If there's one beauty product that knows no seasonal bounds, it's sunscreen. Though the warm-weathered season is prime time to slather on the good stuff, hopefully you have it on year-round. From the top SPF products to the FDA's new rules on sunscreen, get caught up now on what you need to know about protecting your skin.
It's been a long time coming, and after 33 years with no major updates on sunscreen labeling, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cracking down. Starting next year, manufacturers will be required to eliminate SPF confusion by making it clearer as to what level and type of protection sunscreens provide. "These changes will help people make better-informed decisions about how to use sunscreens and allow them to more effectively protect themselves and their families," the FDA's Janet Woodcock said. To see the main highlights of the FDA's modernized rules, just keep reading.
While it's essential to apply sunscreen each day, there are a few other ways you can safeguard skin from damage. In fact, many warm-weather garments and accessories carry an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) value to block out the brightest harmful rays. See some examples now.
I'm hitting the beach this weekend, so I wanted to run to the drugstore to quickly grab some sunscreen. Seems easy enough, but when I saw all the different bottles, I just stood and stared. Why are there so many to choose from? It makes it really confusing as a consumer. Being fair-skinned, the SPF is a cinch; I always go for 55 or higher. And because I exercise outdoors and spend time in the water, I always get one that's waterproof. I also make sure the label says broad spectrum so I know I'm protected against both UVA and UVB rays. But what about using a lotion versus a spray? A spray seems like it'd be less messy, plus it's easier to get to hard-to-reach spots like my upper back.
But is a spray as effective as lotion? To find out, keep reading.
And now, Gisele has clarified the controversial statement through her publicist, Amber Clapp. Amber tells StyleList, "Gisele would never say not to use sunscreen because she has had family members who have had skin cancer. She simply stated that her all-natural skin-care [Sejaa] line does not have SPF because there is not an all natural SPF available." Instead, Gisele wears sun protection free of PABA, retinyl palmitate, parabens, and oxybenzone, and explained on her blog, "I do use sunblock but also I try my best not to be exposed to the sun when it is too strong."
What do you think? Do Gisele's latest explanations make up for her original remarks or are you more confused than ever?
A former high school chemistry teacher and self-confessed "skin care junkie," Marie Veronique Nadeau started Marie Veronique Organics after becoming frustrated with the lack of decent sunscreen options in stores. So she decided to make some of her own, and the rest is history. From DIY mask ideas to advice on when to start using antiaging products to the reasoning behind why oil on the face is a good thing, Marie is a wealth of skin care knowledge. To find out the rest of her advice on how to keep your skin in check, just keep reading.
If you take your sun protection seriously, here's just the app for you: Coppertone MyUVAlert. Even if you're not quite as diligent about SPF, you'll at least take away some sage advice from this application.
Just type in your zip code, or the zip of any other US city, and you'll get the current UV index, along with advice on what to do to protect yourself based on the reading. You can then customize by activity levels to receive product recommendations (Coppertone, of course). You can even set a timer to remind you to reapply your SPF at regular intervals. FYI: Every two hours or so is the standard.
There's even a tips section chock-full of helpful words of SPF wisdom, and a link to the Weather Channel website. Will this app blow your mind? No, but I could see it coming in handy at the store or while on vacation. And since it's free, and you get a $1 off coupon just for downloading, it's worth a few minutes of your time to check out.
Annie shares three easy ways to simplify your makeup routine for Summer. Instead of putting on a lot of makeup this season, use these easy tips to stay shine-free and gorgeous under the sun, using simple products like sunscreen, cheek and lip stains, eyeshadow, and more.
When it comes to exercising, there's strength in numbers, but that's not necessarily true about sunscreen. When comparing your bottle of SPF 50 to one that's labeled SPF 100, you might get the impression that your sunscreen is inadequate. Florida dermatologist and American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) spokesman James M. Spencer, MD, explained to Web MD "SPF is not a consumer-friendly number. It is logical for someone to think that an SPF of 30 is twice as good as an SPF of 15, and so on, but that is not how it works."
To find out if sunscreens with higher SPF offer more protection read more
If you want to protect your hair from the effects of the sun, you can always plop on a trendy fedora or silky scarf. But if covering your hair with a stylish accessory is not in the cards, a hair product containing SPF is the way to go.
Effects of sun damage on the hair can include split ends, faded color, frizziness, and dryness. Luckily, there are lots of products available to shield your style from the hydration-zapping power of the sun, from styling products like Pureology Serious Colour Care Antifade Styling Lotion ($20) to shampoos and conditioners found in Redken's Color Extend line. But what I want to know is whether or not you SPF your hair. Well, do you?
