Hello readers! As promised, it’s time for the “Rant about Sunscreen” blog. Wait, don’t go anywhere, we promise not be TOO hard on you. And we’ll try to even give you some good tips on how to incorporate proper sun protection into your routine without total annoyance.
I recently came across this photo in an article about the aging effects of sun. I was so shocked by it, I immediately forwarded it to Trina, waiting for the “I told you so” response. I’ll admit, no matter how much she tells me about sun damage, I’m one of those stubborn people who somehow believe that because I rarely go out in the sun, I don’t need to worry about it so much. This picture definitely changed my mind. This is a photo of a 69-year old man who was a truck driver for 28 years. So for 28 years, the left side of his face was exposed to sunlight through the driver’s side window of his car. I don’t think I need to spell it out for you, it’s obvious in the photo.
So, needless to say, I’m stepping it up and becoming more sun-responsible. I’m finally putting to use all those little tricks and tips that Trina has shared with me, so I thought we’d pass them along to you as well.
*Ideally, you should be using a Broad Spectrum (that means it protects from UVA and UVB rays) sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher. You should reapply every 3-4 hours, and even more often if you are, say, at the beach, or out on a hike.
*Don’t want to reapply a liquid sunscreen over your makeup? Mineral powders make a great solution for this. They go on dry, right over your makeup. You can get them with a tint, or without. Most range from SPF 30-50. They’re great to keep in your car or your purse and reapply whenever you think of it. A few of our faves are Colorescience, Jane Iredale, Glo Minerals, and La Bella Donna.
*Don’t skimp when it comes to your face. Banana Boat may be great for your body, but it will be greasy and pore clogging on your face. It will make you break out and feel greasy, which means you are way less likely to actually use it. If you MUST get your sunscreen from a drugstore, La Roche Posay is pretty much the best you’re gonna get. Otherwise, we suggest sticking to a higher-grade skincare line for your face sunscreen. Jan Marini makes an amazing one that actually has little microscopic sponges to absorb the oil so you don’t feel greasy!
*If you have sensitive skin, or are allergic to chemical sunscreens, give a physical sunscreen a try. A physical sunscreen is made with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide (pure minerals). In the old days, this was the kind of sunscreen that looked like you had painted your face, and we all know that no self respecting adult wants to go in public looking like one of those shirtless painted guys at a football game. Nowadays, that’s not the case. There are physical sunscreens that go under your moisturizer, just like a regular sunscreen. Skinceuticals makes a great liquid one. Just blend it with your moisturizer in the morning.
So, NO EXCUSES my darlings! Protect those gorgeous mugs of yours! And remember, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below or contact us at Facial Bungalow in West Hollywood.
Tally-ho!
T&T