DFW Beauty Guide: National Sunscreen Day
Though I am a huge fan of Coco Chanel, my least favorite trend of hers is tanningĀ (and no itās notĀ because Iām a ginger!).
A skin tan originally was a sign of a hard life- it represented someone who had to work in the fields andĀ could not afford to have milky, pristine skin. In the 1920s, Coco Chanel went on a vacation and cameĀ back with a tan. At that point, a shift occurred in the image that bronzed skin portrayed. A person with aĀ tan was no longer a lowly field worker, but was someone who could afford to travel for pleasure and toĀ relax. Ā With this trend, then came the inevitable sunburn.Ā Sunburn is more than just an uncomfortable rash that blisters and peels. It is actually very serious, as itĀ can lead to the most common type of cancer: skin cancer. Every year, over 2 million Americans learnĀ that they have skin cancer, most of which was preventable. Ā Now, Iām not telling you to stay inside andĀ cover every part of your body, but I am suggesting easy precautionary measures.
a. You want a broad-spectrum lotion that will block UVB and UVA rays. A lot of sunscreensĀ will only block UVBs.
b. Make sure they include ingredients like benzophenenes, cinnamates, sullisobenzone,Ā salicylates, titanium dioxide, avobenzone and excamsule.
a. Wear an SPF 15 or higher in order to block UVB rays
b. Remember that SPF 30 isnāt 2x as better as SPF 15. SPF 15 filters out 93 % of UVB, whileĀ SPF 30 filters out 97%. Even the jump from 30 to 50 only increases blockage by 1%. So,Ā next time you pay top dollar for SPF 100, remember that itās not significantly better thanĀ SPF 50. Most dermatologists donāt recommend wearing over 50, as it doesnāt showĀ much improvement, even with the numerical jump.
a. Apply 15-30 minutes before you go outside. Applying when youāre already at theĀ destination can cause some of it to be rubbed or washed off in the process; therefore,Ā not actually absorbing.
b. Regardless of the kind you use, reapply every 2 hours. If youāre swimming or sweating,Ā you may need to apply more frequently.
c. If you use a spray sunscreen, be sure that it is applied evenly rubbed in all the way andĀ donāt inhale. The FDA suggests not to use them on children.
a. Get the sweat proof and water resistance. If youāre wearing sunscreen chances are thatĀ youāll be warm or at least be toasty from physical activity.
b. Watch the time you spend in the sunshine between 10 am and 2 pm, as these are theĀ times when the sunās rays are most intense.
c. Wear a hat to shade your face and/or a cover-up so your whole body isnāt exposed.Ā Girls, floppy, wide-brimmed hats and kimono type cover-ups are in, so you have noĀ excuse!
Obviously, you donāt have to be on a beach to get sunburned, so here are some easy steps to avoidĀ sunburn in everyday life.Ā Wear sun protected makeup. You can find powders, moisturizers, and lip balms that all have someĀ protection. If itās not enough for you, you might consider a buying a specific sunscreen that is able to beĀ worn on the daily, without making you look like a grease monster.Ā Donāt use tanning beds. This might seem obvious, but people still use these. With all of the lotions andĀ spray tanning that is available, this shouldnāt even be an option. Ā See a dermatologist. If you notice any unusual spots, donāt hesitate to go to the dermatologist. CatchingĀ skin cancer early is the key to proper removal and health. If youāre regularly exposed to the sun or haveĀ a history, you should check yourself regularly or have someone who does.
See our TOP sunscreen picks below!
