Other tips related to sunscreen:
1. Would you drink spoiled milk?
Monitor the expiration dates that now appear on sunscreen labels and don't gamble with expired product. It will not protect your skin!
2. Insect repellents reduce SPF by up to a third.
That means the 15+ you just applied is now an SPF 5. To be safe, when using bug spray and sunscreen together, use a SPF 50+, and avoid bugs and cancer.
3. Find yourself a really sexy hat.
I'm not kidding! Even with sunscreen, damage from the suns rays cause hyperpigmentation and wrinkling. Wrinkles are ugly, so find a hat and keep your sexy face covered!
4. Don't forget about your hands.
Hands begin to show age quickly, as the skin is thin and susceptible to damage. Find a really great hand lotion containing SPF and keep it near your sink. Between hand washings, dish cleanings, and refilling your water glass, it can be a constant reminder that you need to reapply sunscreen to your delicate hands often! Same goes for your lips... find a great lip balm with an SPF and keep those lips kissable!
5. Make bronzer your bestie!
Who needs to lay out or fake bake anymore? There are so many amazing bronzing products out there, you can be a bronzed goddess 365 days a year! So, now it is your turn to do a little work. I want to hear about all of the sunscreen products you love, so I can go out and try them and review them here! "My Favorite Things" will become a regular post here, so even if your favorites are not sunscreen related, I would love to hear about it and review them for you!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Navigating SPF Part 2: How to apply
Ok, now that we got all of the government mumbo-jumbo out of the way, a much more simple question. How do I properly use sunscreen? Well, the answer is that most adults do NOT apply sunscreen correctly, so it obviously is not as simple as we thought. So here is my step-by-step instructions to the proper use of sunscreen:
1. Shake the bottle like crazy before you even THINK about squirting it into your hands. This is the only way to distribute the ingredients together and make the product effective.
2. That small dollop that you just dispensed onto your fingers is not enough to cover your whole body... think again! Imagine filling at least a shot glass full of sunscreen, because most adults need a full 1 oz of sunscreen to cover their whole body. It's always ok to apply more than you think you should... go crazy! Too much is never enough!
3. I hate repeating myself, but I'll make an exception here... you must apply sunscreen 30 minutes before exposing your skin to the sun. The ingredients must attach to your skin to actually work!
4. I also recommend another "dose" of sunscreen when you have been in the sun for about 30 minutes. Why? Because you most likely missed a sensitive area like the tops of your ears, or behind your knees, or in the part of your hair... so do it again just to be safe. How much? Another shot glass full!
5. Repeating myself again, but I'll forgive you this time. So now you have been in the water, or sweating on the sand volleyball court for like an hour? Towel yourself off and guess what? Another shot glass full. Yeah, your heard me right... another shot.
6. Final time I'm going to say this. Maybe you are a beach bum, reading on your towel and not getting wet or sweaty... well if it has been two hours and you've finished "The Hunger Games" then guess what? Another shot glass, from head to toe.
So, now I have made you an expert on the application of sunscreen. You are never going to get sunburn again right? Wrong. Even if you applied SPF 50+ according to the directions and completely doused yourself in protection, it is entirely possible to get a sunburn when the sun is at it's strongest. That is anytime between 10am and 4pm, so try to limit your exposure at that time!
1. Shake the bottle like crazy before you even THINK about squirting it into your hands. This is the only way to distribute the ingredients together and make the product effective.
2. That small dollop that you just dispensed onto your fingers is not enough to cover your whole body... think again! Imagine filling at least a shot glass full of sunscreen, because most adults need a full 1 oz of sunscreen to cover their whole body. It's always ok to apply more than you think you should... go crazy! Too much is never enough!
3. I hate repeating myself, but I'll make an exception here... you must apply sunscreen 30 minutes before exposing your skin to the sun. The ingredients must attach to your skin to actually work!
4. I also recommend another "dose" of sunscreen when you have been in the sun for about 30 minutes. Why? Because you most likely missed a sensitive area like the tops of your ears, or behind your knees, or in the part of your hair... so do it again just to be safe. How much? Another shot glass full!
5. Repeating myself again, but I'll forgive you this time. So now you have been in the water, or sweating on the sand volleyball court for like an hour? Towel yourself off and guess what? Another shot glass full. Yeah, your heard me right... another shot.
6. Final time I'm going to say this. Maybe you are a beach bum, reading on your towel and not getting wet or sweaty... well if it has been two hours and you've finished "The Hunger Games" then guess what? Another shot glass, from head to toe.
So, now I have made you an expert on the application of sunscreen. You are never going to get sunburn again right? Wrong. Even if you applied SPF 50+ according to the directions and completely doused yourself in protection, it is entirely possible to get a sunburn when the sun is at it's strongest. That is anytime between 10am and 4pm, so try to limit your exposure at that time!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Navigating SPF Part 1: New FDA Regulations
Looking for youth in a bottle? Make sunscreen your best friend! While many products can claim to turn back time and reverse the signs of aging, the only true "youth in a bottle" is a quality sunscreen. How do you choose the best sunscreen for you? With so many different products on the market, it can be tough navigating the world of SPF. With an early spring this year, and summer quickly approaching, what better time to discuss sun protection than today? Last year, the FDA handed down new regulations to the manufacturers of sunscreen. The changes will be in place for 2012. What does this mean for you? I'll break it down!
1. Limiting the use of the term "Broad Spectrum" in labeling, to only those products that protect against the burning UVB rays, but also against cancer-causing UVA rays, and must be of SPF 15 or higher. Additionally, sunscreens with SPF between 2 and 14 must inform the consumer that they only protect against burns and NOT cancer. Always purchase "Broad Spectrum" sunscreens of SPF 15+ to protect yourself against both aging and for cancer prevention.
2. Eliminating the terms "Waterproof" and "Sweatproof." Manufacturers may claim their product to be "water resistant," but must clearly state the amount of time a user can expect to maintain the declared SPF while swimming or sweating. The labels are only permitted to claim 40 minutes or 80 minutes. Remember to reapply sunscreen often when swimming or sweating!
3. Manufacturers can no longer make claims of "instant protection." Remember that sunscreen is most effective when applied 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and when reapplied every two hours (at the latest!)
4. Spray sunscreens must include new labels that warn against the risk of inhaling the product. In my opinion, avoid spray sunscreen altogether. Besides the risk of inhaling chemicals, aerosol sprays are terrible for our environment! The FDA is currently in research to find out if the spray sunscreens are even as effective as lotion varieties, because of the application and dosing from the can. Stick with good, old fashioned cream or lotion!
5. Sunscreen in other forms is under the FDA's critical eye too. Sunscreen in the form of wipes, towelettes, body washes, and shampoo may eventually be considered completely ineffective. If the risk of these not working is even a small possibility, I would avoid them completely.
1. Limiting the use of the term "Broad Spectrum" in labeling, to only those products that protect against the burning UVB rays, but also against cancer-causing UVA rays, and must be of SPF 15 or higher. Additionally, sunscreens with SPF between 2 and 14 must inform the consumer that they only protect against burns and NOT cancer. Always purchase "Broad Spectrum" sunscreens of SPF 15+ to protect yourself against both aging and for cancer prevention.
2. Eliminating the terms "Waterproof" and "Sweatproof." Manufacturers may claim their product to be "water resistant," but must clearly state the amount of time a user can expect to maintain the declared SPF while swimming or sweating. The labels are only permitted to claim 40 minutes or 80 minutes. Remember to reapply sunscreen often when swimming or sweating!
3. Manufacturers can no longer make claims of "instant protection." Remember that sunscreen is most effective when applied 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and when reapplied every two hours (at the latest!)
4. Spray sunscreens must include new labels that warn against the risk of inhaling the product. In my opinion, avoid spray sunscreen altogether. Besides the risk of inhaling chemicals, aerosol sprays are terrible for our environment! The FDA is currently in research to find out if the spray sunscreens are even as effective as lotion varieties, because of the application and dosing from the can. Stick with good, old fashioned cream or lotion!
5. Sunscreen in other forms is under the FDA's critical eye too. Sunscreen in the form of wipes, towelettes, body washes, and shampoo may eventually be considered completely ineffective. If the risk of these not working is even a small possibility, I would avoid them completely.
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