Do you use anti-aging products and skin cancer protection? Many of the best cosmetics on the market today offer anti-aging moisturizers along with sun blocking SPF. If you care about taking care of your skin or if you are a skin cancer survivor these products are a must on your shelf.
Daily Sunscreen Use
It is important to use sunscreen daily. Using sunscreen with the proper SPF will decrease your chances of skin cancer. It is imperative, say the experts, that you use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Only if you are using the correct level of SPF will it aid in preventing skin cancer. For example, if you have light skin you may need SPF 30 or higher.
SPF sunscreen can be found in moisturizers, foundations, blush, lipsticks, and eye shadows. It gives you an extra level of protection against the sun’s damaging rays. In addition, moisturizing products with SPF sunscreens hydrate your skin. These products help your skin avoid the leathery type skin that is common among people who spend a great deal of time outdoors, wrinkles, lines, and age spots.
Oil free sunscreens are now available for individuals with oily skin. Previously, people with oily skin avoided sunscreen because it made their face breakout. Today, sunscreens are often non-comedogenic. They do not clog your pores.
When choosing sunscreens and beauty products with sunscreen there are several factors to consider. Your age, your skin type, the season of the year, and your skin tone must all be taken in to account. Also, consider medicines you are taking and medical treatments you are currently undergoing.
Moisturizers
There are many, many moisturizers that contain sunscreens on beauty department shelves. You want to choose a moisturizer that will protect you from all of the sun’s damaging rays. Therefore, choose a broad spectrum moisturizer with SPF of 15 to 30.
UVA rays are the burning rays from the sun. These rays will cause you to get a sunburn and cause skin cancer and damage. UVB rays cause invisible dangers – they are the aging rays. They cause your skin to age over time. Because you are exposed to both types of rays when you are outdoors it is important to choose a moisturizer with a broad spectrum – both UVA/UVB protection.
There are several active ingredients that are important anti- aging and skin protecting agents. Zinc oxide, Mexoryl, octocrylene, and avobenzone should be listed in the ingredient list of the products you choose.
Parson 1789 is another important ingredient. It is a sunscreen agent that blocks an even larger spectrum of ultraviolet rays. If you are fair skinned or like to outdoors you should choose a product with Parsol 1789.1
The delicate eye area is not suitable for regular moisturizers. Special eye creams are manufactured for the eye area. Look for eye creams that have an SPF to protect this extremely delicate area of your face.
Foundation and Powder
Foundation provides your next layer of defense against the damaging rays of the sun. Choose a foundation with an SPF of 15 to 30. Experts feel that people do not normally apply enough sunscreen. By applying a foundation with SPF you will be giving yourself extra protection and increase your chances of enough protection.2
After you apply foundation with SPF apply powder. Powder is now available with SPF. Powders also have natural SPF abilities. The talc particles provide protection from the sun.
The best powder for sun protection is pressed powder. It is applied with a sponge for full coverage. In addition to one more level of protection it sets your moisturizer and foundation, helping them last throughout the day.
Color
The make-up industry is going wild with SPF. It is now available in many products. Blushes contain SPF, cream eye shadows contain SPF, and lipsticks contain SPF.
Lipsticks with SPF are a favorite of almost everyone. It is important to protect the lips as they have very little melanin. It is up to you to use a lip balm or lip stick everyday to keep your lips nourished and protect them from the sun.
Skin Cancer and Makeup
If you are a skin cancer survivor you may have visible scars. Makeup can help conceal your scars and can protect your skin from skin cancer in the future.
Mineral makeup is the number one choice when it comes to covering up scars from skin cancer surgery. This makeup will make you look and feel great. Most mineral makeup naturally contains mineral makeup and SPF at or above 15.
When choosing a formula for foundations look for products that will not settle into the scar, that are not drying, and that have moisturizers. If cancer skin cancer surgery has left you with scars that are darker than your normal skin tone you can use a concealer to cover the scar.
If you are undergoing skin cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation , there are workshops conducted by your local cancer support groups that show woman how to choose makeup to look their best. Treatments often have side effects that impact the skin.3
Anti-aging products and skin cancer prevention go hand in hand. You can now have the best of both worlds- right at your local discount store. The basic rule is simple: Always wear an SPF of 15 or higher depending on your skin type. You can add layers of protection, including foundation and powder to basic sunscreen.
References
1 Savvy Use of Sunscreen Reduces Risk of Getting Too Much Sun. (2011). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from: www.mayoclinic.org/news2008-mchi/4905.html
2 Sun Protection and Makeup. (2011). The Cancer Foundation: www.skincancer.org/sun-protection-and-makeup.html
3 Find Support and Treatment – Look Good…Feel Better. (2011) American Cancer Society. Retrieved at: www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsServices/look-good-feel-better
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