Sunscreen Smarts: What They Don’t Tell You About SPF!
Episode 612th August 2026 • Your Face Story Podcast • Yolanda Russo
00:00:00 00:08:31

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The sun is shining, and so are our skincare routines. Yolanda Russo brings a refreshing take on sun exposure in this episode, encouraging us to embrace the sun, but with a little wisdom.

f you're tired of the constant "sunscreen, all day, every day" advice, you're in for a treat. Yolanda highlights that not all sunshine is created equal, and that understanding the UV Index, the same scale used by the EPA and World Health Organization, is the key to enjoying the outdoors safely.

With practical, easy-to-follow tips, she walks through how to protect your skin while still benefiting from the sun's energy-boosting rays. And let's be honest, who doesn't love a good dose of vitamin D?

With a real story from her facial room, Yolanda shares how a client named Liz developed hyperpigmentation despite using sunscreen faithfully, and the surprising, simple mistake behind it. So grab your sunscreen, and find out how to actually enjoy summer sun without the worry.

Takeaways:

  • Understanding the UV index is crucial for safe sun exposure, so check your weather app regularly.
  • Sunscreen is your best friend outdoors, but remember to reapply it every four hours if you're in direct sun and when commuting.
  • Sunlight has mood-boosting benefits, so don't shy away from it when it's safe.
  • Dark spots can be treated naturally, so don't panic if you notice them!
  • The best time for sun exposure is two hours after sunrise and before sunset.
  • Layering your skincare routine correctly is key to protecting your skin from sun damage.

Links referenced in this episode:

Companies mentioned in this episode:

  • Beauty On Command™

Transcripts

Speaker A:

Welcome to youo Face Story podcast.

Speaker A:

Your host, Yolanda Russo, European skincare expert and creator of Beauty on Command, wants to know what is your face story?

Speaker A:

Is it breaking out?

Speaker A:

Is it dry?

Speaker A:

Is it sagging?

Speaker A:

Yolanda offers practical, educational and encouraging content, saving you time and money when looking for ways to look younger naturally.

Speaker B:

Sunlight.

Speaker B:

It's such a complicated, confusing subject you've been told to hide from it or slaughter a sunscreen 24.

Speaker B:

7 A blanket.

Speaker B:

Statements repeated over and over without anyone questioning it.

Speaker B:

In reality, we should avoid the sun only when the uv rays reach 3 and above, not at all times.

Speaker B:

So how do you know what number that actually is?

Speaker B:

Well, there is an app for everything.

Speaker B:

Your phone app, the weather app tells you exactly that.

Speaker B:

If you scroll down on the weather app you will see a box called UV index rating and this number changes throughout the day, hour by hour.

Speaker B:

So please make sure you check this app if you are ready to enjoy the sun.

Speaker B:

So anything below three we are safe.

Speaker B:

Anything above three stay protected.

Speaker B:

So this is another chronicle from my facial room prompted by what I see already.

Speaker B:

We're only two weeks in the summer and people are already getting sun damaged.

Speaker B:

Client came in to me yesterday, had a dark spots on her left cheek go into a little later how I solved this puzzle and I helped her to navigate the sun protect herself from now on.

Speaker B:

Don't worry the sun damage when it' fresh easily removable.

Speaker B:

So that could be done naturally with some of the treatments that we do in the facial room.

Speaker B:

Aside from the vitamin D, we benefit from full spectrum of colors including infrared rays.

Speaker B:

That's why our mood changes.

Speaker B:

That's why we feel happy when it's sunny and murky Weather makes us depressed.

Speaker B:

Isn't that the truth?

Speaker B:

Yes, we do need the sun.

Speaker B:

In fact, the infrared rays, those are the same lights the the red light blue lights that we buy on the market or get facials or other treatments with the infrared lights.

Speaker B:

So Mother nature gives us this for free.

Speaker B:

As a general rule, two hours after the sunrise and two hours before sunset, you're safe.

Speaker B:

UV index is below 3.

Speaker B:

I go outside right after sunrise and I spent at least an hour exposed to the sun, the sunlight and I do not wear the sunscreen.

Speaker B:

The UV index is 2.

Speaker B:

When it reaches 3, I will pack up.

Speaker B:

What does this morning light do?

Speaker B:

First, it's a blue light.

Speaker B:

You are infused with blue rays that give you energy that boost the mood and stimulate natural release of cortisol, the kind that wakes our body up and keeps you balanced throughout the day.

Speaker B:

At the end of the day.

Speaker B:

In the evening, the orange color signifies calm, stimulates the brain to slow down and unwind and start releasing melatonin, which is necessary for peaceful sleep.

Speaker B:

So there we go.

Speaker B:

So there is more to the sun than sunbathing.

Speaker B:

There is health benefits to the sun.

Speaker B:

What I have said about the sun only applies to general audience.

Speaker B:

If you are under doctor's care, you're on medication, and doctors advise you not to be in the sun.

Speaker B:

Please follow your orders.

Speaker B:

Let's go to my facial room and discover what is happening with freckles and dark spots.

Speaker B:

Let's call her Liz.

Speaker B:

She has dark spots on the left cheek.

Speaker B:

So my first question to Liz is, are you using sunscreen?

Speaker B:

She says, yes, I do.

Speaker B:

What type of sunscreen is that?

Speaker B:

It's tinted sunscreen.

Speaker B:

Are you having this on when you drive to work?

Speaker B:

How long is your trip to work now?

Speaker B:

It's about 30 minutes.

Speaker B:

Okay, so that's another red flag.

Speaker B:

When your skin is exposed to the sun and the UV index is above 3, you're exposing yourself to UV radiation.

Speaker B:

So this is is exactly why your left side is always more damaged than the right.

Speaker B:

So first, you need to wear the sunscreen when on the way to work and not tinted sunscreen.

Speaker B:

Because tinted sunscreen is not just pure sunscreen.

Speaker B:

There is moisturizer, there is makeup, There is other chemicals in it, and it dilutes the sunscreen.

Speaker B:

Even if it says it's SPF 50, it is not Val by volume.

Speaker B:

This was designed for you to start using sunscreens because many people did not like to use sunscreens because of that white tint.

Speaker B:

And now they have figured out how to make it less white so it's opaque.

Speaker B:

You need to put a real sunscreen.

Speaker B:

Wait until the opaqueness disappears.

Speaker B:

And that will take about a minute.

Speaker B:

No, no more than a minute.

Speaker B:

And then apply the tinted sunscreen over the real sunscreen.

Speaker B:

The dry touch in cvs, it's a Neutrogena brand.

Speaker B:

It's really good.

Speaker B:

It's really light, and it's.

Speaker B:

It's very ingenious in the way it was developed.

Speaker B:

You need to put enough of the layer to make a shield.

Speaker B:

So don't go too light on it.

Speaker B:

And don't rub that off.

Speaker B:

Apply it.

Speaker B:

It will be opaque.

Speaker B:

Hands off for about 30 seconds, and then you can apply your tinted moisturizer over and you're all set.

Speaker B:

That is how you're going to protect your skin.

Speaker B:

To sum it up, the first is look at the index.

Speaker B:

If it's below 3, which is first thing in the morning, you're safe to go.

Speaker B:

Drive time to work.

Speaker B:

You need to put the sunscreen.

Speaker B:

Don't worry about the dark spots.

Speaker B:

When they just begin, they're fresh because they can be removed with exfoliation.

Speaker B:

So a good facial and good home care routine will help you with that.

Speaker B:

And in the fall season, I would recommend getting microdermabrasions.

Speaker B:

And that will definitely remove most of the sun damage from the summer.

Speaker B:

Even though you are using sunscreen, sometimes you will, you will get those.

Speaker B:

So don't worry.

Speaker B:

It's not the end of the world as long as you stay on top of it.

Speaker B:

So Liz's mistake wasn't just the the tinted sunscreen.

Speaker B:

It was just not reapplying the sunscreen.

Speaker B:

The actual risk window was on a way to work and on a way back from work.

Speaker B:

So make sure you reapply before you leave work.

Speaker B:

Layering process.

Speaker B:

What is the first, second, the third layer?

Speaker B:

First you're going to cleanse your skin and you're going to do this thoroughly because the pores get clogged with all this sunscreens that we are applying to our skin in the summer and the sweating that happens to cleanse thoroughly.

Speaker B:

Make sure the cleanser doesn't strip your skin.

Speaker B:

It feels really kind to the skin.

Speaker B:

It feels neutral, makes you happy.

Speaker B:

Then apply a serum, I love ascorbic acid serums with vitamins, with some surface surfactant where when you put it on the skin, it kind of like feels nice and gentle.

Speaker B:

It doesn't irritate you.

Speaker B:

There is also peptides.

Speaker B:

I love peptides.

Speaker B:

They boost collagen, so that is also protective.

Speaker B:

And then on top of it, you apply moisturizer and your sunscreen.

Speaker B:

Cleanse serum moisturizer and the sunscreen.

Speaker B:

Reapply the sunscreen every four hours at least.

Speaker B:

If you are in the direct sun, you should be applying this more often.

Speaker B:

Enjoy the sun.

Speaker A:

Thanks for listening and we'll see you in the next episode.

Speaker A:

Don't forget to subscribe and share it with your friends.

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