Over the years, my mother has reminded me that the first thing the doctor said to her when I was born was, “Keep this one out of the sun.” I was practically translucent for the first few years of my life, then slowly as the sun’s penetrating rays bombarded my skin, freckles appeared reminding me that my pigment is splotchy at best. Thankfully, my mother was constantly slathering sunscreen on me as a child (sunblock wasn’t really around until I was in my teens) providing some protection from the brutal Southern California sun.
The biggest benefit of my mother’s sunblock habit was that I continued this habit. I don’t leave the house without SPF 30 on my face, and during the summer months SPF 50 on most of my body. But how can my sunblock habit save money? The sun’s damaging rays are the primary culprit when it comes to wrinkles. Of course over time gravity and the lack of collagen eventually give way to the skin’s wrinkled appearance, but sunblock can definitely slow down the aging process. Instead of heading to the plastic surgeon to zap premature wrinkles, or inject Botox – a form of botulism (nice, huh?), I’m happy to report that I’ve been able to avoid visits with that kind of specialist.
One could argue that I’m vain, or that the wrinkles that have gradually gained a foot-hold on my face I’ve decided to ignore instead of freeze them into a mask-like appearance (an unskilled Botox treatment can leave a person looking a bit frozen and immobile). Yet instead I argue that I’ve saved thousands by diligently applying sunblock for a fraction of the cost and not sunbathing for a deep-dark tan, which in my case would just end up as a humongous freckle.
Another advantage to using sunblock is that I’m saving myself from the costly medical expenses of skin cancer, which is definitely more serious and deadly than a few wrinkles. Sunblock has protected me from the dark, uneven splotches that people with my complexion often develop from years of sun damage.
The invention of waterproof sunblock has allowed me to continue to be active outdoors without having to hide from the sun like a vampire (hint, hint Nicole Kidman! – though she does have enviable, pure-white skin.) The cost of applying sunblock practically year round is under $75 per year, a savings compared to the alternatives (plastic surgery, Botox, or skin cancer!)
My sunblock tips from experience:
- Use a good quality sunblock with an SPF of at least 30 for your body
- Select a sunblock especially designed for your face (SPF 30+) – these sunblocks absorb better into your skin leaving you shine-free
- Apply sunblock throughout the year (if you live in a gloomy or wintery place, you can select a slightly lower SPF but UV’s are still coming through the cloud cover)
- Don’t forget your neck and chest
Do you wear sunblock 365 days out of the year? Why or why not?
22 Comments
Join the conversation and post a comment.
Leave a Comment
Links I Love
usaa widget
- 529 College Savings Plan
Open a USAA 529 College Savings Plan and ensure your child's education has a happy ending!
- Saving for Retirement
Saving for retirement can be tough but USAA's retirement tools makes that process much easier - sign up today!
- USAA Savings Account
Take advantage of a USAA savings account where the more you save, the better your rate becomes.
I don’t wear sunblock as much as I should. If I know i’ll be out in the sun for a prolonged period of time i’ll lather up but less than 30 minutes, not likely. I also don’t wear much sun block in the winter though I suppose the sun reflection off the snow can cause a burn as well. But again, I don’t spend long periods of time outside in the Canadian winter!
Mrs. SPF wears a lot more sun screen than I. Her skin pigment is quite fair and she could burn quickly (i’ve yet to see that however as she wears sun block!).
Sustainable PF recently posted..We Bought Less House Than We Could Afford
Since I bicycle a lot, sunscreen is important! I just bought some sunscreen yesterday. My dermatologist suggested SPF 30, but said to make sure it had zinc oxide in the product. I learned that very few products have zinc oxide in the sunscreen. I normally do not wear sunscreen except when I ride. I try to avoid being in the sunshine for more than a couple of minutes.
krantcents recently posted..Don’t Buy Hamburgers!
Great post. I always enjoy finding posts the support preventive care and thinking long-term. Keep up the good work.
I don’t wear sunblock every day but my moisturizer and foundation are both SPF 15 and I wear those every day. If I’m going to the beach or swimming, I use SPF 30 (Blue Lizard. Best sunblock ever) all over. Skin cancer runs in my family and I want none of it!
jana recently posted..Revising home economics
I don’t wear sunblock because I can’t. It actually burns and blisters my skin. Instead I use coconut oil. It has an SPF of 15 so it is at least something.
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter recently posted..Globalization: Is it Bad for the Environment?
@Krantcents – That’s interesting about the zinc oxide. I’ll have to look that up and see if my sunblocks have this ingredient as well. thanks!
@20s Finance – I’m a big believer in preventative care. In the long run, it could save thousands on medical bills!
@Jana – I used to only wear SPF 15, but the sunny CA sun shines all year long and I had to bump it up to 30SPF over the past few years. I’ll have to look into Blue Lizard. I’ve never heard of it. Thanks!
@Miss T – Wow. I’ve never heard of that. Is it a particular ingredient that causes that reaction? I also didn’t realize that coconut oil has an SPF value in it. Good to know.
I wear sunblock on my nose daily, but I’m not sure what SPF it is. (It’s just in the makeup that I bought.) I would really like to find some that isn’t greasy.
Jackie recently posted..Living on One Income
Must be those Mediterranean genes… I rarely wear sunscreens. On very hot days, it’s a Tilley hat doused in water, and I’m good to go.
101 Centavos recently posted..Random Flotsam and Jetsam in a Storm Surge of Links
I always wore sunscreen as a (pale, freckley) kid, and have stepped it up a notch since moving to the sunny prairies. I find with a hat and sunglasses, my face stays pretty well covered, but I always need SPF of at least 30 on my shoulders, chest, and back. SPF 100 if I’ll be out for a long time.
Annabelle recently posted..Day 241: How to be frugal and fashion-forward
I never think to put it on except when I’m going to the beach/canoing. I guess those are just the situations where I think of using it. I should think about using it more, but I wish I had more time outdoors where I needed it!!
Kellen recently posted..Stresses of responsibility
With my fair complexion, I try to be vigilant with protecting my skin. My biggest problem with sunblock is remembering to reapply it. Great reminders on the benefits – I’ll work harder to stay on top of it.
Elle recently posted..I Saved Hundreds on Our Medical Bills in 10 Minutes
@Jackie – I use Aveeno Positively Radiant SPF 30 for faces and it’s not greasy. It absorbs really well and is hypo-allergenic. Without it I’d be fried!
@101 Centavos – You’re lucky! So many times I wished I had more pigment in my skin to achieve that nice, warm golden glow and didn’t have to worry about burning. But it won’t ever happen with my pale while skin.
@Annabelle – I’ve been trying to get better with wearing a hat, but it’s not a habit I’ve formed yet. I haven’t looked into SPF 100, I might need to check that out.
@Kellen – I think the reason I wear it every day is that if I go one day without it, I get burned; even if I’m just sitting near a window! Some people don’t think about it daily because they have more of a tolerance (or pigment) in their skin and can endure more time in the sun without any change in color. But you definitely should wear it while at the beach or on the water!
@Elle – That’s a good point that I didn’t bring up. Reapplying it is important. I don’t reapply sunblock on my face unless I’m swimming or really active. I need to get better at doing that.
Luckily for you your mom was on top of things protecting you as a child/teen. Keep up the habit and you will remain wrinkle and cancer free! I am a ghost too as I use sunblock all the time. Id rather be white then have my skin damaged from the sun.
Wayne Banks recently posted..Learn More About Local Wayne Banks
@Wayne Banks – I’d definitely rather be white than have skin cancer, for sure. Now if I could just get rid of my freckles!
@Little House
haha
your crazy, I love freckles
Waynebankingrates.com recently posted..Learn More About Local Wayne Banks