Part 2: All About Sunscreen!
Now that you've applied your broad-spectrum sunscreen, you proceed to do your makeup, get dressed, and head out the door. With time every sunscreen, regardless of the SPF number, will lose effectiveness, therefore it is recommended that sunscreen be reapplied every two to three hours. So two hours later, you're still out in the sun, doing errands and seeing family and friends, how are you supposed to reapply sunscreen and protect your skin without ruining your makeup?
When we think of sunscreens, we often think of the liquid formulations such as the Missha, Biore, and Shiseido sunscreens in my prior blog, however sunscreen and SPF protection are also available in powder and spray/aerosolized formulas. While the liquid formulations are not ideal for reapplication of sunscreen over makeup, the powders and sprays are perfect for this job!
Sunscreens are separated into two groups - chemical sunscreens and physical sunscreens, based upon the mechanism of how each protects your skin. Chemical sunscreens protect your skin by absorbing the UV rays and often contain active ingredients such as oxybenzone or avobenzene. Physical sunscreens protect your skin by deflecting the UV rays and contain active ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide.
Powder products are primarily physical sunscreens - you apply a thin layer of the powder that then deflects the UV rays. The two powder products that I carry in my bag when I'm on the go are the Privacy UV Face Powder 50 - SPF 50+, PA ++++, and The Face Shop Oil Clear Smooth and Bright Powder Compact, SPF 30, PA ++. The Privacy UV Face Powder contains zinc oxide for SPF protection, but also incorporates collagen and hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) to improve your skin. It is available on Amazon.com for around $10 for 3.5g. The Face Shop Powder contains titanium dioxide for SPF protection and also helps to mattify your skin and reduce shine. It is available on Amazon.com for around $11 for 9g. Both can be easily applied with a puff or brush and do not look cakey even with multiple reapplications. Other brands, including Bare Minerals and Peter Thomas Roth have also come out with powder products with SPF 25 and 30 respectively (I'm looking forward to trying these out!).
The spray formulation that I have been enjoying is the Sarafit Skin Aqua Spray, SPF 50+, PA ++++, which is a chemical sunscreen that contains octinoxate and avobenzene. After shaking this product, spray it all over your face and neck. It has a very fine and even mist that dries very quickly, leaving your skin feeling very smooth without any oily or sticky residue. It has a mild fresh scent and does not disturb your makeup. The downside with this product is that it is a Japanese product that is not readily available in the U.S. - it is occasionally available on Amazon.com.
While the application of sunscreen helps to prevent the development of wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation and aids us in our efforts to continue to look youthful, the most important reason to protect your skin from the sun is to prevent the development of skin cancer. Skin cancer develops when the DNA of skin cells are damaged (often from UV rays with repeated sun exposure) and start to replicate at an increased rate.
The most common type of skin cancer is called basal cell carcinoma and can have various appearances including a pearl-like bump, red/pink-colored patch, or open sore. There are more than 4 million cases of basal cell carcinoma diagnosed in the U.S. every year. However, perhaps the most well known and notorious type of skin cancer is melanoma, which often appears as a dark brown or black colored lesion. We all have moles on our skin - what are the concerning signs to look for? You can look for the warning signs of melanoma by using the ABCDE pneumonic.
A - Is the lesion Asymmetric? Does one half of the lesion not look like the other half?
B - Is the Border or outline of the lesion uneven (scalloped or notched)?
C - Does the lesion have multiple Colors?
D - Is the Diameter larger than 6mm?
E - Is the lesion Evolving or changing?
If you notice a lesion with any of the above ABCDE warning signs or if you have any concerning lesions on your skin it is very important to get them checked by a dermatologist. Early detection and treatment are key! The American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation are amazing sources for information regarding skin cancer and how to identify concerning skin lesions.
https://www.aad.org/public/spot-skin-cancer/learn-about-skin-cancer/types-of-skin-cancer
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information
When we think of sunscreens, we often think of the liquid formulations such as the Missha, Biore, and Shiseido sunscreens in my prior blog, however sunscreen and SPF protection are also available in powder and spray/aerosolized formulas. While the liquid formulations are not ideal for reapplication of sunscreen over makeup, the powders and sprays are perfect for this job!
Sunscreens are separated into two groups - chemical sunscreens and physical sunscreens, based upon the mechanism of how each protects your skin. Chemical sunscreens protect your skin by absorbing the UV rays and often contain active ingredients such as oxybenzone or avobenzene. Physical sunscreens protect your skin by deflecting the UV rays and contain active ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide.
Powder products are primarily physical sunscreens - you apply a thin layer of the powder that then deflects the UV rays. The two powder products that I carry in my bag when I'm on the go are the Privacy UV Face Powder 50 - SPF 50+, PA ++++, and The Face Shop Oil Clear Smooth and Bright Powder Compact, SPF 30, PA ++. The Privacy UV Face Powder contains zinc oxide for SPF protection, but also incorporates collagen and hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) to improve your skin. It is available on Amazon.com for around $10 for 3.5g. The Face Shop Powder contains titanium dioxide for SPF protection and also helps to mattify your skin and reduce shine. It is available on Amazon.com for around $11 for 9g. Both can be easily applied with a puff or brush and do not look cakey even with multiple reapplications. Other brands, including Bare Minerals and Peter Thomas Roth have also come out with powder products with SPF 25 and 30 respectively (I'm looking forward to trying these out!).
The spray formulation that I have been enjoying is the Sarafit Skin Aqua Spray, SPF 50+, PA ++++, which is a chemical sunscreen that contains octinoxate and avobenzene. After shaking this product, spray it all over your face and neck. It has a very fine and even mist that dries very quickly, leaving your skin feeling very smooth without any oily or sticky residue. It has a mild fresh scent and does not disturb your makeup. The downside with this product is that it is a Japanese product that is not readily available in the U.S. - it is occasionally available on Amazon.com.
While the application of sunscreen helps to prevent the development of wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation and aids us in our efforts to continue to look youthful, the most important reason to protect your skin from the sun is to prevent the development of skin cancer. Skin cancer develops when the DNA of skin cells are damaged (often from UV rays with repeated sun exposure) and start to replicate at an increased rate.
The most common type of skin cancer is called basal cell carcinoma and can have various appearances including a pearl-like bump, red/pink-colored patch, or open sore. There are more than 4 million cases of basal cell carcinoma diagnosed in the U.S. every year. However, perhaps the most well known and notorious type of skin cancer is melanoma, which often appears as a dark brown or black colored lesion. We all have moles on our skin - what are the concerning signs to look for? You can look for the warning signs of melanoma by using the ABCDE pneumonic.
A - Is the lesion Asymmetric? Does one half of the lesion not look like the other half?
B - Is the Border or outline of the lesion uneven (scalloped or notched)?
C - Does the lesion have multiple Colors?
D - Is the Diameter larger than 6mm?
E - Is the lesion Evolving or changing?
If you notice a lesion with any of the above ABCDE warning signs or if you have any concerning lesions on your skin it is very important to get them checked by a dermatologist. Early detection and treatment are key! The American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation are amazing sources for information regarding skin cancer and how to identify concerning skin lesions.
https://www.aad.org/public/spot-skin-cancer/learn-about-skin-cancer/types-of-skin-cancer
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information
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