March 1: Hello Sunshine!

Hello, sunshine! March 1 has arrived and despite the mounds of snow still piled up outside, I, for one, am thrilled with the sun is out. And I'm a big believer that the sun is good for the soul. For me, the sun makes me happy, moods are brighter, people are cheery. 

As a society, we have been warned about the dangers of sun exposure and skin cancers and rightfully so. The sun, while beneficial for its Vitamin D properties and the ability to raise our serotonin levels, can be catastrophic for our skin, and cause everything from premature ageing, skin spots, melanoma and cancers.  

That's why I use sunscreen every single day. It's true. I'm not proud to admit that in the past, I would only wear sunscreen if and when we went to the beach, and even then, I didn't reapply (on purpose). I wanted a tan and a dark one at that. But I wouldn't tan; I would burn. NOT. GOOD. 

So I started wearing sunscreen (on my face) as part of my morning makeup routine. I've tried a few brands over the years, but have really liked Alumier MD products for the last couple of years. I'm a fan of the Sheer Hydration line, which is available in tinted and untinted. I wear the tinted like I would a BB cream, especially in the winter. Top it with a pressed powder and it actually looks like you're wearing foundation. For added moisture, I start with a moisturizer, and then sunscreen on top. Makeup is always last. 

So if you're looking for an order:

- cleanse, tone, moisturize (and serum if you use)

- sunscreen

- makeup

The Sheer Hydration is, as the name suggests, sheer and lightweight. The untinted version leaves no residue or white-cast. Donny and I both used the untinted version in Jamaica and it worked well for each of us. 

The key ingredients in Sheer Hydration are a combination of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, vitamin E, antioxidants, a stable vitamin C, resveratrol, grape seed extract and glutathione, to protect skin from UV damage. 

And with an SPF of 40, I can be confident that my face is protected against the harmful UVA and UVB rays, both in Jamaica and here at home. 

So while a little extra glow is OK, it's always important to be safe about the sun, and your skin.