Don’t wait! Wearing sunscreen can save your life.

Who can resist a beach day? The smell of salt water, barbeques, and sunscreen. Sunscreen can be an important part of your beach supplies, but what if I told you, it should be a part of your daily routine.

Not only does prolonged sun exposure cause increased effects of aging, but it can also become a deadly problem. Even the slightest amount of sun exposure can cause damage to our skin cells, increasing your chances of developing skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer among all other cancers combined. 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. The deadliest of these skin cancers is Melanoma. Affecting more than 1.2 million Americans, If caught in later stages survival rates can become very low.

It’s a common misconception that you don’t need to wear sunscreen if you have a naturally dark complexion. Although your dark-pigmented skin helps protect against UV rays, it does not make you immune. Most melanomas are found due to a darkening irregular mole, this fact is what makes detection so difficult among dark-pigmented skin.

If you feel comfortable, clothing such as long sleeves, pants, and large brim hats can be an amazing sun protectant. We all know summer heat waves can limit our clothing options, so let’s turn in a different direction.

Most people don’t think about applying sunscreen until outside temperatures rise. However, we should be applying sunscreen regardless of the weather. If the sun is shining, Ultraviolet rays are damaging our skin.

Many popular Sunscreens use harmful chemicals that negatively affect our skin and lessen the product’s capabilities. However, the alternative mineral-based sunscreens use Natural ingredients such as Zinc and Titanium.

#1 blue lizard

Blue Lizard is a mineral-based sunscreen originally made for the intense Australian heat. Unlike other chemical sunscreens, Blue lizard minerals stay on the surface of the skin acting as a shield against harmful sun rays.

#2 Sheer mineral Cetaphil

Cetaphil is a great option for many people who suffer from sensitive skin. Cetaphil uses the active ingredient Zinc to protect against harmful UV rays. Sometimes when products use Zinc, it can leave a noticeable white layer on the skin. An amazing benefit of the Cetaphil sheer mineral sunscreen is the natural finish it leaves after the application. No one will be able to tell you have any product on your skin.

#3 Cera Ve sunscreen

Cera Ve is a highly recommended skin care product line that includes lotions, acne washes, and of course 100% mineral-based sunscreen. Cera Ve sunscreen includes the minerals Titanium and Zinc oxide. Both of these minerals provide the added benefit of being noncomedogenic, meaning they won’t clog your pores.