Kiss Sun Damage Goodbye
As Nelly once said, it’s getting hot in here. But don’t take off all your clothes just yet! With temperatures rising at a steady annual rate, and the ozone layer on a crash diet that doesn’t show any signs of stopping, it’s become essential to protect our skin from UV radiation.
Ultraviolet exposure, especially at the unprecedented intensity we experience nowadays, can make a literal killing on the skin. You probably don’t need me to drone on about the importance of SPF and sunscreen; but how many of us have been showing our lips some SPF TLC? Because, and I feel like I should’ve been able to figure this one out, lips are considered part of our skin.
The effects of excessive solar radiation can range anywhere from cracks and sores, to early signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. As it is, having chapped lips is terribly inconvenient, and sometimes quite painful too. If we aren’t religiously swiping on lip balm, our lips become sandpaper: impossibly dry and cracked, parched for moisture and terrible to look at.
And while it seems like your classic Chapstick would make a fine salve, the physical effects of solar radiation could allude to even deeper issues. Like the rest of our skin, the lips contain collagen; thus, they’re just as susceptible to sun damage. And because the skin on our lips is so much thinner than the rest of the epidermis, they’re way more vulnerable to the thinning and damage that results from prolonged periods of UV exposure.
Worst case scenario? Lip cancer. Lip cancer.
Protecting our lips would require SPF of at least 30, according to the American Cancer Society. Fortunately, we don’t have to resort to slathering sun screen on our lips.
source: SUPERGOOP! | LIPSCREEN SHINE SPF 40
source: BURT’S BEES | TINTED LIP BALM IN SIENNA ROSE
Beauty brands have come to the rescue with SPF lip balms. Supergoop, The sunscreen girl of the beauty industry, has their signature Lipscreen clocking in at up to SPF 40. Burt’s Bees offers their own SPF 30 Tinted Lip Balm with shea butter for equal parts protection and moisturisation.
My personal favourite is Ultra Violette’s Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm, which contains an SPF of 50 (!!!) and sparkles like Edward Cullen’s skin in sunlight. If you want a pop of colour, it comes in three different shades of pink; but, I prefer the sheer shimmer formulation.
Sun protection is no joke. But it isn’t hard, thanks to SPF-infused skincare products.
DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored post. We do not make any commission on all products and links posted. We always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us
