Why Your Sunscreen May Not Be Protecting Your Skin Enough

Considering the number one cause of premature aging (wrinkles, lines and sun-induced brown spots) is UV exposure from daylight and sunlight, protecting your skin every single day with sunscreen is the very best way to slow down the effects of skin aging. But is applying a moisturizer with sunscreen daily (under your makeup) going to give you all-day protection? I think not.

The problem: Many sunscreen formulas degrade with exposure to UV light. The daily sebum (oil) produced on the skin can cause sunscreen to breakdown, and you very well may not have even applied it generously enough in the first place to get the full protection. These all confirm that your sunscreen just may not be protecting your skin all day like you want it to, and think it is. And this presents a huge problem that should concern you if you want to prevent skin aging… Read more

The Best Sunscreen Mineral Powder to Prevent Wrinkles and Sun Damage

A few years ago I discovered the best mineral powder with sunscreen from a brand called ColoreScience. Their mineral powder contains a powerful SPF 50, comes in a convenient self-dispensing brush for quick and easy application, and is approved by The Skin Cancer Foundation.

As a skin care expert and celebrity esthetician, one of my very best skin tips that I share with my clients is to dust the skin every few hours with a mineral powder with sunscreen to ensure that the skin is staying protected from the damaging UV rays.

Did you know that number one cause of premature aging (wrinkles, lines and brown spots) is caused from UV exposure from daylight and sunlight? It’s not genetics, it’s not smoking and surprisingly to many, it’s not even age. In addition to wearing a moisturizer with sunscreen every morning (I love Daily Protection SPF 30 since my skin is very sensitive), protecting your skin every day by reapplying sunscreen is the very best way to slow down the effects of skin aging and ColoreScience makes it very easy to do so.

Let me share with you a few examples on how ColoreScience SPF 50 Mineral Powder has helped to protect my skin… Read more

A Safer Alternative for Treating Brown Patches on the Skin

Stubborn brown spots, sun spots, and brown patches on the skin are a concern for many, and while there are topical skin care products that can help to encourage their fading, one in particular is not without controversy. Hydroquinone is a commonly used skin bleaching agent that inhibits Tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in producing pigment. The controversy around Hydroquinone revolves around redness and skin irritation, but some reports have shown it as possibly causing liver cancer and leukemia in rats. Countries such as Europe, South Africa, and Japan have banned its use, but in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still considers it safe and it is commonly prescribed by dermatologists.

While I generally support the FDA, and have seen the positive impact it can make in reducing these stubborn brown spots for many of my clients, I do understand people’s concern in wanting to find a natural, less controversial solution. Adding to the controversy, the Texas Attorney General’s office has made one known Hydroquinone maker remove all their products using this ingredient from the shelves of spas and medical offices. So, for those who live in Texas, Hydroquinone may be harder to access. This also has happened in the state of Florida.

For a Hydroquinone-free alternative, look for products that contain high concentrations of Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Kojic Acid, and Licorice Extract (Glycyrrhiza glabra), which can help inhibit melanin production… Read more

Five Tips for Caring for the Skin On Your Chest

When it comes to the areas that people most focus their anti-aging efforts on, the face would be the first priority. The neck would be second, then the chest, with the hands coming in a close fourth. That being said, most people do neglect the chest area. The upper chest area gets a tremendous amount of sun exposure in a lifetime, which results in brown spots, rough texture, redness, and is oftentimes a popular area for skin cancer.  So here are my tips for caring for this often-exposed area.

Sunscreen must be worn daily: Most people know the importance of wearing sunscreen 365 days a year, so they will apply it to their face, using whatever is left on their fingertips on the neck and maybe extending a little on to the chest. But for most people, if sunscreen is applied to the chest, it is not adequate enough protection as it is not applied generously enough.

How to: When you’re out of the shower, remove the top of your bathrobe so you can have the entire upper chest area exposed. Apply sunscreen generously to all areas that will be exposed to sunlight, based on what you’ll be wearing that day. (I recommend Daily Protection SPF 30 since it offers powerful UVA/UVB protection.)

After applying a generous coat of sunscreen, dust on a sunscreen mineral powder to not only even out redness and brown spots but also to prevent UV damage.

Read: The Best Sunscreen Mineral Powder to Prevent Wrinkles and Sun Damage

Beware of Sunburn: Your skin has a memory, and one really bad sunburn can haunt you years later. Here’s why… Read more

The Powerful Effects of Sunscreen

According to the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, a study concluded that sunscreen, when compared to the preventative effects of powerhouse OTC ingredients such as wrinkle-fighting antioxidants, skin-plumping hyaluronic acid and skin lightening-hydroquinone, is THE most biologically active ingredient in skin care products.

So what does that mean? It means that sunscreen, more so than any other skin care product sold over-the-counter, has the ability to prevent wrinkles and premature skin aging.

I’ve talked about the importance of sunscreen many, many times, but this study really confirms the power that sunscreen can make on your skin. So even if you’re someone that likes to keep your skin care routine to a few easy steps, making sure that applying sunscreen is one of them can make a world of difference for your skin and how it will age!

Read: How to Apply Sunscreen to the Face and Neck

Have a skin concern? Check out Skin Source—the A-Z guide on everything from acne, exfoliation and large pores to brown spots, sun protection and so much more!… Read more

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