Back in the day, my best friend and I used to have little competitions to see who could get the tannest. We’d slather on as much oil as possible, preferably with no sunscreen, and then bask in the sun for hours with our faces up. I’m not a total sun worshipper by nature, though. I do enjoy the occasional beach day, but going to the beach every day sounds a bit dull to me. I’m more into active vacations, like snowboarding and extended trips to far-flung places.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the sun. I even remember a vacation to Terschelling with my best friends (we couldn’t go to Spain yet, darn), where I adamantly claimed that I couldn’t get sunburned in the Dutch sun. Ha! Little did I know how sunburned I would be by the end of the week. Even my lower lip got sunburned…

But apparently, this donkey needed to bump into the same stone several times before realizing how dangerous it is to go outside without sunscreen. And not just for all those scary diseases, of course, but also for your skin’s quality. When you sit in the sun for extended periods without protection, you deliberately expose yourself to UV radiation. This radiation can break down collagen and elastin in the skin, which can lead to wrinkles, fine lines, and saggy skin.

Hyperpigmentation

What can also happen, as in my case, are sunspots. These are certain areas of the skin that are darker than the surrounding skin. It occurs when the skin produces too much melanin in specific spots. Melanin is the pigment responsible for the color of our skin, hair, and eyes. When melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin) become overactive or react abnormally to external stimuli, it can lead to excessive melanin production and, thus, hyperpigmentation, aka sunspots. And, it just so happened that these spots appeared on my upper lip. In other words, I suddenly had a very odd mustache. Not only embarrassing but also quite challenging to get rid of.

Peel Regrets and Sunscreen

After researching various facial treatments, I settled on an Obagi peel. And if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s this: once I’ve decided I want something, I go for it. This might sound brave, but it’s also a bit reckless because some things require more research than just my enthusiasm.

Anyway, after the treatment, my face swelled up so much that I seriously looked like the twin sister of Hollow Bolle Gijs from the Efteling amusement park. And it wasn’t just for one day but for a whole freaking week… I even stayed indoors with my sunglasses on because I was so embarrassed. And not really about my swollen face, but more about my recklessness.

Fortunately, the treatment did eventually have the desired effect, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. It’s painful for both your body and your ego, lol. What I would recommend is a good sunscreen that you apply daily to your face, even in winter. UV radiation may not be as intense as in the summer, but it’s still there. Plus, a good sunscreen also protects against the pollution in the air that can penetrate your skin.

My three sunscreen recommendations

Shiseido Sports BB SPF 50 BB cream 30 ml

My favorite cream that I currently use daily is from Shiseido. I use this sunscreen in Medium to make my skin look even without getting too dark. If you have very light skin, use the light version, or a dark one if you have a darker complexion. What I particularly love about this cream is that it’s a sunscreen with SPF 50 combined with a BB cream. It dries super quickly, is suitable for sports, and doesn’t feel sticky. Ideal!

Gezichts zonnecrème Lancaster Sun Perfect 30 ml Spf 50

I use Lancaster sunscreen when I consciously plan to spend more time in the sun. This cream also has SPF 50 and is lightly tinted, creating a subtle glow on your face. It’s like you’ve been hanging out on a terrace for a while. Perfect for the first holiday of the year, so you start with a spectacular tan. Plus, this Lancaster sunscreen is anti-wrinkle and anti-spot – remember my mustache 😉

La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400

If you don’t want a BB cream or a subtle glow right away, but just an old-fashioned sunscreen (without the white streaks), go for La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVmune 400. This cream doesn’t leave marks, is water- and sand-proof, is fragrance-free, and is suitable for people with sun allergies. Highly recommended!

Alrighty! Those are my three recommendations when it comes to sunscreen. Whether it’s summer or winter, morning or evening, I always wear my sunscreen. And if you need an extra motivator, check out Baz Lurhrman ‘Everybody’s free to wear sunscreen’.

Definitely send me a message about your favorite sunscreen or tag me @caroliene_alexandra on Instagram if you share your sunscreen story!