Why You Need SPF (Even If You Don’t Burn)
SPF Explained For Real:
A Niagara Guide To Sunscreen
I keep meaning to wear sunscreen.
I also keep meaning to answer texts, fold laundry, and drink water.
You see the problem.
have you ever been minding your own business, driving to work,and catch your reflection in the car mirror, and think
“oh… that’s new”?
like a little shadowy spot on your cheek or a new line that wasn’t there last week?
because i’m over here having my own skin regrets. dark spots, lines, and weird little bumps popping up out of nowhere.
and some of my clients are noticing it for themselves too!
like, they took a long walk along the canal,
or they had a Canada Day picnic at Merritt Island,
and suddenly their glow’s gone or a new spot’s setting up camp on their cheek.
I want to be better with my SPF this summer.
you keep meaning to wear sunscreen… right up until you dont :)
not because you’re lazy (I am though)
but because you’re just trying to get through the day without overheating, ghosting your group chat, or forgetting your debit card again.
SPF doesn’t demand anything,
so it’s easy to ignore.
until your cheeks stay red a little too long, of course.
if this sounds like your skin lately… tired, touchy, makeup doesn’t sit right or bouncing back the way it used to
this is the sunscreen I actually use, love, and hoard.
or come in for a skin consultation and facial if you’re not sure what’ll work best for you.
“Excellent experience! Brittany was very knowledgeable and had excellent product recommendations.”
Sun damage doesn’t always show up like bam, red nose, cartoon sunburn.
unless you’re my ginger sister who steps outside for an hour and comes back with heatstroke every time. if you’re reading this, put on your damn sunscreen, gurl.
you don’t have to “burn” to get sun damage. You just have to exist near a window. or be pulling weeds in the garden for “just ten minutes”
Your glow? Evaporating.
Your pigment? Plotting against you.
Your collagen? Quiet quitting.
And here you are thinking you’re safe because you wore a hat once last week.
I see it in the facial studio all the time!
skin freaking out over something a nickel-sized blob of SPF that takes 30 seconds to apply could’ve blocked.
“okay wait… this finally made SPF make sense to me”
your skin is a castle. like, legit thick stone walls, guards, a full repair team, the works.
yasss queen.
the outer wall? that’s your skin barrier. it keeps the good stuff in and blocks the bad stuff out.
the guards? those are your immune cells. they’re chill… until something sus shows up. the second something shady gets through, they sound the alarm and start swinging.
then there’s collagen: the foundation. it holds the whole castle up and keeps things firm and supported.
elastin is where i had my lightbulb moment. elastin = elastic. duh. why did no one just say that? they’re literal elastic bands built into the foundation and walls.
peptides are the project managers. they’re the ones calling the shots.
“hey, we need more collagen over here.” “hydration’s leaking in quadrant three. send backup.”
they coordinate, delegate, and keep the whole place from falling apart.
when things are calm? everyone’s doing their job and they’re killing it.
everything’s chill… until the flaming arrows show up.
they don’t usually knock down the wall in one go. they sneak in slowly day after day.
chipping the stone.
loosening the mortar.
weakening your foundation without you even noticing.
now the repair crew’s dodging arrows while trying to fix the cracks.
and eventually… they fall behind.
your collagen can’t keep up.
your elastin gets looser, like stretched-out hair ties that never snap back.
the guards are in full trauma response. they’re launching flares at anything that moves, even stuff that’s not a threat. which just makes everything worse. (hi, inflammation.)
The project managers’ walkie-talkies lose signal and cut out. the repair crew’s not getting the messages.
and suddenly no one’s fixing the hole in the east wall... because no one knows it’s there.
so what does SPF do?
it’s the protection spell. a sparkly protective force field
it doesn’t fix the wall, but it gives the crew some extra time and a damn break.
no more dodging arrows while trying to lay bricks. no more chaos. no more smoke. no more fires.
what this actually changes
This is the part where your skin stops surviving and starts healing.
your skin isn’t in crisis mode anymore. It’s not panicking, not scrambling to repair damage it didn’t ask for.
it’s calm. collected.
less redness. glowy mornings.
you stop bracing for the next flare-up, and your skin starts to trust you again
you might even fall in love with your skin
it honestly doesn’t feel life-changing until you realize you’ve stopped bracing for your skin to get worse.
let it heal slow, until your face feels like you again. your skin deserves the soft life too
Need a sunscreen that won’t ruin your life (or your skin)?
if your SPF is sitting in your product graveyard because it
breaks you out,
clings for dear life like it’s scared to sink in,
or gives you a white cast…
Get one you’ll actually like using. You just need a sunscreen you don’t hate.
FAQs (aka things you’ll probably ask anyway)
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Look for a lightweight, non-comedogenic SPF. Some mineral sunscreens are ideal, especially those with zinc oxide.
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SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks about 98%. Higher SPF offers slightly more protection, but no sunscreen blocks 100% of UV rays
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Mineral sunscreens (like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) sit on top of the skin and reflect UV rays. They're great for sensitive skin. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and convert them into heat. They tend to be lighter and more suitable under makeup.
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Nope. Makeup with SPF doesn't provide sufficient protection on its own. It's best to apply a dedicated sunscreen underneath your makeup.
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Use about a nickel-sized amount for your face and a shot glass (approximately one ounce) for your body. Ensure even coverage for effective protection
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Every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating. Regular reapplication ensures continuous protection.
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Yes. Even on cloudy days or when you're indoors near windows, UV rays can penetrate and cause skin damage.
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Sun damage isn't always visible. UV rays can cause premature aging and increase the risk of skin cancer, even if you don't see immediate effects.
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Not likely. Regular sunscreen use doesn’t block all UV rays, and you can still get enough vitamin D just by being outside. If you’re worried, talk to your doctor or take a supplement—your SPF isn’t the villain here.
Not sure where to start?
this is the Glymed Plus sunscreen my clients love ✨
If you’re in Thorold, Welland, Fonthill (or anywhere in Niagara) come see me at New Moon Aesthetics.
We’ll get your SPF sorted and your glow back on track.
