Category: At-Home Rituals

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If you’re the type of person who only puts on sunscreen when you go to the beach or sit by the pool, you’ve probably wondered if you really need to wear sunscreen every day. Let’s talk about why daily sunscreen wear is important and what to look for in a daily sunscreen for your face. Then, we’ll get to know the formulations for Lancer Skincare’s various anti-aging sunscreens to help you decide which one is right for you.

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Do You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day?

The short answer is yes, you do need to wear a sunscreen every day — even if you’re mostly sitting inside, or it’s cloudy outside, or you have deeper skin that doesn’t sunburn. Wearing sunscreen every day is one of the most effective things that you can do in order to prevent visible signs of premature aging and also to lower your risks of skin cancer, which is the most common cancer in the U.S. Your morning 3-step skincare routine should end with an application of sunscreen, and you should be wearing sunscreen on all exposed areas of skin — not just your face, but also your hands, arms, chests, and so on. Ideally, you should reapply the sunscreen every two hours, not just once in the morning. You should also reapply it after sweating and after getting out of the pool or ocean.

The only exception to this rule is babies below six months of age, who have very sensitive skin that tends to react to sunscreen. Instead, they should be kept out of the sun as much as possible until they are old enough to wear sunscreen. Everyone else, including you, should be wearing sunscreen every single day. The only question is which daily sunscreen for the face will work for you!

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Choosing a Daily Sunscreen for Your Face

If you don’t wear sunscreen because you believe it’s goopy and unpleasant to apply, think again. These days, there are many advanced sunscreen formulations on the market, many of which absorb fast and reapply easily over themselves. It may take some trial and error to find a long-lasting sunscreen that you enjoy using every day, but it’s worth it to reap the benefits of wearing a daily sunscreen. We recommend choosing a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 that has broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. SPF 30 sunscreen typically hits the sweet spot between providing enough protection for daily use while still being thin enough that it absorbs easily (and looks nice under makeup, if you wear it). Both of the sunscreens offered by Lancer Skincare are SPF 30 for this reason. If you tend to sweat a lot, we recommend looking for a water-resistant formula as well.

There are two main categories of sunscreen filters to choose from. Mineral sunscreen filters, sometimes called physical sunscreens, block the sun’s rays from reaching your skin. They include ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s rays and include ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, and octisalate. Chemical sunscreens tend to be more moisturizing and result in a thinner, more pleasant texture, but they can also irritate sensitive skin. Mineral sunscreen tends to be less irritating but they can also be a bit drying. Some mineral sunscreens can also leave a white cast behind on darker skin if they aren’t tinted.

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Get to Know Lancer’s Daily Sunscreens

At Lancer Skincare, we offer two different sunscreen options to choose from — one mineral sunscreen and one chemical combination sunscreen — both of which provide broad spectrum protection. Our Mineral Sun Shield Universal Tint is tinted to minimize white cast in a versatile shade that complements many different skin tones. In addition to zinc oxide for sun protection, it also features pink rock rose and ginger root extract to soothe skin and reduce inflammation.

Meanwhile, our Sheer Fluid Sun Shield is actually a combination mineral-chemical sunscreen, featuring both zinc oxide and octinoxate for comprehensive protection. Its ingredients also include gamay grape stem cells, sunflower sprout extracts, and chamomile extracts to calm skin and improve radiance. Due to the lower zinc oxide content, this sunscreen absorbs right into the skin without a white cast, so it doesn’t need to be tinted.

Know which sunscreen you want to try? Like all of our Lancer Skincare products, they come with a 30-day money back guarantee so you can buy with confidence. In addition, all U.S. orders automatically get free, fast shipping, so there’s no reason not to try our skincare today!

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Acne doesn’t stop once you age out of your teens. Acne is a relatively common skin condition in adulthood, and the treatments that worked when you were a teenager won’t necessarily still be effective. In this guide, we’ll dive into what causes adult acne and how to treat it with acne skincare products once you’re in your 20s and beyond.

What Is Adult Acne?

In some cases, adult acne takes the same form that it did during the teenage years, usually whiteheads (closed plugged pores) and blackheads (open plugged pores). However, adult acne can also take the form of painful, swollen nodules and cysts that start deep within the skin. These are usually red and may or may not come to head with pus eventually. Cysts tend to appear along the cheeks, chin, and jawline while the forehead stays clear. Meanwhile, other types of acne can appear all over the face as well as on the chest, shoulders, and back.

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What Causes Adult Acne?

At its most basic level, adult acne is caused by excess oil production that makes pores become clogged by skin cells, forming a lesion. Bacteria and inflammation also contribute to the appearance of acne, causing swelling and redness. There are many different potential underlying causes for this excess sebum production.

Fluctuating hormone levels are one common culprit, and many people find that their acne breakouts become more severe before and during their periods. Some people also find that going on certain types of birth control also worsens their acne (though many others find that birth control actually makes their adult acne better). There is also evidence that stress causes an increase in hormones that ramp up oil production and contribute to acne.

Certain hair and skin products can also clog the pores or result in an irritation or allergic reaction that manifests as acne. If you’ve recently started using a new facial cleanser or lotion, check the labels for potentially irritating ingredients like fragrance and denatured alcohol and pore-clogging ingredients like oil and shea butter. Try eliminating these products from your skincare routine to see if that improves your acne.

In some cases, acne can be a symptom of underlying medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome or another endocrine disorder. In these cases, the adult acne will usually be accompanied by other symptoms like hair loss or excess growth, rapid weight loss or gain, and irregular menstrual cycles. If you suspect that your adult acne is merely a symptom of an underlying medical condition, see your doctor to get a formal diagnosis.

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How to Treat Adult Acne

Treating acne early is key for preventing scarring and other longer term consequences that are more difficult to address. Thankfully, there are lots of over the counter acne skincare products that you can try at home without a prescription from a doctor. To start, we recommend using a cleansing balm or makeup remover at night to remove makeup and other impurities and then following it up with a gentle foaming facial cleanser. Regular exfoliation two to three times a week will help to clear away dead skin cells that can block your pores. Using a retinol on the other nights will help to improve skin cell turnover, which can also help improve acne.

Follow everything up with an oil-free moisturizer to keep the acne treatments from drying out your skin. In the morning, you should wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to help reduce the appearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation spots, which is worsened by UV ray exposure. If you have active acne lesions that you are trying to treat, a sulfur based spot treatment applied directly to the pimple can help to calm the inflammation quickly. While many cases of adult acne can be successfully treated at home, not all cases of adult acne will respond to over the counter products. In these cases, a dermatologist can prescribe stronger medications, including topical antibacterial creams to reduce inflammation, stronger retinoids like tretinoin to improve skin cell turnover, and oral medications like spironolactone to help control hormone levels.

Ready to start treating your adult acne? At Lancer Skincare, we offer an entire collection of acne skincare products that were developed by celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer, specifically to treat clogged pores. Shop the full size versions, or try our intro kit of travel sizes so you can sample the entire 3-step skincare method at once. Order today and get free, fast shipping on your U.S. order — no minimum required!

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Even people who struggle with oily skin during the hotter months often find their skin drying up during the wintertime. In this guide, we explain how to tell if you have dry skin, the various causes of dry skin, and how to treat dry skin at home before it becomes too severe.

What Does Dry Skin Feel Like?

Dry skin, formally known as xerosis or xeroderma, can occur anywhere on the body. It commonly appears on the hands and face but can also occur on the arms, legs, torso, feet, and pretty much anywhere else. Dry skin can typically be identified visually due to its rough and flaky appearance. More advanced dry skin can lead to scaling, cracking, and peeling, and may even result in bleeding. Dry skin also feels tight, and may make it difficult to move your hands or make facial expressions in severe cases. It may also result in patches of skin with a different color than normal. Fair skin may look red or pink while darker skin may look gray or ashy.

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What Causes Dry Skin?

The underlying causes of dry skin are usually either a loss of water moisture or not enough oil (sebum) production — and sometimes both. Some people’s skin tends to be naturally dry already, and your skin tends to become more dry as you age as well, especially after you hit 40.

There are many other environmental factors that can also cause dry skin. Exposure to harsh, cold weather is a major one, which is why many people experience dry skin in winter. Spending lots of time in the sun will worsen dry skin, especially if you get sunburned. Doing wet work that constantly requires you to expose your skin to water — such as nurses washing their hands all the time — will also contribute to dry skin.

Certain health conditions also contribute to dry skin. Having a vitamin deficiency such as vitamin D, vitamin A, niacin, zinc, or iron can lead to dry skin. Dry skin is also a known side effect of diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney disease, dialysis, and certain cancer treatments. Many conditions that affect the skin also cause dryness as a side effect including atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis, perioral dermatitis, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis.

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How to Treat Dry Skin

Most cases of dry skin are very mild and caused by environmental factors, making it very easy to treat at home. However, if you suspect that your dry skin is caused by an underlying medical condition or a nutrient deficiency, reach out to your medical provider to treat the underlying problem. If left untreated, dry skin can eventually lead to skin cracking and bleeding, so it’s important to take care of dry skin when you notice the early symptoms.

If you’re experiencing dry skin, we recommend going through your skincare collection and temporarily hitting pause on products that contain potentially drying ingredients. These include acne skincare products, facial exfoliators with acids, and other products meant for oil control. Once you’ve got your dry skin under control, you can slowly add these back into your routine if you feel like you need them. Be careful not to use exfoliators too often, though. We know it’s tempting to use them constantly in order to remove all the dry flakes, but if you overdo it, then you will just dry your skin out further and make the problem worse.

For now, focus on using gentle facial cleansers that won’t strip your skin’s natural oils, and then follow it up with hydrating serums and heavy moisturizers that will help to lock in that water and keep it from escaping your skin. Search for products that are marketed for dry, sensitive, and/or dehydrated skin, and look for terms like “milk cleanser” and “night cream” which indicate products with a thicker texture that aren’t drying. If you have very dry skin, you might want to finish off your skincare routine with a hydrating oil or even a layer of petroleum jelly (a technique called “slugging”) to really seal everything in. Be aware that these thicker products might not absorb into your skin fully, so you’ll want to do this at night and sleep on an old pillowcase that you don’t mind staining. You should also continue to wear sunscreen during the day, even during cloudy winter weather, because UV ray exposure contributes to dry skin and can make the problem worse.

Ready to give your skin the hydration and moisture it needs? Shop our dermatologist-developed skincare from Dr. Harold Lancer to give your dry skincare routine a boost for winter. Get free, fast shipping on all U.S. orders!

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Your face is one of the first places that signs of aging will show up due to the delicacy of the skin there and how much your facial muscles move. While aging is a completely normal part of being human, many people are understandably curious about what they can do to prevent or slow the signs of aging on your face. Today, we’re exploring if it’s ever too early to begin anti-aging skincare and what you should be doing to get started with anti-aging 3-step skincare at home.

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When Should You Start an Anti-Aging Skincare Routine?

If you’re wondering when you should start an anti-aging skincare routine, the answer is “as soon as possible.” And, yes, this means that even if you are in your twenties (or even your teens!), it’s never too early to think about helping your skin age gracefully with a quality skincare routine. That’s because one of the biggest contributors to the aging process is sun damage in the early years. Even though you might not feel the immediate impact, except for the occasional sunburn, the cumulative effects of all that sun exposure will result in more wrinkles and saggy skin down the line. Thus, taking a preventative approach when you are young is key to successful anti-aging skincare.

That being said, don’t give up if you are in your thirties or forties (or even older) — it truly is never too late to begin an anti-aging skincare routine. You will still benefit from anti-aging skincare no matter how old you are. However, it’s important to be realistic, especially with what you can achieve with at-home products. If you are older and looking to target existing signs of aging, you should definitely give your skincare routine an upgrade, but you might need to look into getting professional treatments from a dermatologist or esthetician as well.

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How to Get Started with Anti-Aging Skincare

If the section above didn’t tip you off, we’re here to tell you that the no. 1 thing you can do for anti-aging, no matter how old you are, is to apply an anti-aging sunscreen every single day. Choose a formula with an SPF of at least 30 and slather your entire face in it as the last step of your morning skincare routine. Reapply it every two hours when you are out in the sun, sweating a lot or getting in the water.

Speaking of protection against the sun, you should also incorporate a vitamin C product into your morning routine after you use your facial cleanser but before you apply your sunscreen. While vitamin C is no substitute for SPF, it does help to protect against environmental damage such as UV rays, free radicals and pollution — all of which contribute to premature aging of the skin.

Retinoids, a large category that includes prescription-strength retinol, are the next ingredient that you should focus on for anti-aging. Retinoid treatments stimulate skin cell turnover and growth, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. (As a bonus, it’s also been shown to be effective for acne as well. So if you’re struggling with hormonal breakouts in adulthood, you’ll benefit twice from it.) Retinoids make your skin more sensitive to the sun so they should be applied at night.

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Dry skin will make fine lines and wrinkles more apparent and just generally make your face look tired and dull. Fortunately, you can combat this using two different types of skincare ingredients. The first is to apply a chemical exfoliator such as our Gentle Exfolitating Peel Pads one to three times a week, depending on your skin’s needs. In fact, exfoliating is so crucial that we made it the middle step of our 3-step skincare set. The second is to use an anti-aging moisturizer both morning and night to prevent water loss from the skin. You might also need to incorporate an extra hydrating serum if your skin is very dry.

Taken together, these ingredients will provide a solid foundation for anti-aging skincare at any age. Prioritize these ingredients during your search for anti-aging skincare and you will be well on your way to slowing preventable signs of aging. And if you’re looking to upgrade your skincare routine, then consider our Lancer Skincare products, which are all based on tried-and-true ingredients like the ones we have listed here. Order today and your purchase will ship free to a U.S. address!

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Combination skin combines oily, normal and dry skin types all at once, which can make it tricky to devise a skincare routine for combination skin. If you’re mystified about what you should and shouldn’t be doing for combination skin, here are our top six dos and don’ts for building a combination skin routine:

Don’t skip the research phase.

There are a lot of myths out there about combination skin, and to make matters more complicated, every single person’s skin is uniquely different. Two people might technically have combination skin, but their ideal skincare routines might not overlap at all. As you start to build your perfect routine for combination skin, take steps to educate yourself and get familiar with your own particular needs before you rush out and buy a million facial cleansers. Seek out advice from well-researched, dermatologist-backed sources as you seek to understand your combination skin.

Do exfoliate regularly.

Exfoliating regularly benefits combination skin in two ways. One, it will help to control excess sebum production in the more oily areas. Two, it will help to get rid of dry patches on the other areas of your face. These two benefits combine to make exfoliating an absolute must for people with combination skin. Depending on how oily and/or sensitive your skin is, you will probably need to exfoliate between one to three times a week. Incorporate a chemical exfoliator such as a glycolic acid face peel into your 3-step skincare routine to get the most effective results.

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Don’t skip moisturizer.

People who have oily skin are often taught to fear moisturizer, believing that it will make their face look even shinier. However, anti-aging moisturizers are key for keeping the dry patches on your skin from drying out. What’s more, sometimes your skin is producing so much oil precisely because it’s dry and overcompensating, which means that regularly moisturizing can actually help to make your face less shiny. Apply it generously to your dry patches, but try a lighter hand with the oilier parts of your face.

Do use products on only part of your face.

Combination skin means that one product might not work over your entire face, and that’s totally okay! In fact, using a single product only on select parts of your face is a great tip for building a skincare routine for combination skin. For example, if you have really dry patches, then apply a heavy hydrating serum to them, but skip the oilier parts of your face. Some people also like using two different moisturizers — a lighter one for the more oily parts and a heavier one for the drier parts. Experiment around to see what works for your skin, and don’t be disappointed if a product doesn’t work for your whole face.

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Don’t forget to change your routine with the seasons.

Everyone’s skin care needs change with the weather, and this is particularly true with combination skin. Areas of skin that were neither dry nor oily in summer might become dry as a desert once winter rolls in. Patches that are a little bit shiny in winter might become an oil slick in summer, and so on. This means that you need to vary up your skincare routine for combination skin with the seasons in order to get the maximum benefits out of your products. This also goes for travel as well. If you’re headed somewhere with a vastly different climate from your home base, then you might need to pack some different products.

Do keep checking in with your skin.

The needs of combination skin don’t just change temporarily with the weather. They also change permanently over time. The products that worked for you a couple of years ago, or even last year, might not be what your face needs right now. For instance, many people find that their skin becomes less oily as they age, so your combination skin might move towards more of a dry skin type over time. Take stock of your skin every few months to see if everything is still going well, and don’t be afraid to introduce new products at a reasonable pace.

Looking to take your combination skincare routine to the next level? Browse the entire selection of combination skin products from Lancer Skincare. Developed by celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer, all our products come with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee and ship for free within the U.S.

Removing makeup, sunscreen, and other stubborn cosmetic products is an essential first step to any nighttime skin routine. While many people think that they know how to remove makeup the right way, the truth is that many of them haven’t been taught how to remove makeup properly (and, no, simply rubbing your facial cleanser on your face will not remove your waterproof mascara and full coverage foundation). To help you out, we’ve compiled an ultimate guide that explains the different types of makeup you need to know about and how to remove makeup the right way. Then we’ll dive into why removing makeup matters and finish up with a look at the most common makeup removal mistakes that we see. Without further ado, here’s what you need to know about removing makeup:

Types of Makeup Removers

The specifics of how you will remove makeup will depend on the exact type of makeup remover you choose. Here are the top five types of makeup removers that you need to know about:

Micellar water

Micellar water refers to a water-based product that has tiny droplets of cleansing oils (a.k.a. micelles) suspended in the liquid. To use a micellar water, fully saturate a flat cotton pad, and then gently rub it along your face to remove the makeup.  Micellar water is very gentle and suitable for all skin types, which is one of the reasons why it is so popular. Micellar water can remove skincare products, non-water-resistant sunscreens, and light makeup, but typically isn’t strong enough to tackle waterproof cosmetic products like mascara and foundation.

Eye makeup remover

Eye makeup removers are oil-heavy liquid products that are specifically designed to remove eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick, and other cosmetics products that are highly pigmented and difficult to remove. To use an eye makeup remover, fully saturate a flat cotton pad, and then hold it on the area where you wish to remove the makeup. While eye makeup removers are great for certain areas of the face, most people should avoid using them on their entire complexion, as the oil-heavy formula can clog pores and lead to breakouts.

Cleansing oil

Cleansing oils are another type of liquid makeup remover. Cleansing oils are typically thinner in consistency than eye makeup removers and are designed to be rubbed on a dry face directly, rather than applied to a cotton pad first. Some cleansing oils are strong enough to remove waterproof makeup and some are not; check the description and reviews before purchasing if you tend to wear a lot of makeup.

Cleansing balm

Cleansing balms usually come in a tub and feature a solid balm product that breaks down into an oil when you rub it between your hands. Once you have liquified the cleansing balm, rub it directly on your dry face until your makeup fully breaks down. Cleansing balms are very nourishing, making them a great pick for dry skin or the winter months. Cleansing balms are also typically designed to remove all kinds of makeup and skincare products.

Makeup wipes

Makeup wipes are sheets soaked in makeup removing chemicals. They are designed to be rubbed directly on the face to transfer the makeup to the wipe. Certain wipes can leave makeup and chemical residue behind on your face, which can lead to irritation, clogged pores, and breakouts. Make sure to check the ingredients to ensure that you are getting skin-friendly makeup remover wipes, such as those sold by Lancer Skincare.

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How to Remove Makeup the Right Way

Now that we’ve gotten up to speed on the different types of makeup removers, we can talk about how to remove your makeup the right way. First of all, you should always apply makeup removers to dry skin. This is because almost all makeup removers are made with some kind of oil component in order to break down makeup. If your face is already wet, the water will repel the makeup remover and lead to a less effective cleanse.

If you are using a micellar water or an eye makeup remover, soak a flat cotton pad until it is fully saturated with the products. For micellar water, gently wipe the pad across the face to remove sunscreen and makeup. For eye makeup remover, gently hold it over one eye for at least 60 seconds, and then switch to the other eye; finish by swiping it across your lips if necessary. In both cases, it may take more than one cotton pad for you to get all the makeup off.

If you are using a cleansing oil, simply squirt a couple pumps into your hand, and then gently massage it all over your face and neck. If you are using a cleansing balm, scoop out a quarter-sized amount and rub it between your palms, and then gently massage it all over your face and neck as well. If you are wearing a lot of makeup, then you may wish to let your makeup remover sit on your face to make sure that it fully breaks down all the product on your face. Don’t neglect the edges of your face, and always push your hair back so you can cleanse around your hairline, ears, and jaw to remove the last traces of makeup.

Once you are satisfied that all your makeup has been removed, rinse your face or get into the shower or bath. Always follow up a makeup remover with a facial cleanser of your choice to ensure that you are removing the last traces of product from your face. Be sure to include anti-aging moisturizers and other hydrating products in your nighttime skin routine to nourish your skin after the makeup removal process.

Why Removing Makeup Is Important

At this point, you may be wondering: Why is it such a big deal to remove my makeup at night? If you’re dedicated to sleeping in your makeup, here are five unintended side effects that can happen when you don’t remove your makeup:

It leaves your complexion looking dull.

The makeup that left you looking fresh and dewy last night won’t look so good after you’ve slept in it. Old makeup tends to settle into fine lines and pores, making you look older and tired. In many cases, you’ll need to remove the makeup and reapply it in the morning anyway, because it’s rare to get through a night of sleep with your face intact.

It can clog pores and increase breakouts.

Makeup can embed itself in your pores overnight, making them look bigger and leading to whiteheads and blackheads. Makeup can also create a seal that traps oil in your skin, clogging your pores and contributing to acne breakouts. Certain makeup products may even contain comedogenic ingredients that are already known for worsening breakouts, and sleeping in it will just increase your risk of breakouts even further.

It can throw off your skin’s oil balance.

Everyone’s skin has a certain equilibrium of oil production, and sleeping in your makeup can throw it off. If your makeup is more matte, it can make your skin look dull and dehydrated. On the other hand, if your makeup is more dewy, it will make your face look super shiny. If you sleep in your makeup frequently, it can throw off your skin’s oil production in the long term and have farther-reaching effects on your skin.

It makes other skincare products less effective.

Skincare products certainly aren’t designed to penetrate a full face of makeup. If you only have lingering traces of makeup on your skin, it will make your other products less effective than they could be. If you’re paying for skincare that you hope will make a difference in your skin, then removing all your makeup before applying your skincare will ensure that your skincare is as effective as possible.

It will stain your pillowcases and sheets.

Makeup can be really difficult to get out of fabric, especially if you wear waterproof cosmetic products. If you sleep in your makeup, then you will almost certainly get it all over your pillowcases and sheets, which can permanently stain them beyond recognition. Removing your makeup every night will keep your towels, sheets, pillowcases, and other linens looking nearly brand new.

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Common Makeup Removal Mistakes

Removing makeup seems like a simple enough process, but there are still better ways to do it than others. Here are the top five makeup removal mistakes that we see:

Not letting the products sit long enough

If you’re rubbing your face really hard to try to break up the makeup on your skin, consider letting the makeup remover sit on your face for a couple minutes before you rinse it off. In many cases, agitating the product around with your hands only provides marginal benefits, and the real reason why your makeup remover isn’t taking off your makeup is because you’re not letting it sit long enough. Don’t be afraid to let it rest on your face for a few minutes while you brush your teeth and floss. You’ll be surprised at how much more effective your makeup removal becomes!

Rubbing your skin too hard

On a similar note, rubbing or tugging the skin too hard is another common mistake that we see often with makeup removers. Rubbing the skin vigorously can irritate it and even cause microtears. If you have to rub the makeup remover really hard to remove the product on your face, then you’re either not letting it sit for long enough or you’re using the wrong makeup removal products for your needs (see below).

Choosing the wrong makeup removal product

Not all makeup removers are created equal. A micellar water is great for removing a light layer of BB cream, but it might not put a dent in a full face of waterproof foundation. If you feel like your makeup remover isn’t doing its job, and you’ve tried all the other tips, consider whether or not you need to switch to a different type of makeup remover to get a more effective cleanse.

Using a cleanser that isn’t meant for makeup removal

Facial cleansers are the foundation of any skincare routine, but they’re not meant to remove makeup. If you’ve just been putting a facial cleanser right on your face, without removing your makeup first, then you’re probably not getting a very effective cleanse. Using a makeup remover first will allow your facial cleanser to do what it’s supposed to do and result in a more pleasant and effective cleansing experience.

If you’re looking for high-quality makeup remover wipes, be sure to grab a pack from our Lancer Skincare online store! We also offer a whole range of nourishing skincare products that create the perfect followup routine after makeup removal, including facial cleansers and moisturizers. All of our products feature tried-and-true ingredients and are backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. All Lancer Skincare products also ship free within the United States — no order minimum needed — so there’s no reason not to try them!

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You’ve heard that you should be wearing sunscreen every single day, but do you know why? In this guide, we’ll explore six must-know benefits of sunscreen and explain why anti-aging sunscreen must be part of your morning 3-step skincare routine no matter what.

Sunscreen lowers your risk of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, but that doesn’t mean that it’s inevitable. In fact, wearing sunscreen every day has been shown to protect the skin against harmful UV rays and to reduce the wearer’s risk of skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, wearing an SPF 15 sunscreen every day can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by about 40 percent and lower your melanoma risk by 50 percent. Higher SPF ratings provide even more protection, further lowering your risk of skin cancer.

Sunscreen helps to prevent sunburn.

While cumulative UV damage to the skin can often go unseen for years, too much exposure to the sun at once usually results in a painful, unattractive sunburn that turns your whole face red. Wearing sunscreen and reapplying it will help to protect your skin from an unsightly sunburn and the painful side effects. Be sure to follow other sun protection best practices, including wearing sunglasses, covering up exposed skin with UPF clothing, avoiding the sun during the middle of the day, and staying in the shade whenever possible.

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Sunscreen protects against premature aging.

Everyone develops fine lines and wrinkles eventually due to breakdown in the collagen and elastin in their skin as they age. However, cumulative damage from UV rays can greatly hasten this process, leading to premature signs of aging. Wearing long-lasting sunscreen every day — even if it’s cloudy or you’re sitting indoors — will help to protect against this cumulative damage and to guard against signs of premature aging. For the most anti-aging protection, apply the sunscreen to all exposed skin, including your neck and chest, as opposed to just your face. It’s never too late to start protecting against signs of premature aging by wearing sunscreen.

Sunscreen reduces inflammation and redness.

If you’ve been struggling with rosacea, inflammation, or red patches on your skin, not wearing sunscreen might be contributing to the problem. That’s because sun exposure can cause or worsen redness even if you don’t officially get sunburned. Sun exposure can also exacerbate inflammation from cuts, acne lesions, and other skin conditions. Wearing sunscreen helps to protect against the sun and prevent it from worsening these conditions. If you’re struggling with a lot of redness and inflammation, be sure to also wear sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat and stay out of the sun as much as possible.

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Sunscreen helps to prevent hyperpigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation refers to darker patches of skin caused by excess melanin production. This can take the form of melasma, sun sports, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and all of them are worsened by exposure to UV rays. Wearing a daily sunscreen will help to prevent existing hyperpigmentation from getting worse as well as reduce the chances that new hyperpigmentation spots will form. Wearing sunscreen may also help existing hyperpigmentation to fade faster than it would otherwise. This is because sun exposure stimulates melanin production in the skin, which contributes to the formation of hyperpigmentation.

Sunscreen can act as a cosmetic product.

Unlike makeup, the primary benefit of sunscreen should never be cosmetics—and, no, makeup that includes an SPF rating will not offer enough protection on its own. However, thanks to advances in formulations, some sunscreens now offer some minor cosmetic benefits that enhance the appearance of your skin in addition to protecting against sun damage. For instance, tinted sunscreens help to even out your skin tone, while silicone-based sunscreens help to blur the appearance of large pores and act as a primer for foundation. This means that wearing sunscreen can help you look good immediately as well as in the future.

You won’t realize all the benefits of sunscreens if you don’t find a formulation that you’re willing to wear every single day. At Lancer Skincare, we offer several different highly wearable anti-aging sunscreen formulations that you will look forward to wearing every day. Like all Lancer Skincare products, our sunscreens come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and ship free within the U.S., no order minimum needed. Order today to start protecting your skin from the sun!