Posts Tagged ‘sunscreen’

The Top Nine Sunscreens, According to Consumer Reports

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

Consumer Reports top-rated sunscreensWondering which sunscreens are most effective for protecting your skin this summer? Consumer Reports has named nine top-rated sunscreens after testing 22 creams, sprays and lotions.

Three sunscreens earned a Consumer Reports “Best Buy” rating:

  • Up & Up Sport SPF 30
  • No-Ad with Aloe and Vitamin E SPF 45
  • Equate Baby SPF 50

Six other sunscreens earned a “recommended” rating:

  • Banana Boat Sport Performance SPF 30
  • Coppertone Sport Ultra Sweatproof SPF 30
  • CVS Fast Cover Sport SPF 30
  • Walgreens Sport SPF 50
  • Ocean Potion Kids Instant Dry Mist SPF 50
  • Banana Boat Sport Performance SPF 100

According to Jamie Hirsh, senior associate editor of Consumer Reports Health, the ratings are based on UVA and UVB protection and how well they did in water. All of the top nine sunscreens received excellent marks for UVB protection, even after water immersion. To test water resistance, sunscreen was applied to the volunteers’ backs, and they were then submerged in water for 80 minutes, after which they were exposed to UV rays.

The top nine sunscreens were also found to provide good protection against UVA rays — the rays that are linked with aging (i.e., wrinkling, sagging, brown spots).

The ratings also showed that an expensive sunscreen isn’t necessarily more effective. For instance, one product that was $18.82 an ounce got an overall score of 79, while No-Ad with Aloe and Vitamin E SPF 45 (a Best Buy) costs 59 cents an ounce and got a score of 89.

Fighting the Signs of Sun Damage

A good sunscreen is important to protect your skin from harmful rays, but if you already have damage from past sun exposure, there are treatments that can help. For example, Fraxel Restore is a non-invasive laser resurfacing treatment that reverses the negative effects of sun damage, reducing brown spots, wrinkles and other imperfections.

For more information on effective treatments for sun-damaged skin, contact the Center for Eyelid and Facial Enhancement in Seattle.

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Prepare for 2010 and Resolve to Take Better Care of Your Skin

Monday, December 21st, 2009

For the coming year, we want Seattle residents to stop procrastinating, stop making skincare_resolutionsexcuses and resolve to take these 9 steps toward better skincare.

1: Get yourself a series of microdermabrasion treatments to soften fine lines and acne scars, minimize or eliminate sunspots, stimulate collagen production and give your face a youthful glow. Go every 2 weeks or so for a quick microdermabrasion session and reap the full benefits of more even, younger-looking skin.

2. Commit to using sun block to protect your skincare investment. IS Clinical makes a great sunblock that won’t clog pores, make the skin feel greasy or cause unwanted breakouts. To prevent premature aging, blotchy skin and decrease your risk of skin cancer, use it regularly according the directions.

3. See a professional aesthetician for instruction on how to use the right skin care products in the proper order at the proper times. Don’t cherry pick in the drug store; buying every trendy new product that comes along just because you like the packaging. Instead, pare down, simplify and do the right thing. One aesthetician, one set of products chosen just for your particular skin, and one place to return to for periodic facials and replenishing of products. Got that? One. It’s called skin care monogamy.

4. Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can contribute to dark rings under your eyes, more pimples, ashy skin and a bad attitude. These are qualities that you won’t appreciate and no one else will either.

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Do I really need to wear sunscreen in the winter?

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Even in the winter, or on a cloudy, rainy Seattle day, you can be exposed to UVA/UVB rays.

You should get in the habit of protecting your skin with sunscreen on a daily basis. Choosing the right sunscreen for your face – one that addresses your skin type and skin conditions – is not always easy, but  the right sunscreen can prevent sun damage, skin problems, and skin cancer.  Harmful UV rays can damage skin cells deep within the skin’s surface, making your cells vulnerable to toxins (free-radicals) in the environment.

Our Favorite Sunscreen

My favorite sunscreen is IS Clinical SPF 25 treatment sunscreen. Because most IS Clinical sunscreensunscreens can be tacky when applied, many of my clients have been resistant to applying them every day. IS Clinical Treatment Sunscreen goes on so smooth you don’t even know it is there, even under your foundation.

IS Clinical treatment sunscreen will provide you with UVA/UVB broad-spectrum protection, reduce the appearance of erythema (redness), provide an antioxidant-rich protective seal, and may even soothe inflammation.

IS Clinical treatment sunscreen comes in clear and tinted formulas for darker skin (or if you just want a little extra color). The cost for one 8 oz. tube ranges from $33-36 and will last for several months.

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