I find it astounding that many women still don’t make wearing sunscreen a regular part of their daily skin care routine! Buying sunscreen can be a daunting task with the shelves full of brightly coloured bottles and sprays not to mention the need for a PhD. to understand the labels!  But we have no choice.  It’s sunscreen or skin cancer.

Here’s the skinny on sunscreen:

  • UVB rays burn the skin and can cause skin cancer. 
  • UVA rays cause wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer because the rays penetrate more deeply into the skin.
  • The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number represents the length of time you can stay out in the sun without burning multiplied by the corresponding number.  So with an SPF 15, if your skin starts to burn in 20 minutes, you could have 300 minutes (5 hours) of sun protection.
  • SPF numbers are deceiving.  Sweat, swimming and clothing rubbing on your skin can reduce the amount of time you can spend in the sun without applying more sunscreen.
  • Choose an SPF 15 or higher.  If you have fair skin, have had skin cancer, laser skin treatments or peels, choose an SPF 50 or higher. 
  • UVA rays are not reflected in the SPF number. 
  • Choose a “broad spectrum” sunscreen.  The product should have Avobenzone (also called Parsol 1789), Octocrylene and Oxybenzone listed on the label to protect you from both UVA and UVB rays.
  • More expensive doesn’t mean more effective.  A new Consumer Report featured on Msnbc.com in March 2010 found that Target’s brand, Up & Up Sport Continuous sunscreen selling for less than $10.00 for TWO 6 OUNCE bottles, offered better protection from burning than La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40, the most expensive product priced at $18.00 FOR 1 OUNCE.

I use Banana Boat Ultra Defense SPF 15 and I like Hawaiian Tropic SPF 30 Sunblock, both broad spectrum and contain the ingredients I mentioned above.  On the days I don’t mind smelling like fruit I wear the Hawaiian Tropic.  The Banana Boat product is fragrance free.  I’ll be in the US this Saturday so I’m going to buy Target’s brand of sunscreen and try it out.  Let me know your favourite brand of sunscreen.

Remember Ladies…purses look pretty in leather.  Not faces!

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