The Best Skin Protection from Sun Rays

The ideal sunscreen for you is one that will provide the necessary level of protection for your skin type, degree of sun exposure and risk for sun sensitivity.

skin protection

A fair blonde who is going on holiday to the Caribbean generally needs more skin protection than an olive skinned brunette walking down the high street in March. The key is that whatever your sunscreen of choice, you must use enough of it and use it regularly. Dermatologists recommend using 30g or 1 oz of lotion for one person’s whole body, per application.


Foundation as Skin Protection from Sun Rays

Even if a foundation contains a sunscreen, facial movements throughout the day remove some of it from your face, decreasing its effectiveness. Foundations, concealers, moisturisers, eye creams and lipsticks that offer UVA and UVB protection may be sufficient for normal daily activities. Sebum is produced during the day, thus separating the foundation from the skin’s surface. Everyone experiences this, but normal to dry skin types will find it develops at a slower rate. When you are outside for a long period, your foundation will only protect you for about 2 hours. After that, either reapply foundation or use a sunscreen over it for continued protection.

Top Tip:

If you are using a separate sunscreen for the face, apply it evenly all over the face and neck, under your make-up.


Suncare Lingo

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) – the ratio of the amount of energy from the sun’s rays that it takes to turn sunscreen-protected skin red, compared with the energy it takes if the skin is unprotected.

PABA (Para Aminobenzoic Acid) – a UVB-absorbing ingredient that was commonly used in sunscreens in the past. Because it can cause irritation and reactions, it is not used for the most part today. PABA-free formulas are easier to tolerate.

Chemical sunscreens – UV absorbers

Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) – provides broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. Newer formulas combine Parsol 1789 with stabilizing agents to improve its stability in sunlight. Other ingredients include Benzophenone, Dioxybenzone, Menthyl Anthranitate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate and Oxybenzone.

Physical sunscreens – sun-blocking agents Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are the gold standard. Others include Iron Oxide, Kaolin, Bentonite, Magnesium Silicate, Mica and Talc.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) – active ingredient in artificial tanning products that interacts with the proteins in the skin to darken skin temporarily. This is not a sunscreen.


Smoke Out – Avoid Smoking

You can ALWAYS tell a smoker by her skin. It has a grey or sallow cast, feels dry, and is usually lined prematurely – early to mid 30s – especially around the mouth and eyes.

Even if you only have a few cigarettes a day, expect the tell-tale wrinkles around the mouth and eyes to appear in your 30s – you can never stay wrinkle free as a smoker. Scientists have an explanation for what makes smokers look old before their time. Tobacco has been found to activate the genes responsible for the skin enzyme that breaks down collagen, the protein that maintains elasticity in the skin. When this starts to disintegrate, the skin begins to sag and wrinkle. Too much of the enzyme increases the ageing effect of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which also raises the concentration of the enzyme. Smokers are more prone to getting wrinkles and their skin tends to have a greyish pallor. Smoking causes a flood of free radicals to form in the body, which speeds up the ageing process. Research suggests that smokers have lower levels of vitamin C in their blood than non-smokers, and that their daily loss of vitamin C is about 35 mg/day greater than non-smokers. Women who smoke, need to consume at least 110 mg/day of Vitamin C to compensate for this loss.

The combination of smoking and sunlight is positively deadly. Plus the nicotine stains on your teeth and fingers are far from glamorous. The best beauty treatment and the cheapest by far is to QUIT SMOKING.


Drunken Pores – Avoid Alcohol

Want great skin? Then steer clear of over-indulging on skin-aggravating alcohol. Aside from hangovers, alcohol can wreak havoc on your skin. High alcohol consumption can cause a puffy face, red and irritated eyes and a washed out complexion. Alcohol is a diuretic and causes blood vessels to dilate and the skin to lose moisture, resulting in dehydration, sagging and a loss of resiliency. To help skin stay wrinkle free, keep cocktails to a minimum.


Skin Protection Summary

So to sum up, skin protection is important for all skin types but there are many differing factors which make us all individual and there is really no one correct way to protect and look after your skin. Taking care of your skin now, starting a good skincare cleansing regime, always wearing sun protection and trying to avoid too much alcohol will definitely stand you in good stead for a smooth and clear complexion for many years to come.