#CallTimeonMelanoma
A few years ago when solariums were made illegal, I was one of those stupid people who was miffed that my year round tan was about to become that much harder to maintain. What a fucking idiot I was. How ignorant I was.
Despite growing up in the era of Slip, Slop, Slap, I regularly avoided sunscreen, sat out in peak sun with tanning oil and scoffed at the idea of fake tan. I was under the naive impression that my olive skin (that rarely burned) was accustomed to the sun and could ‘handle it’. Even as I write this, I shake my head, remembering the time I had a mole cut out of my arm by the doctor at age nine.
Last week Byrdie’s Lisa Patulny shared the story of her friend and collegue, Natalie Fornasier, a twenty-four year old woman living with advanced melanoma. Natalie’s story inspired Lisa & the Byrdie team to create #calltimeonmelanoma, a non-for-profit initiative designed to put to bed the idea that being sun smart isn’t sexy. Lisa points out that, “it’s estimated that one person dies every five hours from melanoma in Australia, and that’s not okay” and she’s damn right, it’s not okay - it’s fucked.
Through her editors letter, which features glorious beauty shots of women of different backgrounds wearing SPF beauty products, she encourages all people to be more responsible for looking after their skin. This includes getting your skin & moles checked regularly by a doctor, wearing hats, sunglasses & coverups and wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen Every. Single. Day.
Maybe it’s the reluctant adult in me, maybe it’s the repetitive words of Gemma Watts and Zoë Foster-Blake echoing in my head and hopefully it’s just common sense, but today I wouldn’t dream of leaving the house without sunscreen applied and neither should you. With so many great sunscreens now available that won’t leave you looking like Shane Warne, there’s literally no excuse and your future self will thank you. Aside from avoiding possible melanoma, you’re also preventing premature ageing and fine lines. It’s a no-brainer.
Choosing a good sunscreen can be tricky, so Byrdie have a guide worth a read here and below are the sunscreens that are currently living on my bathroom shelf…
Ultraviolette Queen Screen SPF50+ Lightweight Sun Serum $47
Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Superscreen 50+ $40
Rationale B-3 Tinted Superfluid SPF50 $75
Ultraviolette Supreme Screen 50+ Hydrating Facial Sunscreen $45
La Roche Posey Antheleos XL Ultra Light Spray SPF50+ $35.95
These are the products I am currently using & this post is in no way sponsored, I simply want to spread the sun smart word. Also, I am no doctor/expert/professional in recommending sunscreen, so check with a qualified professional to make sure you’re choosing an effective sunscreen that’s suitable for you and your lifestyle.