Last week was the Canadian Dermatology Association National Sunscreen Awareness Week, which got me to thinking about all the reasons why sunscreen is important. Since I was a teenager I was always taught the importance of wearing sunscreen (especially on the face) every single day. While I wasn’t as diligent with it when I was younger, I always knew it was the “secret” to keeping skin in healthy condition and fighting premature signs of aging.

{Why Sunscreen is Important}

Now that summer weather is here it’s even more important to wear sunscreen daily. I have always thought that wearing sunscreen every day was part of people’s every day routines; but I’m meeting more and more people these days (including my husband!) that only apply sunscreen when they’re going to be out in the sun for a long time. In fact…1 in every 10 Canadians have NEVER used sunscreen*! Also, apparently 72% of Canadians intentionally choose NOT to wear sunscreen*. This just baffles me!

*Information provided by Aveeno and Neutrogena.

Why is it that people choose not to wear sunscreen? As I think about all the benefits and protection of a sunscreen, I can only come to the conclusion that they haven’t found a sunscreen that they like yet. Luckily, with new technology in the skincare industry, there’s bound to a be a sunscreen that’s perfect for everyone!

Let’s start with two of my favourite sunscreen brands: Aveeno and Neutrogena.

My go-to sunscreen for every day is the AVEENO PROTECT + HYDRATE Sunscreen with ACTIVE NATURALS Colloidal Oatmeal. I love it because it not only protects against the harmful sun’s rays but it hydrates your skin too so there’s no need for another moisturizer. It’s also non greasy so I don’t mind having to reapply it during the day. I keep one in my desk drawer so I can reapply before I go for a lunch time walk or before I leave work.

My husband is one of those people that hates applying moisturizer, never mind sunscreen. He’s also very athletic so wants something he can apply quickly and on the go. He’s a fan of the NEUTROGENA ULTRA SHEER Sunscreen with HELIOPLEX technology (especially the body mist!) because it absorbs easily and is dry to the touch almost instantly.

Some other interesting facts about the sun are that it can penetrate water up to 30 metres**; this is why it’s so important to protect your skin even if you’re going swimming! Also, even on a cloudy day, 70% of all UVA rays can penetrate through the clouds**. Yet a another reason to protect your skin no matter what the weather.

**Information provided by Ombrelle.

For those that are active and sweat a lot, or for those times when you’ll be by the water, try a water resistant formula such as Ombrelle Sport Endurance – which is also oil free! It’s perfect to apply on both dry or wet skin so there’s no excuse to not reapply throughout the day!

If you’ve got sensitive skin, often the fragrance in many sunscreens can be bothersome. But that’s STILL not an excuse to go without! Mineral sunscreens which are physical blocks are a good option for many; personally I don’t wear too many mineral sunscreens as they tend to break me out.

Botanical and fragrance free sunscreens are a good option too; I recently discovered Alba Botanica which are formulated without artificial colours, harsh preservatives, fragrance, phthalates and sulfates. They go on smoothly, just like moisturizer and feel really nice on the skin!

I REALLY hope that you wear sunscreen every single day and if you don’t, I hope I gave you a few reasons on why sunscreen is important with a few options for you to check out. Also be sure to look out for multi-tasking sunscreens that do double duty.

I’d love to know what your favourite sunscreen formulation and brand is!