If there's one skincare rule everyone knows, it's that sunscreen is non-negotiable. Finishing out your morning regimen with a broad-spectrum SPF moisturizer helps shield your skin against irreversible UV damage, helping you maintain a smooth, even complexion as you age.
But what many beauty guides don't tell you is that while SPF has an important job to do, it isn't foolproof. Even with the highest sun protection factor and perfect application, some ultraviolet radiation still slips through.
Dermatologists have found a more effective sun-protection approach: vitamin C and SPF. Applying The Preservationist Vitamin C Cream Serum directly before your final SPF layer provides dual protection for even more reliable results.
Understanding SPF and Sunscreen for Skin Protection
You know that sunscreen helps prevent sunburn and other types of sun damage, but understanding how SPF and sunscreen work can help you really grasp its importance, along with its limitations.
Sunscreen contains active ingredients that filter out ultraviolet (UV) rays before your skin absorbs them. UV rays come from the sun, and even on cloudy days, up to 90% of harmful UV rays can still pass through cloud cover. Many people also don't realize that indoor fluorescent lighting emits a small amount of UV radiation. This is why experts recommend applying sunscreen every day, even if you aren't leaving the house or spending time in the sun.
Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB radiation, two types of rays that damage your skin differently. UVA rays cause premature aging and wrinkles, while UVB rays cause sunburns.
But "protecting" against UV rays does not mean completely preventing skin penetration. Sunscreen products have an SPF, or sun protection factor, which measures how well they protect against UVB rays. SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 100 blocks approximately 99%. No sunscreen blocks 100% of the sun's rays.
This is why, even with perfect daily sunscreen application and reapplication throughout the day, your skin will still experience sun damage that becomes more noticeable over time.
The Antioxidant Properties of Vitamin C
Skincare experts have touted the benefits of vitamin C for sensitive skin for decades, but all the chatter about this product has led some of its benefits to get lost in translation. You likely know vitamin C as a "brightening" ingredient that can help fade hyperpigmentation (including sun spots). But you may not realize it also protects against further UV damage.
Vitamin C face serum neutralizes the harmful free radicals caused by UV rays, daily pollution, heat, and other environmental stressors. These "free radicals" are unstable molecules that steal electrons from healthy skin, causing cellular damage and premature aging.
The Preservationist Vitamin C Cream Serum combines two potent forms of vitamin C to provide dual protection against environmental stress. This formula helps "prejuvenate" youthful skin, stopping signs of aging in their tracks while brightening and firming the complexion.
The Dazzling Duo: SPF + Vitamin C = More Comprehensive Sun Protection
SPF and vitamin C both play an important role in daily sun protection. But together, they're more powerful than they are in isolation.
Vitamin C and SPF work in tandem to create a synergistic effect that neither product achieves alone. While sunscreen blocks UV radiation before it reaches your skin, vitamin C helps neutralize the damaging free radicals generated by the UV rays that pass through. These complementary mechanisms provide a layered approach that is especially effective against signs of aging.
For the best results, apply The Preservationist Vitamin C Cream Serum after cleansing and before SPF. If needed, you can moisturize between the vitamin C layer and your sunscreen. The Preservationist layers beautifully under makeup or sunscreen without heaviness or pilling.
As for the best SPF, dermatologists are mixed. Often, SPF 30 is sufficient for everyday use, while SPF 50 or higher may be better for extended outdoor activities. More importantly, choose a broad-spectrum sunblock that effectively shields against both types of UV rays.
Up Your Sun Protection Strategy With Lenox and Sixteenth
A combined vitamin C and SPF skincare regimen provides more comprehensive sun protection and helps reduce oxidative damage. Whether you're looking to minimize signs of aging or treat melasma on your face, Lenox and Sixteenth offers clinic-inspired products formulated by medical aesthetician Amy Peterson. Our formulas suit all skin types, are vegan and cruelty-free, and use the highest-quality ingredients.
Give your sunscreen the antioxidant backup it needs. Apply The Preservationist Vitamin C Cream Serum each morning before SPF for brighter, firmer, beautifully protected skin.