As a kid, you were probably told to wear sunscreen when playing outside to help protect against sunburns. And mom was right: One of the biggest benefits of sunscreen is its ability to help shield your skin against painful burns. But it’s not the only benefit—not by a long shot.
In actuality, wearing sunscreen every day (and all year long) can help keep your skin looking and feeling healthy, reduce the risk of developing premature fine lines and wrinkles, and may limit the appearance of skin concerns like discoloration. Here, we’ll dive deeper into the benefits of wearing sunscreen and explain why applying SPF daily is a must—even if you’re not soaking up the sun in the sandbox anymore.
Sunscreen Benefit #1: Defends the Skin From Ultraviolet Rays
There are two different types of sunscreen: chemical and mineral. Overall, the benefits of chemical sunscreen and the benefits of mineral sunscreen are the same. Both help protect the skin against ultraviolet radiation (also known as UV rays). However, they work in different ways. Chemical sunscreen absorbs the rays and converts them into heat before they can affect the skin; mineral sunscreen, meanwhile, physically blocks the rays. Shielding your skin from these rays is important because, without adequate protection, they can damage your skin, resulting in short-term concerns (like those aforementioned sunburns) as well as more long-term ones. By wearing sunscreen diligently, you can help keep your skin protected against these damaging rays.
Sunscreen Benefit #2: Protects Against Sunburn
Sunburns are not fun. Though they tend to be more common in the summer—when you’re spending more time outdoors—you can burn any time of year, including the winter. Wearing sunscreen helps protect your skin against the ultraviolet rays that cause sunburns, minimizing the chances you’ll have to load up on aloe vera after a day spent outdoors. Keep in mind that sunscreen alone shouldn’t be your only sun protection measure. You should also seek shade and wear protective clothing to minimize your exposure to sunlight when possible.
Sunscreen Benefit #3: Supports the Skin Barrier
The skin barrier is your skin’s first line of defense against the outside world. It does everything from helping ensure your skin stays hydrated to protecting against stressors like air pollution and other irritants. Needless to say, it has an important job. One advantage of wearing sunscreen is that it helps protect your skin barrier against damage, so your skin can stand up to all of those stressors.
Sunscreen Benefit #4: Helps Prevent Redness
While you can temporarily camouflage redness with a color corrector (such as our Pro Fix Stick Correcting Concealer), sunscreen may help tone it down, too. One study assessing three different sunscreens found that all helped reduce redness, even though they weren’t designed to do so.1 Experts also recommend sunscreen as part of a daily care plan for rosacea-prone skin. If you’re prone to redness or irritation, look for a gentle, hydrating sunscreen that absorbs easily to minimize friction from rubbing product into your skin.
Sunscreen Benefit #5: Helps Prevent Wrinkles
There’s nothing wrong with wrinkles—laugh lines and crow’s feet are a sign of a life well-lived. That being said, wanting to keep them at bay for as long as possible is understandable. Enter: Sunscreen. One of the biggest benefits of sunscreen is that it helps protect against UV rays, which slows the development of fine lines and wrinkles. So if you want to maintain your smooth, youthful-looking skin, don’t pass on the SPF.
Sunscreen Benefit #6: Limit the Appearance of Dark Spots
Many things can contribute to dark spots, but one of the most significant is unprotected sun exposure. Unlike a tan, which fades gradually over a week or so, sun spots (dark spots caused by sun exposure) tend to stick around. What’s more: They often become more prominent with additional sun exposure. Help keep your skin even-looking by applying sunscreen every day, no matter the season.
Sunscreen Benefit #7: Lowers the Risk of Skin Cancer
According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day can help reduce the risk of skin cancer.2 For lasting protection, you’ll want to reapply your SPF at least every two hours (more often if you’re sweating or swimming), and take other sun-protection measures, like staying in the shade at midday.
The Benefits of Blur Screen SPF 30 Primer
Ultimately, you should be wearing sunscreen every single day, no exceptions. To help keep your skin protected, you can also reach for makeup products with SPF, like our Blur Screen SPF 30 Primer. Ahead, we’ll clue you in on the biggest benefits of this multi-tasking makeup primer and teach you how to use it in your daily routine.
Blur Screen Benefit #1: Offers SPF 30 Protection Against UV Rays
Blur Screen SPF 30 Primer, as the name suggests, offers SPF 30 protection against skin-damaging UV rays. We recommend applying it as the first step in your makeup routine. (Learn more about How to Wear Sunscreen and Makeup.)
Blur Screen Benefit #2: Blurs Imperfections
Sunscreen benefits don’t usually include blurring the skin, but our three-in-one primer does. Apply an even layer to clean skin to blur imperfections and give your skin a soft matte finish.
Blur Screen Benefit #3: Primes the Skin For Makeup
As a makeup primer, Blur Screen does what primers are meant to do: It helps prepare the skin for makeup application. The sheer, blendable formula offers lasting grip to help keep your makeup in place for up to 18 hours.
Blur Screen Benefit #4: Layers Seamlessly With Foundation
Layering makeup and sunscreen can feel like a challenge if you’re using incompatible formulas, but Blur Screen is made to pair with makeup. We suggest using it alongside our Bare With Me Blur Tint Foundation and Bare With Me Concealer Serum for a long-lasting matte makeup look. (Tip: Use our foundation finder if you’re not sure which shade to snag.)
Blur Screen Benefit #5: Suitable For All
Some sunscreens can feel greasy or leave behind a white cast, which can make your search for the perfect SPF feel like a challenge. Fortunately, Blur Screen is suitable for all skin types and tones. It has a lightweight, non-greasy finish and blends seamlessly without leaving behind a white cast. The result: fresh-feeling skin—and makeup that lasts.
If you add Blur Screen to your beauty routine, share a selfie with us @nyxcosmeticson Instagram.
Next: Find makeup inspiration for all of your warm-weather adventures in our article 8 Cool Summer Makeup Looks for Hot Days.
Sources
Gonzalez-Bravo, Alicia et al. “The Effect of Sunscreens on the Skin Barrier.” Life (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 12,12 2083. 12 Dec. 2022.
“Facts About Sunscreen.” The United States Food and Drug Administration. 16 May 2023.
PRODUCTS USED
BLURSCREEN SPF 30 PRIMER
A blurring primer sunscreen with no white cast and up to 18h makeup wear.
Bare With Me Concealer Serum
Medium-Coverage Hydrating Concealer for Face and Body
Bare With Me Blur Tint Foundation
Blurring tint foundation in 24 medium coverage, matte shades
