Mermaids JUJU

I’m a hopeless sunbather!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the sun. I am a fair skinned blonde, that actually tans well. My skin is pretty good in the summer, and rarely do I ever get a sunburn… anymore. Back in my younger years though, that was the goal; Burn, at least the first time, that’s how to get a good base tan, and get your skin used to the sun for the remainder of the summer. WHAT??? Don’t listen to that!!!

Sun exposure is the number 1, numero uno, top of the list way -to get skin cancer.

Let that sink in for a bit….

Ok, now let’s talk, covering up with a great little product called sunscreen. I still sunbathe, I still love the sun, I can’t wait for the long winters to end so I can get out in the sun! Getting the boat out and going out on the lake for the first time each year– my favorite time of the year. I also love water, and I’ll have to do another post on that because I just can’t address the two subjects all in one post. But here’s absolutely nothing like that first time in the sun! Ahhhh!! I wear sunscreen now though. 30spf every day. Not just when I’m in the sun. Not all over my body, just mostly my face, neck and décolletage. When I sunbathe I wear it all over. I still get a tan, I’m not Nicole Kidman, but I never burn my skin anymore. Unfortunately, the damage is already well on it’s way because of my bad habits earlier in life.

What’s my favorite sunscreen? I am a licensed esthetician and I use professional products on my skin, so I have to say my favorite product is Image skincare’s Prevention+ Daily Matte 32 spf.

This is my favorite for a few different reasons:

1. It smells so good. We all know how important a beauty products smell is.
2. It applies matte so I can put makeup over the top and it doesn’t ever turn shinny.
3. The matte finish makes it so my husband, kids, friends that don’t like sunscreen, and everyone can use this product and like it. I don’t ever have to pack two different products.
4. It has no harmful ingredients that would make it more harmful than good to wear a sunscreen.

There are a lot of great sunscreens out there, but this one is my fave.

What should you look for in a good sunscreen??

1. Broad-spectrum coverage. This term means the product protects against both types of rays: UVB and UVA. UVB rays burn skin, and UVA rays can cause age-related damage. Both kinds have been linked to skin cancer.
2. SPF. This number refers to the relative amount of protection you’re getting from UVB rays—not how much longer you can stay in the sun than you could without protection. To put it in perspective: An SPF 15 product protects skin from about 93 percent of UVB rays; an SPF 45, about 97 percent. There is no sunscreen that blocks 100 percent.
3. Water resistance. According to the FDA, a product that’s labeled “water-resistant” maintains its SPF protection for at least 40 minutes of swimming or sweating. (Even if the label says so, experts maintain no sunscreen is 100 percent waterproof.) “Very water-resistant” or “very sweat-resistant” products protect for at least 80 minutes.
4. Active ingredients. These are what absorb and/or reflect rays, as opposed to the ingredients that soothe skin or enhance the texture of the product.
   • Avobenzone: A common active-chemical ingredient, it penetrates the skin’s surface and helps absorb harmful UVA rays.
   • Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide: These “actives” are physical compounds. Rather than absorbing rays, they reflect them away from the skin. They’re a good choice for those with sensitive skin.

Look for harmful ingredients too.

1. Oxybenzone This penetration enhancer (i.e., chemical that helps other chemicals penetrate the skin) undergoes a chemical reaction when exposed to UV rays. When oxybenzone is absorbed by your skin, it can cause an eczema-like allergic reaction that can spread beyond the exposed area and last long after you’re out of the sun.

   Octinoxate One of the most common ingredients found in sunscreens with SPF, octinoxate is readily absorbed by our skin and helps other ingredients to be absorbed more readily. While allergic reactions from octinoxate aren’t common, hormone disruption is: the chemical’s effects on estrogen can be harmful for humans and wildlife, too, should they come into contact with the chemical once it gets into water.

   Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A Palmitate) Just like the vitamin A we eat, retinyl palmitate is an antioxidant. As an ingredient in sunscreen, it’s function is to improve the product’s performance against the aging effects of UV exposure, However, certain forms of vitamin A found in sun protection products—namely retinyl palmitate, a combination of retinol (vitamin A) and palmitic acid, an ingredient found in tropical plants such as palm and coconut—can be cause for concern. When exposed to the sun’s UV rays, retinol compounds break down and produce destructive free radicals that are toxic to cells, damage DNA, and may lead to cancer. In fact, FDA studies have shown that retinyl palimitate may speed the development of malignant cells and skin tumors when applied to skin before sun exposure, so steer clear of skin sun products that harbor the stuff.

   Homosalate This UV-absorbing sunscreen ingredient helps sunscreen to penetrate your skin. Once the ingredient has been absorbed, homosalate accumulates in our bodies faster than we can get rid of it, becomes toxic and disrupts our hormones.

   Octocrylene When this chemical is exposed to UV light, it absorbs the rays and produces oxygen radicals that can damage cells and cause mutations. It is readily absorbed by your skin and may accumulate within your body in measurable amounts. Plus, it can be toxic to the environment.

   Paraben Preservatives Associated with both acute and chronic side effects, parabens (butyl-, ethyl-, methyl-, and propyl-) can induce allergic reactions, hormone disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity. While butylparaben was reported to be non-carcinogenic in rats and mice, but it has been previously suspected that parabens and other chemicals in underarm cosmetics may contribute to the rising incidence of breast cancer.

   That was a lot of information, that could have been boring, so I apologize for that but found it essential in educating you on what to look for.

   One more thing before I go, my advise for sunbathing, always wear a hat, and sunglasses!! Sunscreen can only do so much!

   What is your favorite sunscreen? Why is it your favorite? I would love to hear your comments!!