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Sharing Simple Pleasures and Extravagant Finds in New England & Beyond
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Even in our crazy New England weather with sun, clouds, and rain, we need to make sure sunscreen is applied properly to avoiding skin damaging rays.
Here comes the sun! And how we’ve missed it… With each warm touch of it’s rays, we feel our winter-long tensions melt away - but that warm-fuzzy will quickly smolder and burn, if you’ve been applying your SPF the wrong way!
We all know now how important sunscreen is in the fight against aging, since the sun’s UV A and B rays have been proven to damage even the deepest layers of our skin. At Upurea, we use it religiously - daily, rain, snow or shine. We even use it on our ears. Truly!
Until recently, we had thought that we were completely protected – until we met a dermatologist who advised us (after viewing our faces under a special light – absolutely terrifying but highly recommended) that we showed signs of pre-mature aging, and were any of us using any sun protection? To our total horror, after we explained to him our useage and doseage, he kindly informed us that our application methods had left our SPF 25 a mere 4… we had been spending years applying it the wrong way!
Sunscreens and blocks act to protect our skin by sitting on the top layer – either absorbing the negative rays (sunscreens) or literally blocking them (sunblocks).
Since many of us use a moisturizer infused with a sunscreen, it’s easy to assume that it can be rubbed in like an ordinary moisturizer. Not so. While we do absorb much of what is put onto the skin, a sun protection product works best when left on as a thicker layer – it should actually be visible as a thin blue or white-ish sheen. “Blue or white-ish sheen? How will I leave the house?”, you may scream – don’t blame you – but don’t panic! To counter the aesthetic horreurs of such a diabolical thought, keep these few sun safe tips in mind:
- Many dermatologists now recommend no higher an SPF than 20 – with proper application and constant re-application, the skin will be protected. And the lower the SPF, the less “blue/white” sheen will be visible.
- Wearing a hat and protective clothing will provide additional SPF protection, so a lower SPF can be used.
- Avoid direct sunlight between 10 am and 3 pm, when the sun’s rays are highest and harshest – again, a lower SPF can be safely used.
- Makeup-wearers rejoice: the thicker the layer of foundation, the higher the SPF (like layering your clothing) – although, I don’t recommend this particularly in the summer. But do what you must, really!
Proper SPF application is a must in today’s world, not only to counteract the signs of aging but to ensure a long, healthy life. By practicing safe sun and incorporating the tips above, we can all put our best faces and bodies forward – blue/white/tan/dark/ or otherwise!
And by the way, hats are HUGE accessories this summer – just ask the SATC girls.
Products: Ole Henriksen Sunlight Protection Cream Kimberly Sayer Ultra Light Facial Moisturizer SPF
100% Pure Pomegranate Antioxidant Cream Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer ANTHONY LOGISTICS Sun Spray SPF 15
Tips For Applying Your Sunscreen protection
