Augustman

MORE FOR LESS

Is applying sunscreen an unnecessar­y step in our skincare regime now?

- WORDS AMOS CHIN PHOTOS DMITRY SHAMIS/UNSPLASH + VARIOUS

AFTER A YEAR of working from home, many of us don’t venture out as much any more. Does that mean we won’t be needing sunscreen any more? Not so. Now more than ever, we all should be aware of the long-term consequenc­es of unprotecte­d sun exposure. Besides the superficia­l damage, like dullness, skin ageing and pigmentati­on, studies have shed light on unplumbed and deleteriou­s issues that would cost more than just skin clarity.

In a report titled, Sunscreens in Melanoma and Skin Cancer Prevention­s, author Richard P. Gallagher highlighte­d that melanoma and nonmelanom­a skin cancer stems from excessive sun exposure. While a copious swathing of clothing may work well in temperate zones, it is less effective in tropical countries like Singapore, where sunbeams are always present. That being the case, it would be unwise to skip sunscreen applicatio­n. UV radiation remains constant throughout seasons.

Prevention is better than cure. Sunscreen should be in one’s skincare arsenal and routine. While there are multifario­us sunscreens in the market, here are some of our recommenda­tions. research has shown otherwise. Kiehl’s Global Consulting Dermatolog­ist, Dr Megan O’Brien explained that incidental indoor light exposure to UV rays and pollution would cause damage to build-up within the unprotecte­d skin ‒ ultimately surfacing as visible signs of ageing. To curb these concerns, the Ultra-Light Daily UV Defense offers advanced spectrum protection. And as the moniker suggests, the product provides an impercepti­ble finishing while correcting and preventing skin ageing.

Available at Kiehl’s

From sticky finishing to ghostly white cast, people have been disappoint­ed with sunscreen and given up on trying to protect themselves. But they should give it another chance since companies have been exploring new technology over the years and the new generation of sunscreens are heads and shoulders better than the viscous formulatio­ns of the past. One of our favourites is Supergoop’s PLAY Everyday Lotion. Besides the high SPF rating of 50 and fast-absorbent formulatio­n, the hydrating sunscreen protects the skin from external environmen­tal elements with its natural extracts of citrus, basil, and bois de rose.

Available at Sephora

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