Yes, It's Possible To Enjoy Sunshine While Avoiding Dark Spots & Fine Lines

This can’t come as a surprise for any regular readers of mine, but the most important step to care for your skin is (say it with me): Sunscreen! It is the single greatest “anti-aging” ingredient on the market because it stops the damage from happening in the first place.

Unfortunately usage isn’t as widespread as many beauty experts would like: Surveys indicate that only 11% of Americans do so. And about half of Americans report they never wear sunscreen.  

If you count yourself in that “rarely-to-never apply” camp, I strongly encourage you to check out the crop of new sunscreens. These formulas are everything you want a sunscreen to be. They feel great when you apply, don’t pill under makeup, don’t irritate sensitive skin, and work for a wide range of skin tones and types. 

I’m constantly reminded of this golden advice given to me from board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology Group about antioxidants: "People often ask how many antioxidants you should be using regularly; the answer is: the more the better. The more you can help neutralize unstable molecules caused by free radical formation, the longer you can salvage the health of your cells and skin. There's really no limit to how much you can protect and repair your body!" 

Antioxidants help stop the cascade of free radical damage triggered by UV radiation. Use them before you go out in the sun, during, and after. 

Another huge benefit of the free radical fighters is that there are so many of them to pick from. While antioxidants as a category targets free radicals, the individual antioxidants themselves can offer more specific benefits tailored to your needs. 

A rundown of a few of the more popular ones:

Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that’s considered to be the “gold standard” of aging ingredients as it’s one of the most studied for its effects on the skin. 

The ingredient does a lot when applied topically, including helping deal with sun damage. Retinol combats the effect by inhibiting metalloproteinases5, or collagen-degrading enzymes. Additionally, as it encourages cell turnover, it helps thicken the epidermis and even out hyperpigmentation6. Not only does it protect against collagen loss, but it can help enhance production too by upregulating collagen producing genes. This effect was observed in a small human study, where retinol treatment stimulated collagen production7 in mature skin, helping decrease the appearance of wrinkling. 

For many professionals, it's considered a “must.” However, retinol is notoriously difficult to tolerate—especially if you have sensitive or dry skin. And for these folks, it may end up causing more harm than good. So I tell people to use it if they can, but don’t force yourself if it triggers inflammation.

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