If you’re worried about wrinkles and other signs of aging on the skin, you probably have a pretty healthy skincare regimen worked out. Moisturizing, wearing sunscreen and avoiding too much direct sunlight can help preserve your youthful glow for a long time. This time of year is the most dangerous for our skin, and even if you are taking the basic precautions to protect yourself, there are a few small mistakes you might be making that you aren’t aware of.
Skipping the sunnies Sunglasses aren’t just a fashion statement. You need them to protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation. If you think it’s OK to skip the sunglasses every once in a while, think again. Whenever you go outside on a sunny day without dark glasses, you are most likely going to be squinting. Can you guess what repetitive squinting leads to over time? Crow’s feet – which you may have to treat with Botox if you’re not careful.
Tip: Keep a pair of sunglasses in the car so you’ll never end up squinting and driving.
Suntan lotion instead of moisturizer Sunscreen is the consistency of moisturizer, so it must provide the same benefits as your daily lotion, right? Wrong. Not all sunscreen hydrates the skin, and in some cases, it may add extra oils or even dry you out. While protecting yourself with sunscreen is essential, you must also be sure that you are giving your skin the moisture it needs to stay healthy.
Tip: Bring your favorite moisturizer to the drug store and compare its list of ingredients with the sunscreens you are considering purchasing.
Unprotected in the evenings The most dangerous time of day for your skin is from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., but this doesn’t mean you’re good to go without sunscreen before or after this window. Your skin can still get burned or sun damaged in the morning or evenings, and you can’t rely on clouds or overcast skies to protect you, either. No matter what time of day, if the sun is up, you need to wear sunscreen. If you don’t, you’ll likely see the formation of freckles, sunspots or other blemishes, which can fortunately be taken care of with a skin procedure like microdermabrasion or skin resurfacing.
Tip: Most weather websites and newspapers list the time of sunup and sundown. Pay attention!