This year, I’m focusing on repairing and revitalizing my skin. Essentially, it’ll be ideal to have skin, that’s better than makeup. I read a lot of articles on the topic but it wasn’t until I read, This That Beauty’s Required Reading for Clear, Glowy Skin, that a lot of my questions were answered when it came to why my skin products seemed to not be working. Sunscreen. As an African American Women, more specifically, Haitian-Bahamian-American, I will be the first to admit that if there was one thing that I’ve neglected it was sunscreen. I’ve oohed and ahhed over Felicia’s dang near flawless skin for a while now and she says that it’s her secret to great skin. “If asked the “stranded on a deserted island” question – I would respond “sunscreen”. It’s my beauty non-negotiable. I’ve worn it every day since about age 20… and had I known better, I would have started before then. This blog post is a must read for protecting and maintaining perfect skin!”, she says. So as I jump and down on my bed and shout from the mountain sofa tops, “SUNSCREENNN”, I pause and wonder — well, which sunscreen and what level of SPF should I use?! According to my favvoorriittee Miami Dermatologist, Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd, “I recommend for the face a minimum of SPF 30 because we don’t apply as much as we need to to get that required SPF. An SPF 30 blocks 97 percent of the sun’s rays. SPF 15 blocks 93 percent of the sun’s rays. If you only apply a small amount, your coverage is reduced. Sunscreen is so important when you are treating skin of color and pigment. Even if the treatment to fade those dark spots works, if you go out in the sun, they will come right back. A big part of my practice is educating patients on how important sunscreen is. If you don’t use sunscreen, you are fighting an uphill battle. Sunscreens are absolutely essential and should be a part of your daily regimen”. So guys, I challenge you, to rock sunscreen 5-7 days a week for the entire year. If you do only 4 days in one week, I challenge you to make up that day in the following. For me, I’ll be using it as my lotion mixed in with a little bit of coconut oil. I have to remember that I do have sensitive skin, so I will be looking for a sunscreen that won’t irritate my sugary brown epidermis. I’ll start with AVEENO and go from there! Hope you enjoyed this skin secret, as much as I did! Until Next Time!
