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We are increasingly aware of the link between health and beauty, and in no place is it more apparent than in the skin: When your skin glows with health it, and you, are automatically beautiful. This intuitive reaction to a lovely complexion is biologically hardwired; healthy skin is a profound attractant, one that we are instinctively drawn to. It’s no wonder then that we spend so much money and time on gadgets, gimmicks and expensive spa outings that promise to return our skin to a Shangri-la state of skin glow. However, these quick fixes quickly fade, and you’re back to where you started. Why? Because skin beauty—that glow I was talking about—is predicated on skin health, which is itself a product of overall health. If we are healthy our skin will show it, whereas if we are struggling with health problems our skin will show that. In fact, our skin can be an excellent barometer of our health in general. Happily, as we learn more about the connection between health and beauty, not only are our notions of beauty evolving, so is our ability to support and sustain it.

To select a safe and healthy sunscreen, scrutinize sunscreen ingredients, not SPF numbers. Physical sunblocks offer UVB protection equivalent to chemical sunscreens and superior protection against UVA rays and beyond. Some chemicals in sunscreens can be toxic to reproductive systems, cause allergic reactions and accelerate skin aging.

Did you know that much of what we typically think of as aging — wrinkles, “broken”-appearing blood vessels, hyperpigmentation, age spots, laxity of the skin, etc. — is actually the result of too much sun, not the passing of time? In the world of dermatology, this is known as photoaging, and the only way to prevent it is by limiting your exposure. 

When you use one of our Vitamin C serums in combination with sunscreen, you not only prevent sun damage but actually enhance your skin’s ability to neutralize the effects of continuous exposure. You also help damaged skin return to a healthier state, reducing age spots and hyperpigmentation. Think of using Vitamin C underneath sunscreen sort of like using primer when painting a room — if you use primer before you paint, it’ll turn out much better.

We frequently receive questions about sunscreen, as consumer understanding of sun protection is often clouded by misinformation. With the abundance of conflicting advice online, it can be difficult to discern fact from fiction. At MARIE VERONIQUE, we are deeply committed to skin health and to addressing the harmful effects of sun exposure. Our mission is to dispel common myths about sunscreen and challenge long-standing misconceptions, many of which persist despite significant advancements in research.

As the subject of how best to protect yourself from the sun grows ever more complicated, advice from all quarters grows shriller and ever more conflicting. Now we have after-sun damage to ponder, and Professor Niehls Jorgensen, author of a new Danish study suggesting a link between exposure to an enormous number of chemicals in plastics and low sperm counts, advises men not to wear sunscreen at all.

Sun protection is a complicated business, and it’s little wonder consumers are confused, fed up or just plain bored with the whole subject. But sun protection is important. Melanoma (the most deadly form of skin cancer) rates are skyrocketing, and simply put, wearing sunscreen can save lives. However, it can’t be just any old sunscreen. In fact, most sunscreens are worse than useless, as the EWG points out. 

There is no denying that climate change affects every aspect of our lives—even skin care. At some point in the upward trajectory of levels of heat, pollution and UV emissions, protective skin care will transition from a cosmetic option to a health necessity. And because we aren’t used to thinking of skin care in that way, it will be a non-trivial leap.

At MARIE VERONIQUE, we field many questions during this season and want you to feel confident with your topical routine all summer long. Our latest guide to summer skin includes an explanation of what is actually going on with the surrounding environment, why and how our skin responds, and suggestions for small changes to your regimen that make a big difference.