Addicted to ... Youthful Skin

Give your SPF an entourage

By Courtney Dunlop
Published: Jun 03, 2008

By now you know to wear sunscreen daily to prevent wrinkles, brown spots, dullness, and (eeek!) skin cancer. Preventing all that is a tall order for a daily SPF moisturizer, so give it some help with UV-blocking skincare and makeup. You can’t count on just one item to give you 100% protection, but hey, when it comes to preventing sun damage, every little bit helps.

Step #1: Pop a Pill
Dr. Leslie Baumann, Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of Miami, and author of The Skin Type Solution, personally suggests taking Heliocare, a supplement that uses specific botanicals to fortify skin against the sun. “I take two Heliocare one hour prior to playing golf,” she says. “It reduces redness from sun exposure.”

Heliocare
Buy it at: heliocare.com

Step #2: Wash on Protection
It sounds like a space-agey gimmick, but cleansers that leave SPF behind on your skin really work—just don’t use them as an excuse to not use regular sunscreen since the jury’s still out on whether or not they block as well. But they are a great, no-fuss way to add an extra layer of protection.

Freeze 24/7 Ice Shield SPF 15 facial cleanser
Buy it at: freeze247.com, $48

Step #3: Slip on a Serum
Adding an antioxidant serum underneath your sunscreen is one of the best ways to prevent future damage and even repair some of the signs you already have. Dr. Baumann recommends green tea-based Replenix CF Serum, or SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic serum, which combines three powerful antioxidants in one.

SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic serum
Buy it at: skinstore.com, $128

Replenix CF Serum
Buy it at: skinstore.com, $50

Step #4: Apply Foundation
Be careful you don’t rely too heavily on the sunscreen in your makeup, because, as Dr. Baumann explains, “No one puts on enough to meet the SPF.” Consider them an extra shot of UV-protection, and consider mineral makeup, which is more resistant to humidity than typical liquids.

Being True Protective Mineral Foundation
Buy it at: truelynatural.com, $40

Step #5: Brighten Your Lips
Lips are VERY susceptible to sun damage, so make sure everything you put on them during daylight hours has sunscreen. Thankfully, there are some gorgeous lip color options out there sportin’ some respectable SPF.

Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Knockout Nude
Buy it at: clinique.com, $14

Stila SPF 20 Shine Lip Color in Chelsea
Buy it at: sephora.com, $22

Step #6: Touch up Midday
Um, sorry, but sunscreen generally doesn’t last until lunchtime (you’re supposed to reapply every two hours). Yikes! So grab some easy shmeasy sunscreen toucher-uppers, like wipes for your bod and a portable powder sunscreen for your face.

Shady Day Daily Sun Protection Wipes with SPF 30
Buy it at: ulta.com, $10

Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30
Buy it at: sephora.com, $30