SPF You!

By: Ellie Eckert

Now that Summer is only a few months away, it’s time to get the necessary items to protect yourself, and your skin. You may be thinking, what’s the harm in a sunburn? An individual’s risk for melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns. Unfortunately, getting sunburned can be hard to prevent, which was proved in recent polls by the Skin Cancer Foundation. According to the survey, 42 percent of people reported getting sunburned at least once a year. Forgo taking a risk with your health, and instead invest in the proper sunscreen for your skin.

It is necessary to understand UVA and UVB rays. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “most people are exposed to large amounts of UVA throughout their lifetime, and although they are less intense than UVB, UVA rays are 30 to 50 times more prevalent.” In other words, UVA is relatively equal in intensity during all daylight hours throughout the year, and can even force their way through clouds and glass. If that doesn’t catch your attention, you might consider that UVA plays a major roll in skin aging and wrinkling. UVB, on the other hand, is the main cause of skin reddening and sunburn. These rays play a key part in the development of skin cancer. Unlike UVA, UVB varies in intensity based on season, location, and time of day. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that “the most significant amount of UVB hits the US between 10 AM and 4 PM from April to October. However, UVB rays can burn and damage your skin year-round, especially at high altitudes and on reflective surfaces such as snow or ice.” Each rays are slightly different, and some consider UVB to be most harmful due to the damage it causes the outer layer of the skin. However, UVA rays penetrate into deeper layers of the skin, which can only mean that we need protection from both harmful rays, which is otherwise known as broad-spectrum protection.

When considering UVA and UVB, it is also necessary to factor in SPF, or Sun Protection Factor. According to theLibrary of Congress, SPF measures how effectively the sunscreen formula limits skin exposure to UVB rays that burns the skin, however it does not measure UVA protection. In simpler terms, SPF is a multiplication factor. If an individual can brave the sun for fifteen minutes without burning, then an SPF of ten would resist the burn for ten times longer (150 minutes).

Now that you know what you’re up against, it’s time to choose a sunscreen that best fits you. Doctor Ron Moy, who is a leading Beverly Hills dermatologist and President of the AAD (American Academy of Dermatology), has created a sunscreen that guards against both UVA and UVB rays to fight photo-aging and cellular damage. DNA Defense SPF 30+ from DNAEGF Renewal is clinically proven, and has received a three star rating for advanced protection. Do you hate the heavy, oily feel of typical drugstore sunscreens? Moy has perfected the “light to the touch” feel, using Vitamins A and E, so you won’t be left with the uncomfortable feeling left behind by some skin protection products. What are you waiting for? Check out all of the great details on this product atwww.dnaegfrenewal.com.

Protecting your face from sun damage can be a difficult task. Women often choose to part with sunscreen, and to instead apply their usual makeup regimen. Instead, you may consider Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20, which is a 3-in-1 tinted treatment facial moisturizer(say that three times fast!) that hydrates, enhances, and protects with SPF 20. Skin is left feeling silky with a matte finish, and even protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays. You may not take my word for it, but Dr. Oz has featured this product as a miracle skincare product. Love what you’re hearing? Say no more. You can find this product online atwww.miracleskintransformer.com, www.beauty.com, or www.sephora.com.

If the greasy texture of most sunblocks is what is keeping you from applying a sunscreen each day, then look no farther. EmerginC SPF 30+ is a super lightweight, non-greasy, anti-aging sunblock that provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Making use of Coenzyme Q10, green tea, Vitamins A, C, and E, antioxidants, and other herbal extracts, you can protect your skin, and even choose between tinted or non-tinted formulas. EmerginC is available atwww.emerginc.com, as well as leading spas nationwide such as Miraval, Trump, The Wynn, and the Four Seasons, among many others.

Need moisture and repair, all at once? Try Cellure REBUILD AM Day Cream with SPF 15. This benefit-filled cream defends skin from surface damage all day. It protects from the ravages of daily UV attack, is never greasy or sticky, and acts as an ideal makeup primer, creating a perfect and lasting finish. In addition it delivers a high concentration of stem cell proteins and ingredients. A blend of vitamin-rich, plant-based oils boost resilience and youthful texture while Pro-vitamin B5 helps stimulate skin-soothing moisturization.  Available online atwww.cellureskincare.com plus the Cellure flagship store in Soho, NYC.

We’ve all been guilty of ditching the sunscreen in order to achieve the “summer glow” that so many magazines promote. With skin cancer rates rising year-by-year, it’s important to know the facts regarding skincare. UVA and UVB rays may be slightly different, but they’re both working together inflicting destructive side effects to you and your skin. After hearing the harm caused by sun damage, will you take the steps to protect yourself and your skin?