LOVE . SUN . BEAUTY

Sun protection is trickier than it seems. It’s not as simple as slathering on any old sunscreen you find in the back of your medicine cabinet. Sunscreen products come in a vast array of sizes, shapes and SPF’s. There are broad spectrum, waterproof, water resistant, sweat proof, hypoallergenic, and the list goes on. It all can be a tad confusing.

However, armed with a better understanding of sun protection products and application standards, you will be better prepared to guard your skin against skin cancer, and other photo-aging skin issues. So how do you protect yourself and your loved ones from the ravages of the sun? Let’s start with the basics.

Not all sunscreens are created equal

Only around one in five women wear sunscreen on a daily basis; and even if you are one of the few, you may still not be getting sufficient protection.

One of the biggest misconceptions about sunscreen is that the higher the SPF the more protection they offer. Grab a sunscreen with SPF 50 and you’re good for the day. This is not true and may lull people into a false sense of security. SPF factors have a law of diminishing returns. In fact, according to a report published June 2011 in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, most experts agree that after SPF 30, the additional protection is negligible, estimated to be only 1 or 2% higher.

Although SPF ratings are important, the new magic word you should always look for is broad-spectrum. There are two kinds of solar rays: short ones called UVB that cause redness, burning and with prolonged exposure, skin cancer, and long ones called UVA that cause skin cancer and photo-aging of the skin. Broad spectrum means that the product is offering protection against both the short UVB rays and the long UVA rays.

Without broad-spectrum, you’re only being protected from UVB rays. Sunscreens that aren’t broad-spectrum protect against sunburns, but not the dangerous UVA rays that penetrate deep into the skin, some research cites rays penetrating as deep as the subcutaneous fat level, and can cause skin cancer and premature aging.

SPF level doesn't offer insights into UVA protection. Product manufacturers have never before been required to provide labeling information regarding UVA protection. To get the broad spectrum claim, manufacturers will have to show that the amount of UVA protection proportionally increases as the SPF level increases. The product will also need to be SPF 15 or higher.

FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation has mulled over how best to test for UVA protection since 1978. "We were having difficulty arriving scientifically at a standard test method that everyone could use and a way to relay that to the consumers in a way that would be effective," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation. Beginning in June 2012, new sunscreen labels will include a label to show for the first time, how well the product protects users against cancer-causing UVA.

A shot glass a day = 1 ounce

You’d be surprised at how much sunscreen you need to apply to your exposed skin every day. The dermatologist’s rule of thumb is one full shot glass, equivalent to 1 ounce, is needed to cover the exposed areas of the body. Adjust the amount of sunscreen applied depending on your body size. Most people only apply 25-50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen. If you are using the recommended amount of sunscreen every day, a bottle should not last you beyond its expiration date. But, sunscreen does lose its efficacy with time, so be sure to always check the expiration date before applying.

The two-hour rule

No sunscreen, waterproof or not, protects your skin all day. Even if you’re on dry land, sunscreen’s protection fades. The general rule is to reapply every two hours, more often if you’re in the water or exercising. Additionally, experts recommend applying your sunscreen to dry skin at least 15 minutes prior to sun exposure to allow the product to penetrate and bind with the skin.

Wear more than makeup with SPF

By now, it’s clear how important it is to protect your skin from the sun, especially the delicate area of the face, hands and décolleté, which can show signs of photo-aging more quickly than other areas. But how do you add a sunscreen into your makeup routine for the best protection?

A broad spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 should be applied to clean, dry skin, before any other facial product, according to Dr. Neal Shultz, with DermTV.com. An average adult requires ¼ a teaspoon to cover the face. Allow the product to soak into the skin and then apply the rest of your makeup.

Many foundations and moisturizers on the market now have SPF protection. This is a great extra layer of protection when worn with an additional sunscreen. The majority of makeup products with SPF, are not broad spectrum and will not protect you from the highly damaging UVA rays.

SPF numbers do not add up. If your foundation has an SPF of 15 and you apply a sunscreen with SPF 15, you still only have protection of an SPF 15. That is why it is crucial to ensure that the first layer of protection that goes on your skin is a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

To top off your makeup routine, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying compressed powder with a sponge because the powder's particles provide some sun protection, and powder will help keep sunscreen and moisturizer in place.

Finally, do not forget the sensitive area of the lips. Avoid using opaque high gloss lipstick with little pigmentation. Dr. Christine Brown, a dermatologist at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, reports that shiny lip balms and glosses actually attract the sun's ultraviolet rays to the lips, which can increase your risk of skin cancer. Dr. Brown says you actually increase the light penetration through the lip surface by applying lip balm or gloss to your lips.

Protecting your lips from the sun is as important as protecting your skin. Dr. Brown recommends applying a base of lip sun block of SPF 30 under lipsticks or lip glosses. For extended exposure, you should continue to reapply the sun block to your lips.

Seek additional protection

Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, gloves, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible. Ordinary clothing provides limited sun shield when dry (the tighter the weave, the better) but little or no protection when wet. Special sun-protective clothing is a wise investment for those who accumulate everyday sun exposure and spend excessive time out doors. You can purchase our beautiful sun protective apparel here.

Math Time

Let’s compare a few numbers: The average size sunscreen is 8 oz. To use the dermatologist recommended dosage you will apply 1oz, twice daily. At this use rate, your bottle will last 4 days, or you will be using 7.5 bottles a month. The average cost of sunscreen is $10. $10 x 7.5 bottles = $75 a month. $75 dollars a month x 12 months = $900 a year on sunscreen! Yikes! Someone pass me the sun protective clothing please!

It ALL counts!

Remember that all time outdoors matters towards cumulative sun exposure. As the Skin Cancer Foundation says, "every days exposure counts; you do not have to be actively sunbathing to get a damage dose of the sun".

Take into consideration activities such as driving to work every day, walking to and from your car, home, office, etc that could result in a 1/2 hour of "exposure" per day. Adding this up over the course of a working year, assuming 50 weeks of work, one accrues about 125hours of UV exposure.

Every second, minute, hour, you spend exposed to UVA and UVB rays count towards the damage being done under and on the surface of your skin.

UVA rays penetrate clouds and even tinted glass, so unless you are protected, you are never safe from their assault. "In the western world, drivers and passengers spend a significant part of their lives in cars. In Europe, the figure is 274 hours per person a year, while in the US it is 541 hours a year. Sources: Commerzbank; Roland Berger report"

That’s an additional 541 hours of potential sun exposure and damage. Now, add in the cumulative every day exposure and the average person spends 666 hours exposed to UVA/UVB rays! That’s more than enough reason for all of us to be reaching for our favorite UV protective clothing and bottle of SPF 30, broad spectrum, sunscreen.

"For a long time, the public has needed a clear message about the effectiveness of sunscreen," said Dr. Ronald Moy, president of the American Academy of Dermatology. "Ultraviolet exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer."

Authors: Mitzi Runyan and Catherine McGrath

Sources: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SkinCare/sunscreen-stricter-labeling-protect-cancer-causing-uva-light/story?id=13835798 http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SkinCare/sunscreen-stricter-labeling-protect-cancer-causing-uva-light/story?id=13835798 http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SkinCare/sunscreen-stricter-labeling-protect-cancer-causing-uva-light/story?id=13835798 http://www.dermtv.com/how-often-reapply-sunscreen-makeup http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/features/sunscreen-and-your-makeup-routine?page=2 http://voices.yahoo.com/lip-glosses-balms-may-increase-risk-skin-1419857.html?cat=69 http://specials.ft.com/ftit/june2001/FT3A72I0JNC.html http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SkinCare/sunscreen-stricter-labeling-protect-cancer-causing-uva-light/story?id=13835798&page=2

Having a normal or dry, sensitive skin tone is not very fun during the fall and winter seasons. Throughout the years I have gone through many skin care products to help manage my sensitive skin, and I couldn't come across an effective one until early this year. I would love to share and recommend it to you!

After torturing my skin and emptying my wallet on ineffective skin care products, I finally came across L'OCCITANE. It has definitely been a lifesaver for me personally. They use high-quality, traceable, natural ingredients in all their products; over 200 botanical ingredients, a quarter of them organic certified, which are carefully selected for their effectiveness and their ability to give your skin the elements it needs to be beautiful. For example, they use vegetable oils in place of oils derived from petrochemicals, as they have a better affinity with the skin.

I have a normal skin tone but it tends to get easily irritated and dry, so it is very sensitive. Especially during the fall and winter seasons, and with products that contain too many harsh chemicals. These are a few of their products that I use, and would also recommend to anyone who has the same concerns as me.

During the Spring & Summer:

During the spring and summer time my skin is not too dry since I live in Los Angeles, CA, and it tends to get very hot here during these seasons. However, because I have sensitive skin, other skin care products have caused me to turn red or even break out. When I switched to L'OCCITANE I started off using their Angelica line, and it worked well with my skin this past summer. I did not have any irritation or break outs. Also, since most of their products do not contain sunscreen, I was excited to see that they offer a sunscreen in this line as well, sunscreen is a must all-year-round!

Angelica is an exceptional plant that grows incredibly fast due to its hydration capabilities. L'OCCITANE has placed this amazing plant at the heart of a complete face care range to intensely rehydrate and revitalize the skin. Both angelica essential oil and angelica water have been used in our collection of face care products, for hydration and vitality.

From left to right: Angelica Cleansing Gel 6.7 fl.oz $22; Angelica Face Toner 6.7 fl. oz $22; Angelica Protective Lotion SPF 15 1 fl. oz $38; Angelica Hydration Cream 1.7 oz $42

During the Fall & Winter:

During the fall and winter time I do experience a lot more dryness. I don't tend to really get red or break out during these seasons but my skin does feel a lot more tight and dehydrated. Thats why I switch to the Shea Butter line during this time of year. Like I said, their products do not contain sunscreen, so I use the Angelica Protective Lotion SPF 15 during this time of year as well before I leave the house.

Shea Butter is an ideal beauty ingredient, used by women in Sub-saharan Africa to help nourish and protect their skin and hair. L'OCCITANE uses Shea butter from Burkina Faso, harvested in a sustainable and fair trade partnership with the women who produce it.

Since the product is so rich, I only use the cleansing milk and moisturizer, as apposed to using the whole line. I felt it was a bit too much moisture for me personally, but it is preference. Some people like to be really moisturized, especially if you live in areas that tend to snow or get extremely cold during the winter.

From left to right: Shea Butter Cleansing Milk 6.7 fl.oz $22; Shea Butter Ultra-Gentle Moisturizer 1.7 fl.oz $42

So there you have it ladies, if you also use and love these products please comment on this post, or if you follow my recommendations let me know how this line and products worked out for you! Also, stay tuned for more skin care favorites from the Sundriven team!

- Nazanin Yashar

Planning a beach vacation this winter? Travelers should be aware that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun plays a significant role in the development of skin cancer. In fact, about 86 percent of melanomas and 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to UV rays.

Skin cancer risk depends greatly on cumulative lifetime sun exposure, but melanoma has been linked most frequently to intense exposure - the kind often obtained during beach vacations. This kind of periodic, concentrated UV exposure frequently causes sunburn, and severely damages the skin. It is believed to also play a part in basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. On average, a person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns.

"It's important to properly protect your skin every day, and you need to be extra cautious in very sunny conditions," said Dr. Perry Robins, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. "Prolonged exposure to UV radiation causes premature skin aging and can lead to skin cancer."

Those tempted to get a "base tan" before hitting the beach should beware: There's no such thing as a healthy or protective tan. Whether obtained by lying out in the sun or through using a tanning bed, a tan represents DNA damage to the skin. In fact, just one indoor tanning session before the age of 35 increases your melanoma risk by 75 percent.

If you're headed to a sunny destination this winter, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the following sun protection tips:

• Cover Up: Clothing is your first line of defense against the sun's harmful UV rays, and it is a consistent shield that helps protect the skin. In addition, wearing UV-absorbing swimwear like wetsuits and rash guards offers extra UV protection when you're in the water. Sarongs and cover-ups offer additional protection on shore.
• Shield Your Face: Sunglasses that filter out the sun's UV rays will help protect your eyes and eyelids from conditions including cataracts, while a broad-brimmed hat (with at least a 3-inch brim all around) will help protect the top of the head, neck, face, ears and scalp.
• Beware of Reflection: Water and sand reflect the sun's UV rays, adding to the intensity of exposure.
• Apply Sunscreen: Using a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day is crucial. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply one ounce, or two tablespoons, every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating heavily.
• Seek Shade: During peak sun hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), keep covered under a large sun umbrella. It's best to hit the beach early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You'll avoid the crowds and save your skin.
• Avoid Tanning and UV Tanning Booths: Whether you "lay out" or visit a tanning salon, there is no such thing as a safe tan. Tanning increases the risk of developing skin cancers, including melanoma. In addition, tanning leads to premature skin aging, including wrinkles, leathery skin and age spots.