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The Characteristics of a Good Sunscreen

Protection from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays is widely recognized as one of the best ways to keep skin looking young and healthy. You may not know it, but skin care experts attribute unprotected sun exposure as the cause of more than 85% of skin aging. From wrinkles to saggy skin and age spots, keeping your skin protected against UVA and UVB rays is the simplest and least costly anti aging treatment available today. What’s more important than keeping skin looking young, however, is that protecting skin from the sun can also help to protect you against skin cancer, which is on the rise worldwide.

Important Characteristics of a Sunscreen

In order to protect skin well, a sunscreen must posses certain characteristics:
1. It must protect against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are shorter rays that cause tanning and sunburns. They are most prevalent during the summer and between the hours of 10am and 4pm. During these times, protection from UVB rays is important if you want to avoid a sunburn. UVA rays, are prevalent year round, during the winter and even on cloudy days. They can penetrate through windows and travel deeper through the skin where they can cause more longer damage. These permanent effects include skin damage such as wrinkles, premature skin aging, saggy skin and pigmentation issues. Both types of rays have been linked to the development of skin cancer.
2. It must be photostable. Photostability refers to the ability of a sunscreen to maintain its integrity when exposed to sunlight. Many sunscreen agents (avobenzone or Parsol 1789 is particularly problematic if it is not stabilized with another chemical) will degrade upon exposure to the sun rendering them useless. Read labels carefully to ensure that you’re getting a product that delivers over time.
3. It should feel good on the skin. Though this seems like a very silly characteristic, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Sunscreens only work if you use them so if you are forced to apply a greasy, unappealing substance to your skin, chances are that you won’t use it. So what’s the point of purchasing it in the first place?

Sun Filters that Work

There are two types of sun filters – those that are chemical and those that are physical.

Physical filters sit on top of the skin reflecting light away from the surface. The most well known physical filters include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Both offer varying levels of protection against UV rays and are photostable. Titanium dioxide blocks UVB rays only, while zinc oxide blocks across a broader spectrum of both UVA and UVB rays. These filters are often combined with one another or other sun filters to afford effective protection. One of the downsides of these sun filters is that they can leave a whitish cast to the skin. Newer micronized or nano particles tend to be less problematic.

There are a wide range of chemical filters on the market. All differ in their ability to block UVA and UVB rays and in their ability to retain their stability upon exposure to sunlight. It’s beyond the focus of this article to examine each and every physical sun filter, but here are some of the newer, more effective and widely used ones:
Mexoryl SX (ecamsule) – a photostable blocker of both UVA and UVB rays.
Mexoryl XL – a photostable blocker of UVB and longer wavelenght UVA rays. The two Mexoryl molecules deliver greater protection when combined together than either agent used alone.
Tinosorb M – UVA and UVB ray protection; photostable
Tinosorb S – like Tinosorb M, Tinosorb S offers broad UVA and UVB protection and is photostable
Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) – an excellent blocker of both UVA and UVB rays, but avobenzone must be stabilized. Octocrylene is often used to stabilize it.

Choose a sunscreen with sun filters that deliver, that is photostable and that feels good on the skin. Apply about 20 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 2 hours especially if you sweat or are exposed to water. Most of all, remember to use it daily, year round.

About the Author

Sharmani P. is the owner of an online skincare store that specializes in both Mexoryl sunscreen and anthelios sunscreen from La Roche Posay.

Banana Boat Protective Tanning Oil Spray, SPF 15, 8 Fluid Ounces $5.98 Moisturizes and nourishes for a long lasting tan Vitamins A & E Aloe Vera…

Friends Forever?: Why Your Friendships Are So Important (Sunscreen) $0.01 Everybody needs friends! This book helps readers define all sorts of friendships and offers tips for getting and keeping pals. Some of the most important relationships in our lives are with our friends . . . so why does friendship have to be so difficult sometimes? Is it better to have one best friend, or is there safety in numbers? What do you do if your friend turns his or her back on you? And c…

Sunscreen photostability 101: read on to find out why a sunscreen stops working and, more importantly, what can be done to correct the problem.: An article from: Household & Personal Products Industry $9.95 This digital document is an article from Household & Personal Products Industry, published by Rodman Publishing on October 1, 2009. The length of the article is 1961 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Sunscreen photost…

MD Skincare All-in-one Medium Moisturizer/ SPF15 Sunscreen $27.99 3-in-1 skin care lotion moisturizes, provides sheer coverage, and provides environmental protectionMD Skincare tinted moisturizer features SPF 15 Soften and hydrate your skin to restore youthful, healthy skin

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California Tan Tanning SPF 6 Sunscreen Spray 8-oz Oil (Pack of 4) $26.49 This luxurious California Tan Spray Oil delivers potent skin care while protecting skin against sunburn. The ultra-light, non-greasy formula in available in an 8-ounce size.

Derma Repair Dead Sea Mineral 1.75-oz AM SPF 15 Sunscreen $18.99 Indulge in the luxury of an oil-free sunscreen Derma Repair sunscreen promotes natural moisture and balanceSkin care product features SPF 15

California Tan SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion (Pack of 4) $24.99 This California Tan SPF 30 sunscreen features a non-irritating, water-resistant and sweat-resistant formula perfect for use during outdoor sports. The lotion saturates skin with moisture and skin conditioners to encourage the development of a golden tan.

Suncare Defense SPF 30 6-oz Mineral Sunscreen $17.99 Protect your skin from the sun with sunscreen from Suncare DefenseSun care product protects oily and problem skin Skin care lotion promotes natural moisture and pH balancing for face and body

Kenneth Cole Gangsta NY 8-oz SPF30 Anti-age Peptide Sunscreen $20.49 Multi UVA/UVB Protection helps prevent skin damage, spots, burning, signs of aging. Anti-Age & Anti-Oxidant SystemAdvanced hydration w/ moisture lockKukui Nut, Macadamia, Aloe, Green Tea, Chamomile, Cucumber, Provitamin B5

Saian 2-oz SPF 29 Sunscreen Mist Bottle $0 SPF 29 Sunscreen Mist is available in a 2-ounce bottleAnti-aging beauty product has not been tested on animalsBeauty product contains no chemicals and is hypoallergenic

Suncare Defense 6-oz SPF 15 Mineral Sunscreen $14.69 Protect your skin from the sun with sunscreen from Suncare DefenseSun care product protects oily and problem skin Skin care lotion promotes natural moisture and pH balancing for face and body

Kenneth Cole ‘Choppers Biker Block’ SPF30 6.5-ounce Sunscreen $20.49 Protects Ink From Fade. Shields From Burning, Age Spots, WrinklesRestores Wind Burnt Dry Skin, Great for Shaved HeadsHydrate Repair Restore Revitalize. Anti-Oxidants, Kukui Macadamia Aloe Green Tea. Absorbs fast non-sticky

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La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream $32 Your skin is a treasure, and the sun is a force to be reckoned with, so why risk it? La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream is a multitasking face and body cream designed to block damaging UVA and UVB rays from ever taking a toll on your skin. Fortified with Mexoryl SX, and organic, photo-stable sun filter, you you can enjoy the sun without suffering the consequenses.

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Why $9.88 Why

$0.99 New – You love your mom, but sometimes she drives you crazy! No relationship is more fraught with emotion than the one with Mom. This book helps teens understand the ups and downs of this ever-changing dynamic, from how and why their feelings about Mom are changing, to perspective on Mom’s own needs. Using personal testimonies as well as typical situations and explanations, this Sunscreen title will help young people understand their tumultuous feelings about Mom.

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$2.32 Used – Sunlight is a vital component of good health. Like plants that thrive in the sun, we humans too depend on sunlight, in our case for the production of Vitamin D. In the past few decades, however, cultural trends have steered us away from sun exposure. From fear of the potential dangers of UV radiation and the heavy promotion of sunscreen products to artificial work and recreational environments centered on virtual reality, we are all spending much more time indoors and away from the sun. W

$5.92 New – Sunlight is a vital component of good health. Like plants that thrive in the sun, we humans too depend on sunlight, in our case for the production of Vitamin D. In the past few decades, however, cultural trends have steered us away from sun exposure. From fear of the potential dangers of UV radiation and the heavy promotion of sunscreen products to artificial work and recreational environments centered on virtual reality, we are all spending much more time indoors and away from the sun. Wh

$0.99 Used – Everybody wishes they had a bit more self-confidence. This Sunscreen title discusses the five main ways that we judge ourselves: by our sense of security, personal identity, relationship with family, academic standing/accomplishments and social successes. But there are also other important issues like body image and social anxiety and why we care so much about how the outside world views us. “How to Be More Confident” helps to explain these ideas and fears and most importantly, gives teen

Tags: cancer, health, shopping, sun, Sunscreen

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