The one habit that makes everything else work — and how to do it well all season long.
Let’s start with the question I get asked more than almost any other.
What’s the best sunscreen?
“The best sunscreen is the one you will use every day.”
— Dr. Don Griffin
Not the one with the most impressive ingredient list. Not the one with the highest SPF number. Not the most expensive one on the shelf. The best sunscreen is the one you will actually put on every morning, consistently, for the rest of your life.
That philosophy is the foundation of everything we recommend at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery and The Skin Lounge. And it is particularly important in summer — because summer is when sun protection goes from a good idea to the single most important investment you can make in how your face ages.
Why Summer Deserves Its Own Conversation
Sun protection matters every single day of the year — cloudy days, winter days, days when you barely go outside. UV radiation reaches the skin through windows, through clouds, and in the brief moments between your car and the grocery store. The daily habit is what protects your face over decades.
But summer is the season that tests your habits most directly. More time outdoors. Higher UV index. Heat and humidity that change how products behave on the skin. And for anyone who has invested in a comprehensive approach to their face — a facelift, a biostimulator program with Sculptra or Radiesse, RF microneedling or laser treatments — summer is when your daily habits either preserve that work or quietly undermine it.
After a facelift or non-surgical treatment, UV exposure is working directly against the restored structure and improved skin quality you paid for. Patients who are consistent with sun protection maintain their results for years. Patients who aren’t see subtle erosion of the result — softening of collagen, pigmentation changes, texture shifts — that are preventable.
The good news is that protecting yourself well is genuinely within your control. And it doesn’t have to be complicated.
What UV Exposure Is Actually Doing
UV radiation comes in two forms that matter for your skin. UVB rays affect the surface — they cause sunburn and visible damage and are the primary driver of skin cancer risk. UVA rays penetrate much deeper, breaking down collagen and elastin in the tissue layer where biostimulators, facelift results, and microneedling work actually live. Both are aging you. Neither is protected against by a high SPF number alone.
This is why broad spectrum protection — coverage against both UVA and UVB — is the only kind worth using. An SPF 50 that isn’t broad spectrum is letting the aging rays through while protecting you from sunburn. That is a deal worth refusing.
Why We Recommend Physical SPF
At Nashville Cosmetic Surgery and The Skin Lounge our preference is physical sunscreen — also called mineral sunscreen — over chemical options, and there is a reason for that preference.
Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV radiation and converting it to heat that is released from the skin. They tend to be lighter in feel and easier to layer under makeup, which is why they dominate the drugstore aisle. For many people chemical sunscreens work just fine. But they can irritate sensitive skin, they can break down faster when exposed to heat and sweat, and the heat-release mechanism is less than ideal for patients with rosacea or post-treatment inflammation.
Physical sunscreens — formulated with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or both — work differently. They sit on the surface of the skin and physically reflect UV radiation rather than absorbing it. They are gentler on sensitive skin, more stable in heat, and immediately protective once applied. For post-procedure skin, for patients with rosacea or any inflammatory tendency, and for anyone who wants the cleanest mechanism available, physical SPF is what we recommend.
The old knock on physical sunscreens — the white cast, the heavy feel — has been largely solved by modern formulations. The elegant physical SPFs available today wear beautifully, work under makeup, and do their job without the sensory compromise of the past.
We carry physical SPF options at The Skin Lounge at several price points — because we believe the right sunscreen should be the one you will use every day, and that starts with finding one that fits your life.
The Practical Habits That Actually Make a Difference
| Habit | Why It Matters | Practical Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Apply last, every morning | SPF is rated at the tested amount — less application means less protection | Full teaspoon for face and neck — more than you think you need |
| Reapply when outdoors | Single morning application doesn’t last all day outside | Every 2 hours outdoors — powder SPF works over makeup |
| Extend to neck and chest | Three most neglected areas that show age the fastest | 30 extra seconds — same product, same routine |
| Use shade and clothing | Layered protection reduces cumulative UV exposure | Wide-brim hat, UV clothing, seek shade 10am–4pm |
| Extra care after procedures | Treated skin is significantly more UV-vulnerable during healing | Physical SPF only — follow your provider’s instructions |
Use Summer Strategically for Your Treatment Calendar
Here is a practical piece of advice that often surprises people: summer is actually a great time to plan rather than to perform some aesthetic treatments.
While less aggressive laser resurfacing, BBL and RF microneedling treatments can be done year round, deeper treatments are generally best done in fall and winter when UV exposure is naturally lower and post-treatment skin is easier to protect. The skin heals more predictably, and the results develop without competing against the summer UV load.
What summer is also well suited for is maintenance treatments. Biostimulator sessions, filler, lighter treatments, and the daily skin care routine that supports everything else you’ve invested in. Summer is a season for protecting and maintaining. Fall is the season for more aggressive building.
Start thinking about your fall appointments now. Our fall calendar fills faster than any other season, and the patients who plan ahead are the ones who get the timing they want.
The Simple Truth
Everything we’ve talked about in this blog series — the comprehensive facelift, the non-surgical treatment stack, the biostimulator foundation, the thoughtful plan built for your specific face — is worth preserving. And the single most important habit for preserving it is also the simplest.
Sunscreen. Every morning. The one you will actually use.
It’s not the most exciting recommendation. But it is the most consistently true one I can give you — and after thirty years of taking care of patients’ faces, it is the habit I care about most.
If you’d like help finding the right physical sunscreen for your skin — or if you’re ready to build or revisit your treatment plan before fall — I’d love to see you at The Skin Lounge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between physical and chemical sunscreen?
Chemical sunscreens absorb UV radiation and convert it to heat released from the skin. Physical sunscreens sit on the surface and reflect UV. Chemical options are typically lighter but can irritate sensitive skin and break down in heat. Physical options are gentler, more stable, and preferred for post-procedure skin and inflammatory conditions like rosacea.
How much sunscreen should I apply?
A full teaspoon for the face and neck is the standard recommendation — more than most people typically apply. The SPF rating on the bottle assumes the tested amount; less product means less protection. Apply generously every morning as the last step of your skincare routine before makeup.
Should I reapply sunscreen during the day?
For daily indoor use with limited sun exposure a single morning application is generally sufficient. For extended time outdoors — outdoor lunches, pool days, travel, exercise — reapply every two hours. Powder SPF reapplies cleanly over makeup.
When is the best time to schedule laser and RF microneedling treatments?
Fall and winter are generally the optimal seasons for more aggressive laser and RF microneedling treatments — lower UV exposure supports better healing and helps preserve results. That said, lighter laser, BBL, and RF microneedling treatments can be done year round. Maintenance treatments and biostimulator sessions are well suited to summer.
Does sunscreen really make that much difference to aging?
More than any other single product or habit. UV exposure is the primary environmental driver of skin aging — it breaks down collagen and elastin, drives pigmentation changes, and accelerates every visible sign of aging. A consistent daily sun protection habit is the single most impactful decision you can make for how your face ages over decades.
Can I use sunscreen after a facelift or skin treatment?
Yes — with extra care during the healing period. Post-procedure skin is significantly more vulnerable to UV damage. Physical SPF only during healing, applied exactly as your provider instructs, is an essential part of protecting your result while the skin recovers.