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Sunscreen Tips

Soft Beautiful Skin---Forever

New research reveals that many of us aren't doing all we can to protect our skin from sun damage.   Here, seven super-easy strategies to achieve a healthy summer glow.

You wore the shades, you put on the block, you thought you were perfectly protected for a day outside. So why did the sun kissed look you were aiming for turn into painful, soon to-peel skin disaster?

According to Robin Ashinoff, M. D., chief of Dermatological and Laser Surgery at New York University Medical Center , you may have missed some vital safe sunning steps. “There are fine points of sunscreen application that many woman overlook, which, if corrected, can go a long way towards keeping their skin healthy,” Dr. Ashinoff says. To fine tune your pre-sun technique, make sure you're not making these all-too-common mistakes:

Oops! #1

Putting your faith in foundation

Using makeup with built-in sunscreen saves precious time and money, but even ones that can hide tiny flaws for hours might not provide lasting sun protection. A recent study found that within two hours makeup and its SPF shifted into facial lines and contours, leaving large areas unprotected.

Skin saver

To combat foundation creep, study author Zoe Diane Draelos, M.D. recommends reapplying every two hours. But since layering can leave you looking cakey, steer clear of liquid-plus-powder regimen you might typically do. Instead, reach for a creamy foundation in a compact, advises makeup pro B.J. Gillian (who favors Cover Girl AquaSmooth Makeup with UVA/UVB SPF 15). “When you do your touch-ups, the foundation liquefy's what's already on your face, so you can smooth it out without getting that mask effect.” She says.

Oops! #2

Using last year's leftovers

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, an unopened bottle of sunscreen will keep its effectiveness for up to three years. But open the bottle and its shelf life diminishes. “The chemicals in sunscreen don't last indefinitely; they break down over time,” explained Denver based dermatologist Gregory G. Papadeas, D.O., spokesperson for the academy. “That process can be accelerated when products are exposed to air and heat.” As a result the block you toted to the beach back in 2001 may pack less protection this summer.

Skin saver

If you just cracked your bottle last season (and the expiration date hasn't passed), put the contents to the test: Squeeze out a small amount, smooth it onto your skin and sniff. “If the consistency's changed from creamy to watery or oily, or it has an odd smell. It's time to invest in a new bottle,” Dr. Papadeas says.

Oops! #3

Ignoring half the rays

Some blocks offer only partial protection against sun damage. A brand that only boasts UVB protection, for example, will help prevent a burn but will leave you vulnerable to the UVA rays that can accelerate aging and make you prone to skin cancer.

Skin saver

For optimum insurance against the sun's ill effects, choose a brand that clearly shows that it contains broad spectrum protection (which means it's good against UVA and UVB rays). Dr. Ashinoff recommends a sunscreen that delivers zinc oxide and titanium oxide, their microfine mineral particles reflect and scatter both UVA and UVB rays.

Oops! #4

Waiting till the last minute

Slapping on sunscreen and dashing out the door doesn't give you instant coverage. “To be effective, sunscreen needs time to bind to the skin,” Dr. Ashinoff explains. “If you don't wait long enough between applying it and exposing yourself to the sun, you could sustain some damage.”

Skin saver

Allow at least one half-hour between application and exposure, she suggests. If you're always pressed for time, park your sunscreen next to the shower and apply it right after you've toweled off. That way it will have enough time to penetrate exposed skin before you embrace the sunshine.

Oops! #5

Being stingy with the stuff

It takes at least an ounce of sunscreen (enough to fill a shot glass) to cover the average bikini clad body. Skimping can result in an overly thin application that leaves skin exposed, and excessively rubbing in can amount to accidentally rubbing it off.

Skin saver

Avoid smoothing sunscreen between your hands before you apply: in a study published in Archives of Dermatology, subjects who did get a less that adequate coating, simply because much of the protection sank into the skin of the palms, for better protection, smooth it between palms only briefly, then lay it on thick. “You need to put on enough so it's initially visible; as it sinks in, it will fade,” says Papadeas. “ If you're rubbing it in, it's invisible from the start, you're probably not getting enough onto your skin for peak protection.”

Oops! #6

Missing your mark

Failing to coat key spots is common: In the article of Dermatology study, subjects applied sunscreen to their heads and neck, then researchers took fluorescent photos to check their work. The result: More than 50 percent of woman missed areas such as temples, ears and back of necks.

Skin saver

Be sure to cover those oft-missed areas, as well as others. “Most women could do a better job on their noses, hands, lips and hairlines,“ says Dr. Ashinoff. And if you're donning a swimsuit, pay special attention to the skin under and around the straps and waistbands, since clothing can rub off products that haven't penetrated.

Oops! #7

Thinking once is enough

University of Texas researchers found that up to two-thirds of beach-goers burn because they don't reapply, a must since sunscreen (even waterproof ones) wear off due to sweat, swimming and contact with clothing. And research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that people who waited two and a half hours before applying lotion were five times more likely to burn than those who did so every two hours.

Skin saver

For top-notch protection, reapply even more often: In a recent British study, people who did so after 20 minutes reduced UV exposure by 15 to 40 percent compared with those who waited two hours.

Post sun natural skin healers

After a day in the sun even if you put on ample sunscreen your skin has some major recovering to do. There are, three natural nutrients that can help you fend off damage:

Vitamin A (or its active ingredients, retonoid) has been shown in multiple studies to help prevent sun-induced wrinkles.

Vitamin C protects against burns and may even reverses sun damage, says research published in the Swedish Journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica .

Green Tea contains antioxidant polyphenols, which can prevent sun rays damage and possibly even reverse it, according to promising early studies

Sunscreen on demand

Double up at the drugstore and buy two bottles of sun block at a time. (If you hate waste, choose two small bottles instead of one large one.) Put one by the shower and the other In you bedroom, your purse, you kitchen…wherever you'll use it most. You'll save tons of time by not having to search for the bottles, and you'll be more likely to slather up if your sun block's within reach.

Eye Area Protection

Even when you wear shades, the sun can reach your delicate under eye area: rays bounce off eye glasses inner surface and hit the skin beneath. Plus, styles that don't wrap around may not cover the eye zone adequately. The results of too much sun so near your peepers? Premature crow's-feet and darker under eye circles.