In the News
5/1/2007 - Dr. Sarah Boyce Sawyer's Guide To Sunscreens and Make-Up
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is important every day. Studies have shown that the enzymes that break down collagen and cause wrinkles and skin cancer stay elevated when humans get low dose ultraviolet exposure every day. This means even when you will not be outside much that day, sun damage will occur if you are not protected. Your skin should be approximately the same color all over. SPF (sun protection factor) is determined for each sunscreen based on data obtained when subjects applied sunscreen every 1.5 hours. This means if you are not reapplying your SPF 30 or 45 every 1.5 hours, you are not actually getting the SPF printed on the bottle. Also, apply liberally. This means if you are in your swimsuit, your bottle should not last more than 2 days.
ZINC OXIDE AND TITANIUM DIOXIDE should be in your sunscreen. Read the ingredients on the back of the bottle or tube to look for these components.
Some sunscreens that contain these ingredients:
FACE: Skin Medica Daily Sunscreen, Elta, Clinique City Block, Oil of Olay Complete, Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer
BODY: Blue Lizard, Banana Boat Surf + Aquashield Protection, Banana Boat Sensitive Skin Plus UVA & UVB Sunblock Lotion, Hawaiian Tropic 45 Plus UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum Sunblock
Sunscreen is not perfect, even when applied properly. Sun Protective clothing is even better.
Brands: Solumbra, Coolibar
Make-Up
Your daily make-up should also contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.** Make-up has to be sampled, not everyone will like the same one. Some of my favorites:
- Jane Iredale (www.janeiredale.com)
- GloMinerals (www.glominerals.com)
- Neutrogena Healthy Skin
- Clinique City Block
**If you are having professional photographs made, i.e. a wedding, avoid these two ingredients because the flash from the camera can reflect too much and give you a white appearance.