the epidermis being the top one. Sun rays can penetrate through the skin and reach melanocytes, which are a part of our body’s defense mechanism.
So, when does the defense mechanism activate? When it senses an urgency to undo the damage that has been set in motion. The melanocytes are triggered into action after prolonged exposure to sun rays. This is when they start producing a natural pigment called melanin that results in the darkening of your skin when exposed to the sun. That is why sun tan in any form is nature telling you to save your skin!
The benefits of using sunscreen for the face in the winter season
Why in winter? This is the question many of us ask when asked to layer up with sunscreen. The simple answer is that the sun being distant in winter or the presence of a cloud cover does not in any way prevent the UV rays from penetrating your skin and damaging the cells. Here are some good reasons why sunscreen for the face is important in winter too!
- Protection from UV rays
The American Academy of Dermatology cautions against UVA and UVB sun rays. It recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen for the face to protect the skin from both types of rays. The minimum recommended SPF is 30 for winter. For summers, you can dial it up to 50.
- Keeps the risk of cancer at bay
Other than UV rays, pollutants in winter can also damage your skin. An SPF (30-50) cream strengthens the protective barrier and prevents your skin from free radicals and UV rays. In addition, it also prevents your skin from cancer-causing elements due to prolonged exposure to sunlight and pollutants.
- Sunburns and pigmentation
Contrary to popular belief, sunburns, and pigmentation likely result from continued exposure to sun rays in winter. The Skin Care Foundation in America also insists that UV rays can pass through cloud-covered skies. So, before you shelve that sunscreen in winter, you should think again.
- Protection in car and glass buildings
Driving to work and back is an everyday chore for most of us. However, we quickly forget that sun rays streaming through your car window damage your skin. In addition, closed places aggravate pigmentation and dryness of the sun in winter. The same holds for office spaces located in glass buildings.
- Repairs and hydrates damaged skin
Most skins in winter suffer from dehydration. Pigmentation patches also surface as common complaints because outdoor activities and travel are more frequent in winter than summer. Sunscreen locks in hydration and keeps your face moisturized.
- Stops the aging of skin cells
Did you know 80 percent of the UVA and UVB rays are cancer-causing and can damage your skin cells? This is because prolonged exposure, even to the winter sun, makes your skin dry and precipitates the aging of the epidermis. Using sunscreen for the face stops this untimely deterioration of skin and helps prevent the onset of wrinkles and fine lines.
What boxes should the best tan removal cream tick?
While sunscreens for the face offer great protection when you are outdoors, you also need to invest in a good tan removal cream to reduce the dark patches and pigmentation that have already taken effect. The best tan removal cream will be made of natural ingredients without harmful chemicals. Mamaearth’s Ubtan-based Tan Removal Regimen Kit is made just for you!
it is safe, natural, and very effective in all seasons. The de-tanning cream kit is infused with antioxidants and vitamins. In addition, anti-inflammatory ingredients such as aloe, sandalwood, and milk make it hydrating, leaving your skin soothed and plump. If you wish to dive deep into de-tanning, you can opt for a good tan removal kit with a face scrub and face mask. With the added arsenal, the best tan removal cream gets even better!
Sunscreen for year-round protection
Winter or summer, you should armor up against harmful sun rays with a good SPF cream or sunscreen for the face. The UV rays do not disappear in winter. Your skin is more vulnerable to damage and diseases in winter due to a lack of protection than in summer. A light SPF 50 cream offers great defense against sunburns, hyperpigmentation, and tan lines.
If you are not a cream person, you can go for an SPF 30 body lotion that effectively protects against sun tan in winter. You can also choose an aloe-infused sunscreen serum or a sunscreen gel with turmeric.
The important thing to remember is that sunscreen for the face is not season-specific. Instead, it is a multipurpose skincare product that keeps your face skin healthy and supple all year long.