Not that I generally need proof of course, I usually just roll with my opinion and say it in a convincing enough manner so that you all believe me.
HAHAHAHA! As if. I say it an aggressive manner so you'll believe me. Different.
But seriously. This is the kind of proof I like best, because it pertains to probably my biggest and loudest piece of beauty advice I can give to any one, of any age, and is always my answer when people ask me what my number one best beauty tip is, and that is, (sing it with me now):
NEVER USE SCRUNCHIES UNLESS IN IRONY.
There is also this one:
WEAR SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY, WHETHER CLOUDY OR SUNNY, AND YOUR SKIN WILL LOOK YOUNGER, FOR LONGER.
And it's so nice to have that yelly little sentence finally backed up in a scientific fashion.
Because oh sure, we all know the power of sunscreen when it comes to lowering the risk of cancer and sunburn, that has been proven extensively, but this, this is a purely cosmetic finding, because they* were measuring only the photo-aging of the skin, which means the visible aging of the skin in the shape of wrinkles, loss of skin firmness and of course, a shittonne worth of pigmentation or age spots. Those in the four-year long study who had not used sunscreen regularly showed severe photo-ageing. Those who applied sunscreen most days had no detectable ageing of the skin. Simple.
Yes, the skin will age over time. This is inevitable, unless you are Kris Jenner. But we now have Real Life Lab Coat proof that it needn't age quite so fast, and quite so visibly, with the use of daily sunscreen.
Other terrific facts to fall from this folder:
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO START TODAY. Even those who began applying their sunscreen "most days" (Not Enough! - Zoe Foster Blake) from middle-age reaped the benefits.
MOISTURISER WITH SOME SUNSCREEN ISN'T ENOUGH. Your foundation, BB or day cream may have some sun protection, they do not typically have the same long-lasting effect as sunscreen, Dr Adele Green, who performed the study, says. In my opinion, a BB cream should be fine for a regular (in office) day with less than 10 minutes sun exposure, but any more than that and you should use a full-strength sunscreen underneath.
In fact, just dingin' do it anyway! Do it, for God's sake. Daily face sunscreens have come along way, and are several planets away from the gloopy, thick shit we used to get served. Ideally, choose a daily moisturiser with high broad spectrum (UVA and UVB - crucial, especially since the ageing stuff comes almsot solely from UVA) SPF 30. There are millions out there, and even the very inepensive - Neutrogena, Nivea, SunSense - do a terrific job.
I enjoy the (hydrating) Ultra Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF 30+. Feels lovely and does everything I need.
Remember:
Sunscreen should go directly onto clean skin, not over the top of your moisturiser.
Also remember:
That thing I said about scrunchies.
*Dr. Adele Green from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and colleagues analysed data from 903 adults younger than 55 who were followed from 1992 to 1996. Half of them were told to put sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater on their head, neck, arms and hands every morning, and to reapply when necessary. The others used sunscreen according to their own discretion.
