Hi, delightful skin divas!
We must communicate. Out here, the sun is doing the most, and y’all are still playing games with your SPF. I’ve been hearing some myths that are outright criminal, and today I’m busting them all. Welcome to the Sunscreen Myth Buster blog—because ignorance is not cute when your face is peeling off. Let’s go:
Myth #1: “I don’t need sunscreen when it’s cloudy.”
Girl. Your weather app doesn’t block UV. Up to 80% of UV rays penetrate clouds—even that cozy, grey-sky day is still plotting on your skin.
Myth #2: “I’m safe because I have melanin.”
Love your glow, but let’s not lie to ourselves. While darker skin offers some natural protection (SPF ~13), skin cancer still affects women of color, and it's often diagnosed at later stages with worse outcomes (1).
Myth #3: “I only need sunscreen at the beach.”
It’s adorable, but not true. UV rays hit you everywhere—at the store, by your window, or even while doom-scrolling in the car. If there’s light, there’s UV.
Myth #4: “Sunscreen breaks me out.”
Okay... but are you using the right one? Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are your friends. Look for "non-comedogenic" and "fragrance-free" labels. Acne-prone skin will thank you.
Myth #5: “My makeup has SPF—I’m covered.”
Sorry, babe, but no. You’d need seven full layers of foundation to reach the labelled SPF. Use a real sunscreen under makeup or reapply with an SPF spray (2; 3).
Sunscreen isn’t just for sunburns—it’s your protection from premature aging, dark spots, flare-ups, and skin cancer. So we all agree?
No more myths. No more excuses. Just vibes and SPF 👸
References :
[1] Gupta, A. K., Bharadwaj, M., & Mehrotra, R. (2016). Skin cancer concerns in people of color: Risk factors and prevention. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 17(12), 5257–5264. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5555371/
[2] Kim, S. M., Oh, B. H., Lee, Y. W., & Choe, Y. B. (2021). Layering sunscreen with facial makeup enhances its sun protection factor under real-use conditions. Skin Research and Technology, 27(4), 658–661. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34003512/
[3] Gabros, S., Nessel, T. A., & Zito, P. M. (2020). Sunscreens and photoprotection. StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7759112/