‘A Golden Glow’, ‘Brown as a Berry’, and even ‘Sunkissed Goddess’ … all terms we want to have applied to us during the sundress season, but we all know how bad the sun can actually be to our skin and the long-term damage it can do. So we slather on the sunscreen and assume we are protected, right?Wrong! New studies reveal that not only are we applying our sunscreen incorrectly and too infrequently, but that it’s likely that the sunscreen we are using isn’t doing what it has promised.
Sunscreens should be applied at least one hour prior to sun exposure and should be reapplied every couple of hours and should be reapplied every time you get out of the water. But even before you cover yourself head to toe, you need to do your homework.
More and more sunscreens are being brought to market with misleading and downright false labeling. Terms such as “sun block”, “water proof” and “all day protection” are commonly used on even the most popular brands of over the counter sunscreens. None of these terms are accurate and are, at best, deceiving.
There is no “water proof” sunscreen on the market today. A more accurate term to look for is “water resistant”. A sunscreen may be labeled “water resistant” by the FDA only if it remains active for 40 minutes after exposure to water, but the best way to be sure you’re being protected is to reapply every time you towel off. Even if you’re not in the water, sunscreens should be reapplied every two hours for maximum protection.
Absolutely no sunscreen will “block” the sun’s harmful rays. Sunscreens can reduce your exposure to UV rays, but cannot block the rays totally. Using a SPF 30 is a great start to minimizing sun damage, but there are more ways to protect your skin than relying on sunscreens. On a recent trip to the beach, I was surprised at how many big brimmed hats I saw … tres chic and even more importantly … tres smart! Staying away from the water’s actual edge will lessen the reflective rays you may get and avoiding the sun altogether during prime burn hours when the sun’s rays are the strongest (between 10AM and 4PM) will help save your skin.
One last thing … don’t be fooled into thinking you’re better off heading for the tanning booth instead of the beach. The UV rays you receive in that process will damage your skin just as quickly as the real thing. Your best bet is to use a sunless self tanning product. And don’t forget that you are constantly exposed to the sun throughout your day, so using a sunscreen before you go out in the morning will help to protect you in the car, walking on concrete, and lounging at your favorite al fresco bistro. Don’t be afraid of the sun, just be as smart about the sun as you are about your IRAs!
Kimberly Kolodzizejski
Vice President of Media Relations and Customer Service for Chella Professional Skin Care
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Source: www.isnare.com