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Skin Care For Maximum Sun Protection

November 15th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

When applied according to the product’s instructions, sun screens provide maximum protection from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Always be sure to choose a SPF (sun protection factor) that offers the maximum protection for your skin type. But remember that no product will work if you fail to apply it every time you go outside.

The sun can reflect off many different surfaces including snow and cement and UV rays are present even on cloudy days. With these facts in mind, the best way to provide maximum sun protection is to develop a habit of applying your sun protection products whenever you go outside, reapplying them as often as necessary.

Sun protection is more than skin deep

One thing you’ll realize about most sun protection products is that they’re not formulated for all body parts. They’re great at protecting the skin, but what about the eyes, lips and hair? The sun can cause serious damage to the eyes and has been associated with the development of cataracts.

The lips too are extremely delicate and they’ll easily burn if not protected from the sun. Lips that are dry and chapped neither look good nor feel good. Applying a product containing zinc offers maximum sun protection. Lip balms, conditioners and lipsticks that have a SPF of at least 15 are also good choices.

The sun can damage hair, too. We sometimes don’t realize this because we don’t ‘feel’ the effects. But we can see the effects. Dry, dull, frizzy hair doesn’t only result from excess chemical processing. Sun damages hair and harsh pool chemicals and salt only worsen the problem.

Other types of sun protection

Sun protection doesn’t always come in a bottle. Protective clothing, hats and sunglasses are all just as important in blocking the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. So is seeking shade whenever possible. Here’s a rundown on other types of sun protection.

Some clothing manufacturers now produce a protective clothing line with a UPF or ultraviolet protection factor. Designed for those who spend a lot of time outdoors such as golfers, hikers, fishers, kayakers and others, these clothes are stylish and functional. You’ll find protective clothing for all members of the family, including infants. Even if you can’t find or afford clothing with UPF, tightly woven fabrics and dark colors are effective at blocking out the sun’s harmful rays. And dry clothing blocks out more UV rays than do wet. Of course, long sleeves and pants offer maximum sun protection, but who wants to wear that much clothing when out in the sun?

Hats protect hair, eyes, face and the tips of ears. Wide brims offer the most protection and will actually help cool you off. Sunglasses are an absolute must when outdoors. When selecting a pair, make sure the label specifically states that the lenses offer UV protection otherwise they’ll be useless. As a general rule, the bigger the lens, the more sun protection. Wrap-around styles offer the most protection because they block sun that can hit the eyes from the sides. And they’re trendy too.

Wrinkle Cream Studies which wrinkle cream is best?

October 21st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Do wrinkle creams work? Many studies have been done to see what effects wrinkle creams have on lines and wrinkles.

In December of 2006, Consumer Reports performed wrinkle cream studies to determine which wrinkle cream works best.  Their results might come as a surprise, NONE of the wrinkle creams showed results superior to sunscreen.

In the wrinkle cream studies, nine different wrinkle creams, ranging in price from $38 to $335, were tested on at least 17 different women, all of whom had lighter skin and ranged in age from 30 to 70.  For 12 weeks, each woman used a certain wrinkle cream one side of her face, applying the cream according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  On the other side of her face, each woman applied a generic moisturizer with sunscreen. 

Prior to beginning the wrinkle cream studies, a photo was taken of the general crow’s feet area of each woman’s face.  Additionally, an optical device was used to determine small changes in skin roughness and depth of wrinkles.  These evaluations were repeated after the 12 weeks were over. These wrinkle cream studies determined that overall, there was only a slight improvement in wrinkles on each participant’s face when using the wrinkle creams, regardless of the active ingredient.  Ultimately, however, the creams are designed to prevent wrinkles, not eliminate the ones that are already there.

Most dermatologists conclude from wrinkle cream studies that sunscreen is more effective than wrinkle creams in preventing the development of wrinkles.  This is because wrinkles occur as a result of ultraviolet light.  Thus, the more time you spend in the sun, the more wrinkles you will have, regardless of the amount or quality of wrinkle creams you use.

While you could purchase an expensive wrinkle cream, the truth is that the most effective way to fight wrinkles is to wear sunscreen.  By doing so, you will be preventing the damage that the sun does to your skin.  So the next time you step outside on a sunny day, make sure to lather up!

Choosing Over The Counter Wrinkle Cream

August 13th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Looking for a wrinkle cream? Over the counter creams are well presented and advertised, but they’re limited in their effects. They’re cosmetics, rather than medicines. Advertisements are always worded carefully, so they don’t claim to be medicine.

When you’re looking for a specific ingredient, over the counter creams will have very small amounts of expensive ingredients.

Many of the over the counter wrinkle creams may provide certain benefits in reducing wrinkles but due to the reduced strength of the ingredients they will take longer to begin showing the affects and once you stop using the product, the wrinkles will likely return.

One example of FDA oversight is with products containing hydroxy acids. In 2002, the FDA required a warning label on all products containing them to state that exposure to the sun while using the product can result in sunburn.

Are expensive anti wrinkle creams better?

Studies have shown there is little correlation between price and effectiveness and some of the less expensive products, containing the same ingredients, can work just as well as items that are more expensive.

Since many of the products contain the same ingredients in different formulations, they each affect the skin differently. Some of them may cause skin irritation and burning, depending on the skin. It is important the user read and follow all label directions and warnings.

When choosing an over the counter wrinkle cream try to use ones with a built in sunscreen of at least sun protection factor of 15. This will help protect the skin from further sun damage.

Copyright © 2007 My Fab Face Skin Care Wrinkle Treatment

Credits: 30 Day Slimmer | My Fab Face | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund