The most important cosmetic you can buy is...

Ask your friends which beauty item is a must have no matter what item. Many people will tell you lipstick is the one beauty item they can’t live without. Others will say it is foundation, or blusher, or even eye liner. While these are all great items to have, the most important beauty item you should never be without is sunscreen. It is essential to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun for many reasons...

Sunscreen is an important beauty item in the fight against wrinkles. The wonderfully warm rays of the sun, which people have worshiped for thousands of years, will prematurely age your skin. The sun’s rays promote wrinkles, fine lines, sagging, and age spots. Sun exposure will reduce your skin’s elasticity and increase sagging as you age. Scientists believe over 80% of the signs of aging skin in adults are due to suntans as teenagers. That summer tan you pursue, or are envious of in your friends, will make you look older, faster.

A second reason sunscreen is the most important beauty item is the risk of sunburn. Sunburn is a mild over exposure of your skin to the sun’s rays, burning your skin. Sunburn can severely dry your skin. Intense sunburn can even cause blisters, or layers of your skin to peel off. Severe sunburns may require a doctor visit, and in rare cases possibly hospitalization.

A third and perhaps the most important reason sunscreen is an essential beauty product is the risk of skin cancer. Over exposure to the ultra violet rays of the sun, over the course of a lifetime, dramatically increases your risk of skin cancers. UV radiation is the number one cause of skin cancer; however, skin cancer is highly preventable, and rarely fatal.

Using a sunscreen every day with an SPF of at least 15, or 30 for those people with light colored skin, hair, and eyes, can protect your skin from all of these problems. A 40-year old who protects their skin with sunscreen every day, actually has the skin of a 30-year old person. Using and reapplying sunscreen several times throughout the day can help prevent premature aging, sunburn, and skin cancer. While lipstick, foundation, blusher, and eyeliner are all important beauty items, the most important beauty item is your sunscreen.