Freckled people, rejoice! Not only do those teeny beauty marks look adorable on you, but they’re also a built-in form of SPF.
In the latest episode of SciShow, VlogBrother Hank Green explains that freckles are not, in fact, “the stars of the night sky sparkling on your cheeks.” They’re small patches of skin that contain higher amounts of melanin — aka the pigment protein that gives your eyes, skin and hair color.
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And melanin is a good thing, he promises! It’s produced by skin cells and acts as a natural sunscreen, darkening your face to protect it from the sun. The more you’re in the sun, the darker your freckles become. Of course, the reverse is true, too: Freckles tend to fade the more you’re indoors. Watch his whole spiel below:
Of course, while freckled faces may have a little extra protection, they still require store-bought sunscreen for extra protection from the sun’s harsh UV rays.
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If you have a sprinkling of freckles across your face, you’re in good company: Celeb redheads Eddie Redmayne, Julianne Moore and Lindsay Lohan, not to mention brunettes Lily Collins, Lucy Liu, Gisele Bündchen and Kylie Jenner, who recently shared a “freckle appreciation post” via Instagram, rock a smattering of freckles.
Did you know your freckles were benefitting you so much? Tweet with @UsWeekly using the hashtag #stylebyUs!
