Afternoon beauty fix: Does the pill affect your daily SPF?

I’m really cautious with my SPF protection but I’ve recently learned that oral contraceptives may increase my susceptibility to sun damage. Should I dial up the level of SPF I use?

We’re seriously not being too strict when we say regardless of anything else, you should be applying some sort of sun protection every day, and more than once! But, yes, it’s true that oral contraceptives, along with many other types of medications, amp up your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Also, your body’s exposure to the sun’s rays doesn’t end with the summer—you’ve got to keep it protected throughout the winter, no matter how bundled up you are. (And especially if you’re a ski bunny or a snowbird.) We recommend an SPF of 30 or higher, and one which can be worn alone or over makeup, like B. Kamins Sun Defense SPF 30 ($41, bkamins.com). This will save you from all levels of damage, be it a silly goggle tan or something much more serious.

In need of an afternoon beauty pick-me-up? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

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