LOVE . SUN . BEAUTY

As we have stated numerous times before, you must always apply sunscreen regardless of whether or season. Now, click the "like" button if you forget to apply, or most importantly, reapply sunscreen on the daily? Well you are definitely not alone. But relax, thankfully Sundriven has come to your savor once again!

According to Allure Magazine, wearing sun protective clothing is the best form of sun protection. Why? Because it won’t wear away, wash off, or make you break out. We agree, and here is their top picks of items for staying protected. And, we have made your life much easier by finding these items to easily purchase. We have added links and photos of our personal favorite Sundriven, and other sun protective clothing products that fit each category.

 A wide-brimmed hat. Wearing a hat with a four-inch brim can lower your lifetime risk of skin cancer by about 40 percent. Bonus: You’ll look mysterious and chic—and protect your dye job from color-sapping UV rays.

We love: Eric Javits 'Squishee® IV' Wide Brim Hat sold at Nordstrom; $198.

Sunglasses. Look for large, crow's-feet-covering frames with lenses that sit as close to your face as possible. And you might want to avoid aviators—the metal frames can reflect sun on the tops of the cheeks.

We love: These NEW Burberry sunglasses, check out these and more sold at Sunglass Hut; $240

A rash guard. The sun protection you get when you pull a white T-shirt over your bikini: the equivalent of an SPF 5. The sun protection you get from this poncho sun protective wraps is SPF 50+!

We recommend: Sundriven® Lily Mae Poncho sold on our website; $165.

Gloves. Cute and fashionable, they protect your hands and arms while challenging your inner Audrey Hepburn.

We recommend: Sundriven® Touch Screen Friendly Gloves sold on our website; $38 for short/$42 for long.

A Scarf. Research has found neck melanomas to be among the deadliest. That's enough to make us want to cover up!

We recommend: Sundriven® Olivia Hooded Scarf sold on our website; $85.

With Valentine's Day just passing, I want to share with you my new found love...

Being obsessed with beauty, you might be shocked to hear that I actually love NOT wearing any makeup. Yes! I don't enjoy piling on pounds of make-up every time I am about to leave the house. Of course, this is depending on the occasion, but for everyday I usually enjoy putting on a little bit of mascara, sunscreen/moisturizer, blush/bronzer, and a little bit of lip gloss. When I am going out at night, on the other hand, I like to wear a little more, I typically use eyeshadow, eyeliner, foundation, etc.

I am not at all professional when it comes to applying make-up; however, I came across something that I know many of you will recognize, and that's primer. Primer basically evens out your skin tone and makes your makeup last longer. It basically prepares your face before foundation or powder for a more even look. If you use eye primer or lip primer, they also have the same purpose.

At first I thought this was too much, but I did some research and it might be something that could actually be useful when it comes to protecting your skin.

Some of you may have wondered if makeup protects your skin from the sun. Well it can, but only the right cosmetics with the right ingredients actually protect your skin.

On the Skin Cancer Foundation website it states that selecting a moisturizer or primer containing sunscreen to apply before putting on makeup can be a great choice when it comes to protecting your skin under the sun. Many of us just apply our make up alone, or on top of a moisturizer that doesn't contain any SPF. This can be harmful, especially if you are spending a lot of time outdoors or driving.

I decided to go check out a few primers, so I went to Sephora and picked out a sunscreen/primer to apply under my foundation powder to try. At first, I thought that it would make me look "cakey", but actually, it evened out my skin tone and gave me the biggest glow. I instantly fell in love! What's better than having beautiful skin, while staying protected at the same time, right?

The one that I actually purchased was not considered organic, however, I truly love it. Since I use the Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder as foundation, I decided to purchase the Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25. On the Skin Cancer Foundation website, it states how an SPF 15+ is enough for under make-up wear, since makeup itself will add another layer of protection.

This is a lightweight daily sunscreen that provides UVA/UVB sun protection. As stated on the packaging, this daily sunscreen provides the face with broad-spectrum sun protection in a sheer formula. Worn alone or as a primer under makeup, its oil-free formulation helps to absorb excess oil and whisks away perspiration. The best part is that even though it isn't organic or natural, it is formulated without chemical sunscreens. It is also appropriate for sensitive skins and the eye area, which I love.

If you are looking for a new primer or sunscreen I recommend trying it out depending on your skin type. This one actually worked great with my skin type but might not with yours. But if it does, I think you'll love it too. If you are looking for something a little more natural, I found something similar. The Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen & Primer, Broad Spectrum SPF 30.

As seen on their website, this award winning, rich, non-greasy, “UV chemical-free” face sunscreen offers Broad Spectrum Protection against damaging UVA & UVB rays. Infused with youth promoting antioxidants, this 3 in 1 product functions as a face moisturizer, sunscreen and make-up primer all in one. I have not tried this yet, but definitely looking into it as it looks amazing.

Please comment which primer you use, or love. Also, if you try any of these products listed, and have comments I would love to hear about what you think and how they work for you. If you have never tried primer, I highly recommend purchasing one that has an SPF of 15+ as it helps your make up last longer, and protects you throughout the day.

Also, always remember that it it still recommended to wear sun protective clothing even with sunscreen while you are outdoors. Check out: www.sundriven.com for more details on that and some great products!

XOXO

Authors: Nazanin Yashar

Sources: http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/sun-protection-and-makeup

Of course our mission here at Sundriven is to protect women around the world from the harmful effects of the sun. This week, I was excited to come across a new invention, and happy to see others with the same mission...

A pair of new studies show that a new smartphone app, Solar Cell, encourages people to spend more time in the shade and less time in the sun, while also pushing them towards wearing protective, and hats.

Klein Buendel, a health communication research organization based in Golden, Colorado is producing Solar Cell in partnership with the National Cancer Institute. Most health-related apps undergo little to no formal testing, but Buller and his colleagues conducted two clinical trials on Solar Cell, randomly assigning participants to either use the app or not while testing their sun-protection behaviors.

The app offers personalized sun-protection advice based on real-time ultraviolet (UV) light forecasts and the user's own risk factors for sun damage, such as skin tone. Solar Cell's full version will roll out in spring 2015, David Buller, a research director at Klein Buendel, said. For now, users can get a free, basic version called sunZapp for Android or iOS.

Klein Buendel found that people who used the app reported spending more time engaging in sun-protection behaviors, such as wearing protective clothing, and less time in the sun than those who were supposed to use the app but didn't. Interestingly, the app users also reported less sunscreen — but that might be a good thing, Buller said. Many people use sunscreen incorrectly, and shade and indoor time are often better protection, he said.

Unfortunately, the app hasn't been getting many downloads. "If you look at the general data on how apps are used, very large numbers of apps are either never downloaded or if they are downloaded, people don't use them more than once or twice," Buller told Live Science.

But why?

The studies highlight the challenge of changing people's behavior, dermatologists Dr. A. Shadi Kourosh and Dr. Joseph Kvedar of Harvard Medical School wrote in an editorial accompanying the studies in the JAMA Dermatology journal.

"As we use more consumer-focused interventions in an environment as personal as mobile devices, we are learning that there is a gulf between educating patients and achieving behavioral change," the dermatologists, who were not involved in the studies, wrote.

As Solar Cell becomes widely available this spring, Klein Buendel plans to target advertising to people who spend lots of time outdoors and to dermatologists who treat skin cancer patients who may be more motivated to protect themselves against the sun, Buller said. The hope is that these vulnerable and motivated populations will get the most out of the mobile app.

We HIGHLY recommend that all of our customers and readers download the app, and stay protected always using Sundriven, while outdoors. We have so much resources now to help protect us, so why not use them all the while enjoying the outdoors?

Authors: Nazanin Yashar

Sources: http://www.livescience.com/49612-sun-protection-app-solar-cell.html