On Wearing Sunscreen Indoors

It’s week six of self-isolation over here, and I have to admit it’s starting to feel normal. The empty streets, rolling out of bed and straight into Zoom (camera strategically off while I take off my disheveled bun from the night before, of course), more home cooked meals than ever before, virtual happy hours with friends… Isn’t that how it’s always been? I digress. As we continue to spend time at home and the weather is getting warmer, one thing that’s hopped from my pre-COVID routine to now is wearing sunscreen indoors.

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Granted, I’m extremely fair—people in the US are always somehow confused that I can be both pale and Brazilian, as if we didn’t come in every shade under the sun (pun very much intended). My first dermatologist at age 14 ingrained in me the importance of wearing sunscreen daily, and I have yet to let him down! I’ve worn an SPF of at least 30 for years, and intend to keep doing so forever. Over the past few years, as I’ve learned more and more about skin and skincare, I’ve learned two additional things:

• The importance of reapplying sunscreen throughout the day
• and the importance of wearing sunscreen indoors

Both of these situations are highly relevant right now. As we play around with the different restrictions we’ve either had applied to us by our culture, environment, and work, as well as with the restrictions we’ve placed upon ourselves, it’s tempting to relax when it comes to sun care. After all, if you’re going to show up to work (née guest bedroom or dining room table) wearing sweatpants and a bun, worrying about sun damage goes against the chill at-home vibe.

However, just because you can’t directly see the sun, doesn’t mean it can’t see you. My rule of thumb is: if you can tell it’s not nighttime, then there is sunlight hitting your eyes, and therefore the rest of your face. While the amount of damage the sun can cause indoors is not the same as frying on the beach midsummer, it’s not unsubstantial, either. According to medical studies and board-certified dermatologists, UVA rays can penetrate windows and cause damage to the skin.

The market for sun protection has changed dramatically over the past few years, and we don’t have to resign to the sticky, white-cast-inducing, strongly smelling sunscreens that remind us of being breaded in sand at the beach as kids. In fact, there’s a sun protection solution available out there for every preference and situation. Here are a few of my personal favorites:

Before makeup:

As the final step of my skincare routine, I always apply sunscreen. Bioré makes amazing, affordable sunscreens, most with a PA ++++ and SPF 50 rating. Additionally, my personal favorite liquid sunscreens are the Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+ PA ++++ and, more recently, the Purito Centella Green Level Unscented Sun SPF 50+ PA++++. The latter is fantastic for sensitive skin as it has no fragrance of essential oils, and counts on calming ingredients like Centella Asiatica to nourish the skin on top o providing sun protection.

In makeup:

Makeup products themselves can contain sun protection, but we shouldn’t rely on them exclusively because we’re unlikely to apply enough product to reach the level of protection advertised on the packaging. See it as an additional protective step. Some great makeup products with sun protection that I use regularly are the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50 for a wonderful base and the Supergoop! Shine On Lip Screen SPF 50 for protecting the sensitive skin on the lips!

Reapplying throughout the day:

Reapplying sunscreen over makeup can feel like an impossible task, but there are excellent sunscreen powders and sprays ready to take on that very task. I love the Supergoop! Invincible Setting Powder SPF 45. The packaging is small, lightweight, and perfect for traveling. It’s so easy to apply, and I love that it’s sweat resistant and actually translucent. For a bit of color, the Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 45 is the way to go.

For those of us with a carefully edited skincare routine, it’s impossible to not have sunscreen as the crown jewel of skin protection. This is especially true for retinol/tretinoin users like myself. Now that I’ve been stuck at home for so long, I do forego makeup on most days. At most I apply a little concealer and mascara, and on rare days like today I go full face minus foundation/cc cream. The one thing I do every day, though, is wear sunscreen indoors.

I’m curious: what sun care products do you love? Are there any you highly recommend (or perhaps advise against)? Let me know in the comments.

Stay curious,

Nati