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Editor's Pick: Lancome Skincare Soleil Expert Sun Care SPF 30 |
The basic job of sunscreen? To protect you from harmful UV rays that damage your skin in the way of wrinkles, lines and an uneven tone. Most importantly, though, the job is to shield you from UVA and UVB rays that can cause skin cancer. But with so many sunblock formulas filled with tongue-twisting ingredients, it's hard to know what to pick. Herewith, the ins and outs of sunblock lotions, sprays and all the rest that you need for a day in the sun. |
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 | Sun Protection Factor or SPF: A rating system for sunscreen with numbers, like 15, 30 or 45 that indicate the amount of time you can stay in the sun without burning. Bottom line: The higher the SPF, the longer the time, ie a 15 SPF roughly equals two hours of protection. |
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 | Formula: Cream, lotion, spray, gel, towelette—it's your choice. Generally, though, cream and lotions are moisturizing, spray is great for large areas, ie back and shoulders, the gel is best for fast absorption and won't rub off, and towelette is the least messy and easy to wipe on when you're in a hurry. Also, look for formulas specific to face and body. |
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 | Ingredients: The most important to look for are active sunblock ingredients, like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone (parsol 1789) and Mexoryl SX, all which shield from the suns rays, UVA and UVB. |
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 | Sunscreen vs. Sunblock: Know the difference between sunscreen and sunblock. Sunscreen actually absorbs UV rays to reduce the amount of radiation to the skin, while sunblock literally blocks the UV rays from penetrating the skin. Sunscreen tends to be more popular due to its lighter consistency, but most sunblocks these days are relatively similar. |
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| UV: Ultraviolet radiation from the sun divided by different energy levels, UVA and UVB. UVB rays are the most potent and can lead to burns, major skin damage and skin cancer. UVA rays penetrate deepest into the skin and is the leading cause of premature aging, including dark spots, a dry scaly texture and wrinkles. They can also contribute to skin cancer. |
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| Broad Spectrum: When this term appears on a label, it means that the sunscreen has active ingredients like avobenzone or titanium dioxide that absorbs both UVA and UVB rays. |
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| Antioxidants: Ingredients in sunscreen such as green tea, grapeseed or white tea are common antioxidants, which combat free radicals like UV rays, to prevent premature aging. |
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| Water-Resistant or Waterproof: Water-resistant sunscreens protect for up to 40 minutes in the water; waterproof sunscreens protects for up to 80 minutes. |
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| "The Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 45 was amazing, and just as advertised, it's not greasy and really did provide coverage all day. It's fragrance-free, safe for sensitive skin, and it didn't lead to breakouts even with the added UVA and UVB protection. Now we feel a little more comfortable about those extra long lunches in the sun." (Source: SheFinds Blog) |
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| Neutrogena is one of the top names in suncreen. Their patented Helioplex technology stands out for shielding skin from UVA rays. |
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| Aveeno suncreens contain natural soy and antioxidants to help protect against free radicals that can cause premature aging. |
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| Alba Botanica is a popular organic skincare brand that uses plant proteins, botanicals, vitamins, advanced sea enzymes and essences from Hawaii in their products. |
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| Philosophy is a niche brand endorsed by leading dermatologists and plastic surgeons. |
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| Murad was started by Dr. Howard Murad, a board-certified dermatologist in California. His suncreens contain pomegranate, a powerful anti-oxidant. |
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| Lancome is a prestige brand from France and uses cutting edge skincare ingredients in their SPF formulas. |
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