Under all that gear is sunscreen! You've probably heard about the importance of wearing sunscreen even in winter months. The UV rays from the sun can do damage even if you're not getting sunburned. Thats why you can skip the sunscreen when you go out at night. But, even in winter, when the days are short and the sun often hides behind the clouds, UV rays are beaming down hitting and potentially damaging your skin. 

Sun protection is pretty simple: when there is sun, you protect yourself. In the absence of daylight, there aren’t many UV rays being hurled your way. That’s why you can skip the sunscreen when you go out at night. But even in winter, when the days are short and the sun may hide behind clouds, UV rays are beaming down and affecting your skin. A lot of people want to stop putting on sunscreen during the winter because the sun feels weaker and they think that they are less likely to burn. BUT only one of the two UV perpetrators, UVB, is actually reduced by clouds. And while those UVB rays are the culprit behind sunburn, the other type of UV rays (UVA) are very much present year-round—and it’s imperative to avoid them.

Here’s a quick refresher on UVA and UVB rays. UVA Rays: Ultraviolet A rays, also called "long wave" rays, make up 95 percent of the rays that reach the surface of the Earth. They can penetrate the skin much deeper than UVB rays and are responsible for signs of aging like dark spots and wrinkles. They also can initiate skin cancers. And, UVA rays can penetrate glass (your windshield) and beam through clouds. 

UVB: Ultraviolet B rays, also called "shortwave" rays, don’t penetrate the skin as deeply. They're what cause redness and sunburns. They are most intense from early spring to early fall, and during the day’s sunniest hours. UVB rays reach the Earth’s surface and are easily reflected off snow and ice. This makes them a bigger threat on the ski slopes, and at higher altitudes on sunny days.

We all get busy, especially during the holiday season at the end of the year. As you ring in 2022, consider establishing and maintaining a consistent skin care regimen. It is good to set a morning and evening skin care routine and follow it each day. While your specific skin care plan should be catered to match your unique skin type, there are some basics everyone should follow. In the morning, take the following steps:

1. Clean your skin – simply rinse off with warm water and a gentle cleanser. Using one that is antimicrobial and antibacterial will help prevent acne.
2. Toner – use a toner like our Astragalus and Geranium Anti-aging Toner that will deliver active ingredients like vitamin C and antioxidants as well as helping to shrink pores and prevent hyperpigmentation.
3. Serums and Eye creams – these are concentrated products used to tackle fine lines and wrinkles. Our Wakame Stem Cell Eye cream reduces dark circles and puffiness under the eyes and our Yin Balancing Facial Serum helps to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin to help prevent lines and wrinkles.
4. Acne treatments – apply spot treatments for acne rather than washing the whole face with acne products. In our acne treatment kit, we include Chinese herbs to help clear up inflammation and bacteria growth.

Moisturizer and sunscreen – you should use a moisturizer that contains sunscreen or apply an effective moisturizer for your skin type followed by a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Our Luminescent Pearl mineral cream is great for day use while our Goji Berry and Argan cream is excellent at night if you have drier skin.

Next week, we'll talk to you about your night time skin care routine!

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: Vitamin E Daily Sunscreen SPF 45 with hyaluronic acid is a lightweight, oil free, SPF 45 sunscreen. We use an innovative blend of actives and botanicals to protect your skin from premature aging. This product provides the highest possible level of protection while restoring youthfulness, firmness, and elasticity to the skin. It contains a high level of vitamin B3 (niacinamide) which reduces redness and blotchiness too!

Email Dr. Martha Lucas, the creator of My Zen Skin Care, for your FREE skin consultation.