Hi,

Sunscreens are indispensable component of your skin care regimen! Irrespective of the season or climate, it is important to wear a sunscreen while venturing out in the day!

One of the most common misconceptions is that sunscreens can be skipped on cloudy days. This is not true. However, even on cloudy days, the sun’s UV rays continue to stream through the clouds and reach your skin. So, it is important to have a protective layer of sunscreen that will shield off the uv rays.

Application of Sunscreens
Though you may use sunscreens daily, do you know HOW to apply them? I am not talking about taking a pea size amount on your palms and slathering it on your skin… I am talking about in what order do you apply your sunscreen in your daily skin care routine?

Is it your first layer of product or is it your last step before make-up?

Many women believe that sunscreens should be the first layer on your skin so that it is closest to the skin and deliver maximum effectiveness. But is it really so?

It depends on the type of sunscreen you use.

If you are using Physical Sunscreens that contain ingredients like Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide, it doesn’t matter in what order you apply it. They’ll work just the same whether you apply it first or last. However, it is advisable to apply the sunscreen after your moisturizer just to make sure that it doesn’t inhibit the penetrating ability of the latter.

If you use chemical Sunscreens that contain ingredients like Oxycinnamate, it is advisable for you to use it as the first layer on your skin. This is just to ensure that the raw materials in other skin care products don’t influence the SPF efficacy of the sunscreen.

Here are some great products you can choose from:

La Roche Posay Anthelios SX
It’s a non-greasy moisturizer and Sunscreen all in one. Anthelios SX offers broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) protection and is a 2009 In Style best beauty buy!

Skin Care Heaven Chemical-Free SPF 30
It is a broad-spectrum Sunblock containing powerful antioxidants to help moisturize while protecting your skin from the harmful UV-Rays.

Doc Martins of Maui SPF 30 Sunblock
This is an amazing waterproof Sunblock that will give you excellent protection all day. Doc Martins of Maui is a sweat and waterproof formula that is moisturizing yet not greasy. This skin care product was developed by the famous and respected Maui Dermatologist, Dr. Martin.

By Marilynn Syrett

Hi,

Dark spots on the skin are a result of sun damage. Excessive and unprotected sun exposure causes the UV rays of the sun to penetrate within the skin cells and cause intrinsic damage. Unlike sun burns and heat rashes, certain forms of sun damage take a long time to appear on the skin.

This is the reason why the effects of sun exposure you have as a teenager do not show up until much later in life. Sun spots are a result of gradual damage by the sun’s UV rays.

Here are some tips to Treat Sun Spots:

Follow a Diligent Skin Care Regimen
Practice an effective cleansing-toning-moisturizing skin care regimen and use products that aim to correct pigmentation spots. However, any routine is only effective if you follow it regularly. Don’t be on and off the products. Rather, stick to it and use it for at least 3-4 months in order to see visible results.

Skin Care Heaven System for Pigmentation or Photo
Damaged Skin is a great option to reduce the signs of aging and even out skin tone and rejuvenating the skin. This product is perfect for all skin types and will prevent more pigment from occurring in the skin. The System includes:

Exfoliating Cleanser
A therapeutic cleanser enhanced with antioxidants that caters to aging skin

Retexturizing Toning Pads
It contains 10% Glycolic Acid and antioxidants that improve skin texture while evening out the skin tone.

DNA Repair Serum
It stimulates collagen and repairs damaged tissue.

Green Tea Soothing Cream
It reduces the signs of aging while moisturizing.

Cell Protein Serum
It strengthens and restores collagen in the skin.

Retinol Plus Smoothing Serum
It helps to firm and hydrate the skin.

Anti-oxidant Oil-Free Moisturizer
It helps to hydrate and rejuvenate the skin with rich antioxidants.

Chemical-Free SPF 30
It is a broad spectrum sunblock that contains powerful antioxidants to protect against harmful rays.

Wear Sunscreen Daily
If you want to correct the appearance of sun spots, it is important you prevent any aggravation of the condition by unprotected sun exposure. Therefore, make sure you wear a broad spectrum sunscreen before going out in the sun. la Roche Posay offers a range of Anthelios 60 Sunscreen in different forms like Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid (an oil-free formulation), Melt-In Sunscreen Lotion (lightweight lotion) and Melt-In Sunscreen Milk (rich, creamy lotion)

Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliate your skin regularly in order to scrape off the dead skin cells from the skin surface. Regular exfoliation helps to lighten sun spots and improve your skin tone.

Dr Syrett
Skin Care heaven

Hi,

Safety against sunlight has been one of the major skin concerns among women. The importance of using sunscreen is known to everyone. However, what most people do not know is how to apply sunscreen correctly so that it protects the skin against the ill effects of the sun efficiently. In fact, how you apply the sunscreen is more important than the SPF number mentioned on the product!

The SPF or Sun Protection Factor of a sunscreen is how much time we can spend out in the sunwithout getting damaged by the sun\’s UV rays naturally. However, recent studies have found that a sunscreen labeled SPF 15 doesn\’t really mean you can stay in the sun 15 times longer than you could have without any sunscreen, but it is a good numerical value to use when considering the strength of a product.

More than the SPF is related to the time that can be spent out in the sun, it is related to the harmful ultraviolet radiations that penetrate the skins surface. Here are some key considerations while using sun screen products…

Sunscreens don\’t start working from the minute you apply them. Rather, they take about 30 minutes to get absorbed inside the skin surface and start the protection process. So make sure you apply your sunscreen at least 15-20 minutes before your venture out in the sun.

Apply sunscreen all over the exposed parts of your body including your back, neck, ears, arms and feet.

Always wear protective clothing that covers your skin. You can also carry an umbrella or wear SPF rated clothing.

SPF 15 blocks about 93 percent of the UV-B radiations that are responsible for causing sunburns. SPF 30 absorbs nearly 97 per cent of the rays and SPF 50, 98 percent of the same. Thus you can see the difference between the SPF numbers is very marginal 30, so that is usually a good number to shoot for.

Once you know the intricacies of sun safety, it becomes easier to protect your skin against the sun!

Hi,

Sunscreens are an essential ingredient of any skin care regimen. However, there are still many myths and misconceptions surrounding their use. Here are some of the most popular myths that I have come across regarding sunscreens.

Myth: People with Dark Skin don\’t need to use Sunscreens!

Fact: False!
Regardless of the complexion, all people need to wear sunscreen because all sorts of complexion can burn under sunlight. People with dark skin have more melanin and therefore don\’t need a higher SPF as light-skinned people. However, the extra melanin contents cannot protect against the damaging UV rays. They are just as prone to sun damage, premature aging and skin cancer as anyone else. People with dark skin need to wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15.

Myth: Sunlight can give you amazing Highlights

Fact: False!
The sun is as bad for your hair as it is for your skin. The highlights that you get on your hair because of sun exposure and are actually signs of sun damage. The hair would become dry and lose all its sheen and luster if exposed to sun for long periods of time. This would further lead to breakage. Therefore, use UV shielding hair care products whenever you venture out in the sun. Try to wear a hat too.

Myth: Tanning can zap zits!

Fact:False!
Even though tanning can camouflage the redness of a pimple and make them dry faster, exposure to sunlight would worsen the condition and promote more acne and breakouts. The dead skin cells that clog the skin pores get accumulated on the skin surface. The sun subsequently dehydrates the skin which prompts the oil glands to produce more oil. This would lead to new pimples.

Myth: Anything higher than SPF 30 is not necessary!

Fact: False!
SPF 30 guarantees 96% protection while SPF 50 guarantees 98% protection. The difference is only marginal. That is why people feel that anything higher than SPF 30 is not worth the price and added chemicals

Hi,

Here are some essential items you should always have with you when you venture out (or even stay indoors) during the summer so your skin is well protected.

Sunscreens
Sunscreens become absolutely indispensable during the summer. Not to say that you don’t need sunscreen the rest of the year, but you need to you use more and be more diligent during the summer months. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply it all over every exposed area of your body at least 15-20 minutes before you go out in the sun. Also, don\’t forget to carry it with you and reapply after every 4 hours, especially if you are out on the beach, park, exercising or swimming.. Try iS Clinical SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen. It is a powder sunscreen that you can just dab over your face with a brush. It applies easy and won’t breakdown in the warm car or purse.

Moisturizers
Summer time is all about sweat and heat. However, it is still important to moisturize your face as the skin tends to become dry as a result of excessive heat. Instead of rich creamy moisturizers that you use in winter, switch to a light-weight oil-free moisturizer for the summer. This will help your skin remain soft and supple and prevent any heat rashes. Try using Kinerase HydraBoost Intensive Treatment. It moisturizes the skin without making it too oily and greasy.

Lip Balms with SPF
Apart from your skin, it is also important to protect your lips against the harsh rays of the sun. hot weather can make the lips dry and chapped. Therefore, apply a nourishing lip balm that has SPF 15 or more. This helps keep lips supple and protected from damage.

Hi,

There is a popular misconception among people that higher the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of a sunscreen, the better it will be able to protect against sunlight. While this may be true in theory, practically it is not possible. There have been several studies that have proven that sunscreens with SPF 50+ are just as effective as a sunscreen with an SPF 30.

What is SPF?
SPF or Sun Protection Factor is a formula to measure a sunscreens\’ ability to protect the skin from damage by UV radiation from the sun. If your skin burns after 20 minutes under the sun, a sunscreen with SPF 15 will protect your skin for 15 times longer. Thus, you can stay in the sun for 300 minutes without getting damaged.

UVB Protection
Sunscreens with SPF 15 and above generally provide superior protection against UVB radiation of from sun. Generally, SPF 15 filters out 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 filters 97% and SPF 50 filters 98% of UVB radiation.

UVA Protection
Not all sunscreens that protect against UVB rays, protect against UVA rays. Therefore, it is important to check if the sunscreen has UVA protective ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, mexoryl, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Efficiency of Sunscreens
The efficiency of sunscreens depends on how you use the product more than their SPF. Here are some tips to apply sunscreen so you can extract the maximum benefits.

• Apply sunscreens all over every exposed area of your body at least 15-20 minutes before you go out in the sun so that it is absorbed well into the skin.
• Reapply the sunscreen every two to four hours or whenever possible, especially after physically stressful activities like exercising, swimming, hiking, etc.
• Apply a thick coat of sunscreen so that you are well protected against the harsh UV radiations of the sunlight.

Hi,

SPF or ‘Sun Protection Factor’ is a determining measure of the ability of a sunscreen to prevent sun damage. There is a widespread misconception that the higher the SPF of a sunscreen, the better the protection it offers. However, that’s not the case.

What Is SPF?
SPF is the ability of the sunscreen to protect against harsh sun rays before any damage is caused to the skin. If you can remain in the sunlight without getting burnt for about 30 minutes, then an SPF 15 product will increase the time you can spend in the sun 15 times more. That is, you can safely stay out in the sun for 30 X 15= 450 minutes.That is more than 7 hours. Now let’s talk about the 2 different Rays the sun emits.

UVB Rays
Sunscreens protect the skin against the harmful UVB rays of the sun. The UVB rays penetrate the skin surface and cause intrinsic damage. As a result, the skin begins to sag and deteriorate.

UVA Rays
Most sunscreen offer protection against UVB rays. Only some protect against UVA rays as well. Look for UVA-protective ingredients such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, mexoryl, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. This ensures broad-spectrum protection.

Tips to Apply Sunscreen

• Shake the sunscreen container well before use so that all the active particles get mixed properly.
• Make sure you apply the sunscreen all over your face, behind ears, on the neck, hands,arms and decolletage.
• Always apply sunscreen about 15-30 minutes before venturing out in the sun.
• Make sure you re-apply the sunscreen after every two to three hours, especially so if you have done any activities that can wash it off like swimming, exercising.

So go ahead! have fun in the sun… with the sunscreen and other skin care products!

Bye!

Hi,

Is there any difference between sunscreens and sunblocks?

Yes, there is!

People often use the two terms interchangeably. But they are indeed different Though both, sunscreens and sunblocks aim to protect the skin against the harmful rays, how they do it makes all the difference.

Sunscreens absorb the ultraviolet radiations of the sunlight eliminating their harmful effects. When applied, it’s transparent on the skin and is absorbed easily. However, it tends to break down with time and thus needs to be reapplied frequently to ensure continued protection. Some of the main ingredients included in sunscreens are PABA, avenobenzone, octocylene, salicylates and cinnamates. If you are a more technical person, I suggest you copy and paste these ingredients into Wikipedia for more technical information.

Sunblocks on the other hand, reflect the ultraviolet radiation of the sun. In the past they were usually opaque on the skin and had a white look. However, some of the newer varieties are transparent. And unlike sunscreens, sunblocks don’t break down for a much longer period of time and do not need to be reapplied often. they have powerful ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that block the UVA and the UVB rays of the sunlight.

There are an extensive range of sun care products in the market. Many these days have other beneficial ingredients in them that also help your skin.

If you have to spend a lot of time under harsh sunlight, then you should use a good sunblock that will stay on for a long time without you having to reapply every two hours. Some of the latest varieties are more transparent so you won’t have to worry about the white film on your skin.

Whatever you choose, be it a sunscreen or a sunblock; make sure it provides ‘broad spectrum’ protection against sunlight!