360 Sunscreen and Why You Need it Right Now

I got up yesterday morning, washed my face, put on my face cream, and brushed my teeth. As I headed for my computer, I suddenly turned and went back to the bathroom counter. I grabbed my Coola 360 spray and spritzed it all over my face. No, it wasn’t because it smells like a tropical paradise (though that didn’t hurt) it was because I was going to be sitting in front of a blue light screen for hours.  That’s right folks. A lot of you are spending a decent amount on your skin, either through skin care products, facials, or cosmetic procedures...but your computer is a silent saboteur. Not just your computer either…your phone is also a problem. Next time you take that selfie, you better grab your sunscreen first. According to paulaschoice.com, long-term blue light exposure to concentrated sources of blue light energy can cause skin damage, including color changes, inflammation, and weakening of the skin's surface. Simply put, blue light promotes stressors in skin that cause photo-aging; that is, aging from exposure to light. On the rainiest, and gloomiest of days, you still need protection from the light emitting from your devices.   But that’s not the only unlikely source of aging. I spritzed the 360 again at 7pm when I headed out to the porch to sit with the kids by the firepit. It turns out that anything that emits heat, the oven, the microwave, the fireplace all produce heat that is aging your skin. An article in Allure magazine stated, “Chefs and bakers, who are exposed to heat daily, have significantly higher rates of hyperpigmentation than other patients,” says Whitney Bowe, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.The best defense is a good antioxidant serum like vitamin C followed by a full spectrum sunscreen. It’s easy to forget to do your whole skincare ritual when you’re at home day after day. It’s even easier to forget about sunscreen if the weather is bleak, but don’t toss precious dollars down the drain in pricey skincare if you aren’t going to take a few seconds to spritz on sunscreen.