Sunscreen 101

Recipe

May 4

With Spring comes longer days & more hours of sunshine - yay!

When winter finally comes to an end it's easy to forget that even the most delicate of spring rays can have damaging effects on our skin when we are enjoying more time outdoors.

Investing in a high-quality sun screen will protect your skin year round from harmful UV rays preventing sunburn, sun spots, premature aging and wrinkles.

UVA = The Aging Ray - the number one reason you should wear sunscreen all year round! Present 365 days of the year, UVA rays penetrate clouds, glass and make up to reach the deeper layers of your skin causing damage to key structures such as your collagen and elastin.

UVB = The Burning Ray - UVB rays are responsible for the more well known effects of spending time in the sun. When skin is unprotected UVB rays will cause the outermost layers of the skin to burn and turn red. UVB rays cause most skin cancers and are also responsible for aging skin (think sun spots & melasma).

Apply sunscreen every day to avoid prematurely aging your skin.

Did you know there are two types of sunscreen?

Chemical Block:

Referred to as "absorbers" these sunscreens absorb into the skin.

Made up of chemical ingredients - carbon-based compounds.
These sunscreens absorb UV rays & through chemical reaction convert these rays into heat which is released from the skin.
If you're acne-prone check your sunscreen for the following inflammatory ingredients which can cause breakouts; Avobenzones, benzophenones, oxyphenones, methoxycinnamate and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA).
Chemical sunscreens are damaging to Coral Reef's and banned in many areas of the world for their environmental impact.

Physical Block:

Referred to as "reflectors" these sunscreens sit on top of the skins surface.

Mineral ingredients - zinc oxide & titanium oxide.
These sunscreens create a barrier that blocks and reflects UV rays before they make contact with the skins surface.
The zinc oxide and titanium oxide active ingredients keep the skin cool & allow it to breathe. Physical sunscreens are hypo-allergenic & non-comedogenic -great for those with Melasma.
Reef Friendly.