How to choose your sunscreen?

Why is sunscreen so vital in your skin care regimen?

I don't think many of us realize that it is. Especially if achieving and maintaining healthy skin is on your agenda.

**Without daily application of sunscreen you are exposing yourself to the following:

- Skin cancer
- Hyperpigmentation (dark spots)
- Faster aging of the skin
- Collagen and elastin deterioration (the two things that give your skin it's elasticity & firmness) In other words if these things deteriorate you will wrinkle & sag :( lol. Which is a natural part of life! However you can help your skin with proper skin care so it remains at it's best for as long as it can.

So what does all of this mean to you?

Prevention is key! It's never too early to start.

"Sun exposure is the number one cause of skin cancer and pre mature aging" quoted from Salon Fundamentals Esthetics

** How to choose the right SPF for you?

Full spectrum sunscreen is the type to go for. This type of sunscreen protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreens absorb or reflect Ultraviolet rays.


UVA rays are your aging rays. These rays are longer and can penetrate into your dermis and cause aging. UVA rays lead directly to wrinkles and sagging of the skin also towards skin cancer. These rays are often used in tanning beds!

UVB rays are your burning rays. They are shorter and cause sunburns.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The number of an SPF allows you to stay in the sun that many times longer without being burned. Reapplication of sunscreen is important especially if you are sweating or engaging in activities with water that can have SPF removed.

An SPF that's higher like 50 & up can lead to more sensitivity due to the increased concentration of active ingredients. More for your skin to react too so be careful :/ U usually recommend a sunscreen of 30 or 35 there's not a huge difference between the two.

Apply on all areas to be exposed to sun 20 minutes before sun exposure. If possible should be reapplied every two hours and always reapplied after activities that could've potentially wash it off. (swimming...etc.)

**Keep in mind sunlight comes through windows and UV rays are even stronger through glass.

SOURCES: Salon Fundamentals Esthetics A Resource for Your Skin Care Career and Milady's Standard Esthetics Fundamentals.



GOOD LUCK!

Ingrown hairs have you frustrated? Time to get rid of them!

Struggling with ingrown hairs? Try exfoliating! This removes dead skin cells that might be trapping your hair under your skins surface. Identify why you have your ingrown hairs...Do you have coarse or curly hair? This type of hair is more likely to curl and continue growing under the skin instead of out of the hair follicle. Are you shaving and experiencing this? If so you could be shaving in the wrong direction causing the hair to do the same and not allowing it to grow directly out of the follicle. I also recommend waxing. Over time your hair will grow much finer which can be a great help if you have coarse hair. With waxing you're removing the entire hair from it's follicle not just removing the hair from the surface making it less likely for it to grow back into the follicle. I myself have tried exfoliating before shaving and def notice a difference. If you choose to do this you may do it before shaving, but if your skin tends to be on the more sensitive side you should do it a few hours before. I've used home products in the past and they work great for me. I used extra virgin olive oil and sugar. Sugar being my exfoliator which was ok for me considering I use it on larger areas of my body that are less sensitive than my face. I wouldn't use sugar on my face. The extra virgin olive oil also has nice moisturizing properties for my skin making it feel softer when the job's done ;) If you're not for that there's always scrubs and exfoliators that stores around you sell that are great too at decent prices :) Hope this helps! ♥ best of luck!