Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Sunscreen...Worth It


I have lived in California for twelve years. Before that, Russia. Even before that, Indonesia. I am sure I have accrued years of as of yet unseen sun damage from years in the tropics as a child, and more from college/post-college years spent at the beach unprotected. I don't have freckles or alot of moles, but somehow this last year really changed my perspective on sunscreen.

Now, I'm just quoting snippets from many a magazine article written on sun damage...but apparently, it is the biggest ager. The sun exposure destroys the collagen in our skin--and collagen provides the elasticity as it is a connective tissue. So, basically, losing collagen equals saggy skin. Yikes! And apparently, age spots don't appear until years after the sun damage. Yikes again.

I wish I could say my incentive to use sunscreen is medical, but--unfortunately--my motives are purely superficial. And, looking at babies' skin...so soft, because it doesn't have years of sun exposure wearing its elasticity away.

That said, I have upped the sunscreen on my face. My favorite is mineral sunscreen. It is supposedly waterproof, and shouldn't break you out. Sephora carries one made by Peter Thomas Roth, but I found it too drying. Everyday Minerals carries it as a finishing powder and it is like $6--so reasonable. I went with Colorescience, the original. A full size is extremely pricey, but a few websites, such as Beauty Bridge, carry a $7.50 sample size. So far I like it.

Colorescience Sunforgettable Trial Size

My mineral makeup also has SPF 15 in it, but I feel the need for at least SPF 30. And I hate when the sunscreen makes your face feel all greasy. That's why I like this guy:

Neutrogena Active Breathable Sunblock

I would really like to try MAC's Prime and Prep SPF 50. It looks amazing. I will let you know when I do.



1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thank God you are on the sunscreen boat. I got horrible sun damage on my face while pregnant. Was still wearing the sunscreen then, but not strong enough!