I’m sure the very first thought you’re having when looking at the title of this blog post is, “Um, what?”

And yes, it is a bit creative and even a little unorthodox.

But today’s blog post is a special one because it’s a collaboration with our close friends at Merci’s Tailoring. Another business owned by the multi-talented and never bored skincare specialist and electrolysis professional: Teresa Dove!

Head over to the Merci’s Tailoring blog and find this post’s companion piece: The best outfit accessory: sunscreen!

Together with her daughter, Katherine, and the rest of the family, they operate an alterations and tailoring shop in Cedar Rapids working on all types of clothing, with a speciality in formal attire.

If you find yourself with a summer schedule full of weddings, graduations, and other special events, Merci’s Tailoring will ensure you get the perfect fit.

Call to schedule your fitting Message Merci’s Tailoring on Facebook

But what on earth do sunscreen and tailoring have in common?

The surprising link between sunscreen & tailoring

A stitch in time saves nine…

“A stitch in time saves nine”, is a proverb from England that seems to have its first recording in a book of provers and wise words from 1732. Considering this work is a collection of various proverbs, we can make a guess that it was already in common use in society, so its origin goes back even farther.

The phrase is meant to communicate that “if you address a problem now, it won’t grow later”. If you repair a small hole or tear with a single stitch now, you save yourself making nine stitches due to a larger hole later.

In the alterations and tailoring industry, this can apply to more than literally repairing a hole before it gets bigger. Proper and timely tailoring and alterations can extend the life of your clothing. You can transform an out-dated piece into something more modern that fits your current taste. Correcting the fit of a blouse that is just a tad snug relieves stress on the seams, preventing premature wear and (sometimes literally) tear.

Read our companion post on the Merci’s Tailoring blog for more on how alterations can help your garments last longer!

Many of us are well aware of this concept without a nice rhyming proverb to remind us how actions and consequences work. Although, if we’re honest, the reminder may be apt.

How many times did we see the hem of our jeans start to fray before finally taking them to get hemmed?
How many times did we address a red pasta stain the minute it happened? Saving us much more time-consuming prewash soaking? Or worse, replacing the garment.
How many times did we throw something in the “junk drawer” instead of putting it where it needed to be? Leaving us with a pile of stuff we dread the thought of dealing with.
How many times did we see the “change oil” light on the dash, before finally booking an appointment with our mechanic? (Better an oil change than a new engine!!)

The “nine” we’re saving obviously changes: stitches, time, frustration, money. But as we’ve all experienced throughout life, appropriately addressing a burden in a timely manner does save us a bigger headache down the road.

But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to motivate ourselves in the moment when it can count the most!

Plus, the farther away the consequences, and the more gradual they develop, the easier it is to put off, or ignore completely.

How sunscreen “saves nine”

Premature skin aging and sun damage is exactly the kind of consequence that we don’t see or feel right away. It takes cumulative hours and years of unprotected sun exposure to gradually build up to a “problem” we can easily identify with our naked eyes.

“Well, I’m just going out for a couple errands. I’ll only be outside for maybe an hour or two tops.”

Sun damage is cumulative. Which means that an hour here, a couple hours there, half a day here. It all adds up over time. So there is no such thing as “irrelevant” sun exposure. It all counts.

Repeated, unprotected, sun exposure is one of the biggest contributors to aging for our skin. The damage slowly builds and builds over time until we find ourselves in our 30’s, 40’s or beyond, visiting a skincare specialist looking for help turning back the clock. Maybe, say, nine years?

Sunscreen in time saves nine — years of aging!

Now, much like the “nine stitches”, the “nine years” here is a bit arbitrary. The point is that sunscreen will keep the sun from aging your skin even faster.

If you ask any dermatologist or skincare professional for the number one anti-aging advice you can follow for your skin? It’s wearing sunscreen.

And just like the proverb says, when we use sunscreen in time, it helps to lock in the current youth of our skin and protect it from the aging damage of the sun. Applying sunscreen in our 20’s and 30’s (making one stitch) is much easier than treatment after treatment in our later years after the damage has already been done (the nine).

If you are already past those years of “youthful skin” and may be thinking, “well, what’s the point?” You should still be using sunscreen! Just because the hole in the fabric has gotten bigger, doesn’t mean it’s not worth preventing it from getting even worse, right? In addition, treatments done to treat sun damage can be quickly reversed if you don’t diligently protect the treated skin from the sun.

Choose the right sunscreen

So now that we’re all going to follow this proverbial advice and buy youthful skin for tomorrow by applying sunscreen today, let’s briefly go over sunscreen selection.

Here are some simple steps to follow and questions to consider when choosing the right sunscreen for you:

Consider your skin type — If you have dry skin, you might like a sunscreen that doubles as a moisturizer, whereas if you have oily skin, you’ll want something lighter
Wearing makeup? — If you plan to wear makeup, you’ll want a sunscreen that is light on the skin so you can still put makeup on top. Alternatively, consider an SPF primer or even an SPF foundation. The M.A.D. Photo Guard SPF 50 Self-Adjusting Foundation is a client favorite in our skincare salon. In fact, it topped our best seller’s list for 2023!
Look for “broad-spectrum” — Pick a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays UVA rays can prematurely age the skin, while UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburns. Both types of rays contribute to skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
SPF 30+ — The American Accademy of Dermatology recommends sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Feel free to go higher, but know that no sunscreen offers 100% protection, so also consider sunprotective clothing and hats to maximize your protection.
Do you need water resistance? — Even if you don’t plan on jumping in a pool, sweat can also wash sunscreen away. So consider a water-resistant variety if you know your face to get flush or sweaty in the warmer part of the year.
Consider your preferences — Do you prefer a nice scent, or scentless? Do you need one that is hypoallergenic? Consider any personal preferences you have and select accordingly.
Consult a skincare specialist — Still not sure which sunscreen to choose? We have a variety in-salon, so come for a visit and we’ll help you choose a high quality sunscreen that suits your needs and your skin.

And finally, don’t forget to reapply! The general advice is to reapply sunscreen every two hours, but be sure to read the instructions on whichever sunscreen you choose to make sure you’re reapplying in the appropriate time.

Keep a sunscreen available at all times

To make following the “stitch in time” advice as easy on us as possible, simply stash a sunscreen with you in convenient places. Here are a few ideas so you’re never without and are always reminded to reapply.

Keep a small travel-sized bottle in each purse. Double tip: do the same with an SPF chapstick or lipstick.
Don’t carry a purse? Pick up a package of “single use” envelopes to grab with your keys and wallet before you run out the door
Keep a larger pump-style bottle of sunscreen on the counter in your bathroom as an easy reminder to apply after you get out of the shower or as you’re getting ready for your day.
Although it’s best to apply sunscreen a little while before you actually expose the skin to the sun, try another pump-style bottle by the door you leave through every day as a final visual reminder in case you haven’t already applied.
Replace a product you already use with an SPF equivalent. If there is already a lotion, moisturizer, primer, foundation, etc. you use in your routine, consider an SPF version.
Finally, as convenient as it sounds, do NOT keep sunscreen in your car, especially during hot months. The heat can degrade the sunscreen, so you won’t be getting the protection you think you are.

Proactively Take care of your skin - and your clothes

There’s a reason “a stitch in time…” has stuck around for hundreds of years. It’s advice we always need, but don’t always heed. And it easily applies to so many areas of life.

So whether you need a stitch in time for your clothing, or want to hold on to youthful skin, we could use a catchy reminder from time to time.

Check your cumulative sun damage with a skincare consultation

We all have cumulated sun damage over our life times, no matter how careful we are. In-salon we have a specialty device that can help our skincare specialists see exactly where sun damage is lurking. When you know the extent of the damage, you can create a proper plan to treat it.

Request a cosultation online