Clearing Up Myths About Sunscreens

By Mike Smiley

No wonder we're confused

Sunscreen was created to help filter out the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation and keep it from reaching the skin. Radiation will damage your skin, cause premature aging and increase your risk of skin cancer. When you enter a drugstore you will see lots of sunscreen choices. But which one is the right for you? What’s safe, what’s not. There are a lot of myths about SPF levels. Some times it can get very confusing. Let's find the one that’s just right for you.

UVA, UVB What does that even mean?

There are two types of sun radiation--UVA and UVB. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply than the UVB rays and are associated with skin wrinkling, leathering, sagging and other photo-aging effects. UVB Rays on the other hand are the cause of sunburn and skin cancer. So the idea is to filter out these potentially damaging rays in a convenient and non-intrusive way.

What’s your number?

A lot of confusion surrounds the SPF or Sun Protection Factor number. Created to give sun worshipers a guide as to how long they can expect to be protected from the harmful rays, this is an area where everyone needs to be better educated.

Here’s a little more insight about SPF. It takes about 20 minutes for your UNPROTECTED skin to start turning red. Theoretically, if you apply SPF 15 sunscreen before sun exposure, it should take “15” times longer", or about 4-5 hours, before your skin turns red. Get it? SPF x 20 minutes = approximate time in hours/minutes of protection. Of course, it depends on the sun’s intensity (tropical sun is more intense than most places) and your particular skin tolerance.

Most people believe that sunscreens have to be 30 and up to really provide sun protection but that is not true. Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job.

A shocking secret about SPF

Here’s where most people make a logical mistake. It is logical to assume that if SPF 20 is good, then SPF 50 should be two and a half times better right? Makes perfect sense unless you do your research. (By the way, companies who make SPF 30, 40 & 50 know this already but they’re counting on you NOT taking the time to learn it).

Here are the shocking facts. SPF 15 filters out approximately 94% of all incoming UV rays. SPF 20 keeps out 97% of all UV rays. Are you ready for the real shocker? SPF 30 keeps out 97% and SPF 50 keeps out only 1% more than the SPF 30 sunscreen! Crazy??? You bet and I’m guessing you’re shaking your head right now in disbelief. After all, you trusted these people to steer you straight and now you find out they’ve been misleading you all this time.

Look, no sunscreen can block ALL UV rays regardless their strength. The emphasis in this article is that regardless the strength ALL sunscreens have to be reapplied several times a day when you are exposed to direct sunshine for more than 2 hours. No sunscreen should be expected to be effective longer than two hours without reapplication.

Most experts recommend avoiding direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time but seriously, isn’t that exactly the time of day you want to be on the beach or around the pool? Yep. Me too. So just know that beyond SPF 20, you’re getting 1% more protection and probably paying a lot more for it. Now that you know, you can make an informed choice next time you’re in that aisle at the store.

Who Should Use Sunscreen?

Anyone that is going to be exposed more than 15 minutes to direct sunshine should use sunscreen. But you can even get a burn during partly cloudy and cloudy days so it’s a good idea to apply it whenever your plans take you outdoors during the spring and summer months. Adults and children with highly sensitive skins should probably always use sunscreen.

What type of Sunscreen should you use?

There are several websites filled with research and opinions when it comes to cancer, sun exposure and sunscreen ingredients. Here’s a dirty little secret that you may have heard but it bears repeating. There is some evidence that some of the sunscreens themselves may cause skin cancer. Should you wear a SPF 30-50 sunscreen to safeguard every inch of your body from the damaging UV rays or should the real cause of cancer fears be the sunscreen ingredients themselves?

The EWG’s Guide to Safer Sunscreen 2014 chose the sunscreens that should NEVER make it into your suitcase, beach bag or backpack.

No spray sunscreens
No super high SPFs
No Oxybenzone
No retinyl palmitate
No combination sunscreen (bug and sun protection), powders or towelettes
No Tanning oil

Here are the details:

No spray sunscreens
The super-popular aerosolized sunscreens may present serious inhalation risks. Even the FDA has expressed concern about the safety of these products.

Avoid products with super-high SPFs

Products with high SPFs may protect against sunburn but could also leave your skin unprotected to very damaging UVA Rays.According to the EWG’s 2014 report, fifteen of the sunscreens evaluated brag about SPFs higher than 50+. These products may give people a false sense of security. EWG’s recommends that consumers avoid products labeled higher than SPF 50 and reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours regardless of SPF.

No Oxybenzone

The chemical Oxybenzone is commonly used in sunscreens. It penetrates the skin into the bloodstream and performs like estrogen in the body. It also can trigger allergic reactions. Several studies have linked high concentrations of Oxybenzone and health harms. More than 40% of all beach and sport sunscreens contain Oxybenzone

No retinyl palmitate

When used at night cream this form of vitamin A is supposed to have anti-aging effects. But on sun-exposed skin, it may speed development of skin tumors and lesions according to government studies. Look out for your moisturizers too.

No combined Suncreen/bug repellant

It is best to skip products that combine different actions. WHY? Sunscreen needs to be reapplied frequently and studies suggest that combining sunscreens and repellent lead to increase skin absorption of the repellent ingredients.

No sunscreen powders or towelettes

They are already banned by the FDA but there are some still on the market. Why not to buy them? First of all, because of their dubious sun protection and second, any powders or aerosols are easy to inhale so they can cause lung irritation or other harm. Stay away from them.

NO tanning oils

Tanning oils offer very small sun protection if any. Don’t buy products with SPF lower than 15, nor those without ZINC OXIDE for UVA protection. Avoid titanium oxide too. Titanium dioxide has recently been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen ''possibly carcinogen to humans''.

For all these reasons and more, My Skin’s Friend has developed the perfect Organic-SPF 20 Sunscreen using organic zinc oxide and hand filleted Aloe Vera to really protect and moisturize your skin at the same time without compromising your health with added dangerous chemicals.

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...Organic Sunless Tanner

Stopping here first was a good call.

We used to enclose a printed version of this booklet with our tanner but we continually get suggestions and recommendations from the hundreds of customers who love this tanner so we decided to convert it to a more dynamic forum so you always have the latest information for getting the perfect tan.

One you learn these simple secrets, you can keep that sexy, natural looking tan all year long while you're also pampering your skin.

You'll get more than just a tan.

My Skin's Friend Sunless Tanner is on of the very few liposomal tanners on the market. It actually helps moisturize your skin as well as tanning it so it's like getting two products for the price of one.

These simple secrets will guarantee an even, natural looking tan

Getting an even, natural looking tan shouldn't be difficult yet we hear from customers who have tried so many sunless tanners on the market only to be disappointed in the look of their tan.

We set out to make the best organic tanner on the market and from the emails and customer reviews we get, looks like we've accomplished it.

If you don't get the perfect tan, let us help

Sure, we occasionally get a customer feedback that says they got streaks or some uneven spots but even then, we work with them to help correct those issues and start over. Without exception, the outcome is positive so I urge you to write to us if you experience anything but a perfect tan and let us help.

Getting an even, natural looking tan is definitely possible without covering your body with chemicals, baking in a tanning bed or enduring the funky smell most tanners leave you with.

If you follow these simple steps, you too will be sporting a tan so natural looking that your friends will ask you where you just vacationed!

First things first.

Don't rush the process o.k.?

You want a natural looking tan, not a cheap paint job right? Just like getting a real sun tan, it takes a little time and patience but the outcome will be well worth it.

My Skin's Friend doesn't tan you, it causes your body to tan itself. In fact, when you spray it on, you won't see any color because there isn't any in it. That's why it doesn't look fake like a lot of others but there are "secrets" to getting the best, most natural looking tan with it.

Before you spray, make sure your skin is clean and exfoliated.

Use a regular wash cloth, loofah or anything else you might already like to exfoliate with. I discovered this helps speed up the process because it starts with new, fresh skin cells, not the old dead ones. Don't scrub so hard that you cause an abrasion. Just a nice firm scrub.

Exfoliate before using My Skin's Friend sunless tanner

There are two reasons for this.

One, the organic tanner interacts with your skin to create the tanning process so the more fresh, clean skin it can contact (without oils or creams between) the faster, deeper and more even your tan will be.
Secondly, dead skin cells tend to get darker than fresh cells and may cause some spotting so your outcome will be much more even once you properly clean and exfoliate your skin.

When your done, dry off and go to the next step.

I put plastic grocery store bags on my feet from the ankle down to keep the tops of my feet from getting tan from the falling mist.

Some customers have told me that they apply a thin layer of cocoa butter or other natural lotion like MSF Sweet Potato, Melon Fresh or Honey & Aloe to theirs.

They also apply to elbows and knees because those areas tend to get darker faster and the lotion acts to help avoid that.

O.k. with those bases covered, it's time to apply the spray.

It is much easier if you have a friend who can spray you but almost all of our customers report they spray it on themselves with little problem. It might take a little practice to perfect it but it's done every day.

My Skin's Friend organic sunless tanner application

I apply it to myself most of the time but when I can get my husband to do it, it is easier to maintain a more even coverage.

VERY IMPORTANT. The main cause of streaks or runs is OVER SPRAYING.

Because My Skin's Friend sunless tanner is clear (no colorants or staining chemicals), it is hard to tell where you've sprayed.

For this reason, it is important to plan to cover in a methodical way to make sure you don't over spray and get runs or streaks.

Do right leg, left leg to thigh front.
Right arm, left arm front and sides.
Abdomen front (pubic bone to under neck unless you want au natural all over tan).
Then back from hairline to butt. Then back of left leg, back of right leg.

If you have someone applying the spray to you, have them hold the bottle about a foot from your body and spray evenly from side to side, making sure to get an even coat. Applying too much each time will cause runs and you don't want that or you'll have streaks. Just a very light coat works like magic.

RUN REPAIR TIP!

If you see a run or large droplets during or after spraying, don't panic. It can be fixed before the streak shows up.

Once you've finished your third and final application for that day, simply let the last coat dry a few minutes and then apply an organic lotion to the entire area to blend the overspray into the rest of the area. In almost all cases, this will completely eliminate any spots or streaks and you'll wake up with a very nice, even, natural looking tan.

Over spray also happens because you will swear you're not getting enough on you but I assure you that you are. We chose the very fine mister pump to make sure you get a very light application each time to prevent runs or streaks.

When one coat dries (which is very quick and can be accelerated with a blow dryer set to cool), apply the next one until you've sprayed three consecutive coats in one treatment. I know you won't feel like anything is happening but trust me, it is.

Once the third coat is dry, you're ready to get dressed. My Skin's Friend tanner won't color hair or clothes so don't worry about having to cover your hair or having it rub off on your clothes or bed linens.

Cover your whole body or the areas you want tan with that first coat and wait 3 minutes or so for it to dry. One of the things people love about it is that it dries very fast.

Repeat this process no more than three days straight.

Once you've done if for three days, STOP and wait for 48 hours for your tan to “mature” and show you the final shade. If you want to be darker, simply continue to apply it as above until you reach your ideal shade. Once that happens, you can usually maintain your tan with a once or twice a week application. Remember, you won't see the final results for 48 hours
after the final coat.

That's it! That's all you need to have a cool looking tan. And when people ask where you got your beautiful tan, tell 'em Tahiti!

If you have any problems, questions or tips you'd like to share with us and your fellow tanners, please contact us at support@myskinsfriend.com. We love hearing from our customers and always appreciate tips you've learned to help get the best looking organic tan under the sun.

Want to share what you've learned? Click here to send a link to this page to your friends!

Now, go show off that beautiful tan of yours!

My Skin's Friend Organic tanner

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