Summer School: Sun 101 With An Instant Glow
I don’t know about y’all but I love warmer weather and having a little tan. It can totally change your appearance and personally, it makes me feel so much more confident. I’ve used a few different sunless tanners but just being real here, I totally forget to apply the night before. Anyone else have that problem? I know I can’t be the only one that ends the day with a million and one things on her brain, hahaha!
Meet my new BFF and the reason why I have a good “tan” happening: the Tinted Countersun Mist by Beautycounter. This is your way to guard against sun’s damaging rays with lightweight, mineral-based, broad spectrum protection for face and body with the added benefit of an instant goddess glow. Beautycounter uses non-nano zinc oxide, an effective alternative to oxybenzone, as a sun filter in all of our sun-care products. Also check out the After Sun Cooling Gel that soothes skin post-sun exposure for a complete sun-care experience. It feels amazing and the kids keep asking for it after our days in the sun!
There are several reasons why I love the tinted mist for summer. The tinted formula helps camouflage imperfections, provides a natural finish for darker skin tones, reduces
the typical chalky cast, and is great for paler skin tones that want to get glowing ahead of
the beach day. After using it a couple of times, I strongly urge you to step outside to apply since the spray could get on other things around you when you apply. After rubbing it into my skin, I found that it takes about five minutes to dry and it won’t rub off on my clothes. Hallelujah. Who has time to wait 15 minutes before getting dressed like the other tanners?!
Now, for the super-fun-knowledge-drop part of the blog:
Traditional chemical sunscreens are technically “sun filters.” The vast majority of sunscreens on the market contain chemical sunscreen ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, or octocrylene. They’re called sun filters because they absorb the sun’s UV energy and release it back into the air as heat. They are popular because they provide easy, transparent blendability into the skin. Beautycounter prohibits chemical sun filters due to their high potential for skin irritation.
Mineral sunscreens (physical sunscreens) are Beautycounter’s preferred sunscreen technology. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are physical particles that sit on the surface of the skin and scatter or reflect sun’s rays away from the skin. Mineral sunscreens are great for people with sensitive skin.
*Remember that sunscreens should be used on children six months of age or older. For babies under six months, check with your doctor for advice.*
Ready for a vocabulary lesson? Here are some facts you may not already know:
SUN’S RAYS DEFINED
The sun’s spectrum is broad with many different wavelengths emitted. When speaking about sun damage there are a few to watch out for.
UVB = BURNING
UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn and are the most commonly recognized indicator of skin damage. The Skin Cancer Foundation* notes that on average, five sunburns at any age doubles one’s risk for melanoma.
UVA = AGING
While UVA rays are less powerful than UVB, they penetrate deeper into the skin to cause the free-radical damage that contributes to premature skin aging. UVA rays are equally intense throughout all seasons, and they penetrate clouds and glass.
SUNSCREEN CLAIMS
Broad Spectrum
An effective sunscreen must have a broad spectrum (provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays) claim. The broad spectrum protection claim ensures that the sunscreen provides defense against both sunburn and premature skin aging.
SPF
SPF, or Sun Protection Factor is the measurement of the sunscreen’s level of defense against sunburn caused primarily by UVB rays.
SPF 15 = blocks 93% of UVB rays
SPF 30 = blocks 97% of UVB rays
SPF 50 = blocks 98% of UVB rays
Water-Resistant
There is a difference between water-resistant and water-proof (which no sunscreen is and cannot be claimed for a sunscreen). All sunscreens that resist removal while in water are specifically water-resistant (40 or 80 minutes). They are durable against wash-off but not 100% unsusceptible to it. That’s why you should always reapply after water exposure, exercise, or at least every two hours.
I hope that by breaking all the information down for you in this blog helped you understand sun-care and safety a little bit better – and showed you the importance of a physical sunscreen like the Tinted Countersun Mist. And seriously, don’t you love the fact that your sunscreen can double as your instant summer glow?! I know I do!
