With the summer season fast upon us, many of us are likely making plans for destination vacation, beach days, and other local adventures.

However, while we love our fun in the sun, we’d be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to remind you about the essential skincare step that is sun protection. For a closer look at why it’s such a must, keep reading. We’ve got the full scoop on how UV exposure impacts your skin throughout a lifetime. Also, check out our last blog post on SPF application tips and product recommendations.

Childhood and Your 20s - As babies, we are all born with our healthiest skin, but even early on, UV exposure is unavoidable and the skin begins to experience initial damage, especially without proper sun care. Young skin will often burn or tan but the long-term effects may not become visible just yet, meaning many of us often don’t prioritize SPF and begin to incur invisible damage during these early stages.

In Your 30s - As we leave our twenties and approach our forties, these in-between years are when an accumulation of previous damage will start to become visible - particularly sun spots and discoloration, as well as fine lines. This has a lot to do with the fact that the skin’s turnover cycles start to slow down with every passing year, and the skin is no longer able to bounce back as quickly as it once did.

In Your 40s - Similar to during our thirties, the forties bring even more pronounced signs of UV aging, as cellular rejuvenation continues to slow down. Additionally, because sun damage is responsible for the breakdown of foundational fibers like collagen and elastin, this is when skin starts to become less supple and fine lines appear in high exposure areas like the forehead, around the eyes, and mouth.

Your 50s+- Mature skin is some of the most vulnerable to sun damage, as the skin’s defences don’t work as efficiently as they did in our 20s. At this FABULOUS point in our life, it’s likely that the skin will show both dark spots, discolouration, fine lines, and deeper wrinkles.  Skin cancer is also more common at this age, after years of continued UV exposure, so consistent sun care is crucial, along with annual visits to the dermatologist.

*REMINDER – all skin no matter what your age has the ability to make WONDERFUL improvements in your overall skin health and complexions through a simplified skincare routine. 

The Importance of Caring for Your Complexion Through the Years

Although aging is perfectly natural and should be considered a gift, there’s still a lot you can do to minimize sun damage and ensure that your skin stays protected throughout all of life's ages and stages. The earlier you start good sun care habits, as well as a targeted skincare routine that promotes optimal skin health - including daily moisture, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and other active ingredients - the more you will be able to prevent premature aging and enjoy glowing skin for many years to come!