Know What’s In Your Sunscreen? Ingredients Do Matter!
September 19, 2008 by Roberta
There is more to sunscreens than meets the eye. Here are a few tips you should keep in mind when selecting one:
1. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is not the only way to judge sunscreen. SPF gives an indication of how well a sunscreen will protect your skin from ultraviolet-B light (which causes sunburn and skin cancer.) but tells you nothing about a sunscreen's ability to protect you from ultraviolet-A light (which causes wrinkles, and also has been proven to contribute to skin cancer). If you want protection against UV-A, be sure that your sunscreen includes avobenzone (Parsol-1789), Mexoryl, titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide.
2. Some sunscreens do last longer than others. UV light causes some sun screening agents to break down and lose their sun screening ability. Mexoryl, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide do not break down when exposed to any UV light, and so keep on protecting you from UV throughout the day.
3. Some sun screening agents stay on the skin better than others, and this is important if you will be sweating heavily or swimming. In general, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide stay on the skin longer that most other sun screening agents. To reduce the chance that titanium or zinc based sunscreens will look pale or white on the skin, choose products containing "ultramicronized" titanium or zinc, which is so fine that it is transparent to visible light but still does a good job of absorbing and reflecting ultraviolet light.
4. Sunscreens are available as creams, gels, and sprays. Creams are best for use on smooth skin, and some creams are prepared using water-resistant formulas so that the product will stay on the skin longer if you are sweating or enjoying water sports. Gels and sprays are preferred by some people, and in particular can be easier to apply than creams on hairy areas and on the scalp(which if you haven't noticed can burn too).
When choosing sunscreens for yourself, your family and your workers it is important to consider the cosmetic acceptability of the sunscreen, because if someone does not LIKE the sunscreen they will not use it. Thus, a nice sunscreen with an SPF of 30 which you are happy to apply daily will give you more actual sun protection than a higher SPF product which is too greasy or too white for your taste so is not used on a regular basis.
If you get into the habit of applying a sunscreen (or a sunscreen-containing prescription product like Retisol-A 0.01% cream) every morning, you can really slow the clock down, and even reverse some of the sun damage you have accumulated over the years.
Shop for brand name skin care products below:
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LipoNutrex - 90 Capsules Amazing Fat Burner Diet Pill, Acne & Anti-Aging Anti-Wrinkle Pill in one Lipo Nutrex Sale Price: $9.95  |
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Amazing Fat Burner Diet Pill, Acne & Anti-Aging Anti-Wrinkle Pill in one! If you need to lose weight, get rid of acne or need a potent anti-aging, anti-wrinkle pill, LipoNutrexTM really delivers where other similar products have fallen short... |
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Anti-Aging Red LED Light Therapy 38 LED Bulb for Fine Lines & Wrinkles 660nm List Price: $75.99 Sale Price: $37.99 Average Rating:  |
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Less costly than other anti-aging treatments, creams or procedures and totally natural. It uses your own body to heal. The red LED increases the collagen which fills in the fine lines, wrinkles and crow's feet that start to occur as we age... |
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Kinerase Pro+Therapy Skin Smoothing Cleanser, 5.1-Ounce Pump List Price: $39.00 Sale Price: $29.95 |
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Kinerase Pro+Therapy Skin Smoothing Cleanser is designed to promote exfoliation and skin rebuilding. Skin smoothing cleanser is a light, foaming cleanser that delivers thorough cleansing without irritation or drying of the skin. |
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Orovo Detox Weight Loss Pill * Wrinkle Acne Fighter (1 bottle) 30 Day Supply List Price: $79.99 Sale Price: $35.90 Average Rating:  |
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The Original Orovo was the greatest diet pill ever "Accidentally Invented". Orovo detox is the greatest diet pill purposefully invented. The Orovo Research & Development team was shocked to discover that the main underlining cause of weight gain affecting over 70% of men and women especially is toxic build up... |
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SKIN ROLLER,1.0mm,ACNE,SCARS,WRINKLES,1.0,DERMA,HAIR LOSS, Sale Price: $28.95 |
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Features Specifications: Skin Roller. *Sterilized and Sealed in a plastic tube, Directions come with every Roller. The 1.0mm Skin roller is a revolutionary cosmetic hand held tool designed to dramatically increase the effectiveness of your skin care products and treatments... |
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Tags: factor spf, skin cancer, sun protection factor, sunscreens, titanium dioxide, ultraviolet light, Wrinkles
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