What is SPF?  How to Choose a Good Sunscreen

With millions of people suffering with skin cancer or sun related skin damage every year, the use of sunscreen is more important than ever before. The good news is more people are becoming aware of the risks associated with sun overexposure and are taking the necessary steps to protect themselves in the future. The even better news is there are a multitude of products on the market which make it very easy to take care of your skin and protect it from the sun’s damaging rays. However, many people are quite confused over which sunscreen they should purchase and use. There are many confusing terms often used on sunscreen packaging which make it difficult to know what can protect in the most effective way.

What Is SPF?

SPF is an acronym which stands for Sun Protection Factor. Bottles with higher SPF numbers will protect better against harmful UVB rays from the sun. Basically, the SPF number is an indicator of how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For instance, if a person usually gets burned in 15 minutes, a lotion with SPF 15 protection would allow them to stay in the sun 15 times longer (or for 225 minutes) without burning.  It’s recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology that everyone wear a product with at least SPF 15. Of course, some people wonder if this means an SPF of 50 will protect loads more than lotions with SPF of 30. However, this is not necessarily the case. A lotion with SPF 50 only protects about 2% more than a lotion with SPF 30.

UVA and UVB

When you’re looking at lotions and sunblock products, be sure to check out the protection they offer from UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are those which result in the aging of the skin and they may cause skin cancer. Without UVA protection from Coppertone lotions or any other sunscreen lotion, you’ll get more wrinkles. Thus, one factor to think about when choosing your daily makeup or moisturizer is whether or not it offers included UVA protection. Neutrogena offers high rating products to help you combine both makeup coverage and skin protection in one. UVB rays are those which can also give sunburn and are related to the cause of skin cancer.

Waterproof Sunscreen

While years ago white zinc oxide was required for beach goers, today there are many options when it comes to skin protection. You no longer are forced to look like a clown to get ultraviolet protection. Instead, you can now find waterproof sunscreen to help you be able to frolic in the ocean or at the pool without worrying about sun damage. Be sure to look for a type that is both noncomodegenic and hypoallergenic. Also be sure to remember most “waterproof” lotion provides up to 80 minutes or protection but “water resistant” lotion might only give up to 40 minutes of protection.

With so many great products on the market for every day skin protection, there is no excuse to not protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Skin damage from the sun not only causes cancer but it can also cause things like early aging of the skin and wrinkles. While cancer is much more terrifying to consider, most women aren’t motivated to protect themselves due to it because they think it will never happen to them. However, all women are concerned about wrinkles so take action today and protect yourself from both!

When people compliment me on the way I look I am not embarrassed to talk about the treatments I’ve had.

I’ve had botox, lip plumping, Sculptra, laser treatments. To me it’s about looking your best, and I tell my clients there’s nothing wrong with that.

My skin however, I’ve always been a bit obsessive – the roots are in my spotty youth which really never went away. If I’d been born with plump, flawless skin – yes I’d have been very lucky.  The most youthful asset any woman can have is a peaches and cream complexion.

My philosophy to ageing is yes I’m older but I want to look fresh – if I look tired – I feel tired!

Don’t you feel the same!

So back to the skin – How did I improve it?  Well systematically and externally.

That means a great new antibiotic combination from the states and yes exfoliation, exfoliation and exfoliation!

How do we exfoliate?

1. Good skin care based on alpha hydroxyl acids, antioxidants and our own secret chemistry ‘Skinscription’
2. Regular peels – all naturally based with minimal downtime
3. IPL facial – a great solution for pigmentation, sun damage, red veins and collagen stimulus
4. CO2 laser – yes after this my skin transformed Yes, healing did take a couple of weeks but I’ve never looked back.  The CO2 procedure made me fearless of any cosmetic procedure – but as I always say, no pain –no gain

Ok we all look in the mirror and know what bothers us, but is it possible to enhance what we’ve got simply without big costs and instantly? Well here are my top tips for all you at home.

1. The eyes have it
Lashes that are instant, easy and yes if need be you can do it yourself. Add instant glamour by simply adding a few extensions to the outer corners of the eye, producing a lifting appearance to the outer lids…

2. Brows
Take a look in the mirror, as we age what happens is the hair thins and lightens. So how did we forget those brows.
You can dye and even tattoo them back but for instant and simple solution simply use a soft kohl pencil and colour them in, even if you’re a blond. Go on try one and what do you think?

3.Lips….thinner lips, loss of definition and lip line yearn for Restylane

…well an instant trick I learnt from my makeup artist friend Wendy was apply a small amount of illuminator along the outer body of the lip apply a soft lip line and then a clear gloss instant definition volume and youth .

4. Skin
Need a polyfiller for those imperfections…yes simple use a light reflecting primer under any foundation to smooth soften and perfect any imperfection

5. Hair….lack of lustre, drab, need an instant lift? Then use Moroccanoil.com Yes a small application all over and at the roots gives instant smoothness, shine and defrizz all in one

Follow the 5 steps above and let me see your results….guaranteed results

Great research by realself.com

Showing that the desire for cosmetic enhancement is certainly increasing

What do I say?  Yes, yes, yes.

Teeth whitening, wrinkle reduction, body shaping including cellulite reduction is a ‘want’ treatment – this is definitely evident on the streets of Britain.

Why because the price for the consumer is better, the results instant and in my experience it makes the patient certainly look better and feel better.

article – http://www.aestheticmedicinenews.com/new-survey-shows-interest-in-cosmetic-surgery-is-up-body-contouring-and-antiaging-procedures-top-the-list.htm

I have read an article today in ‘Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetics Guide’  on act on your age – yes, informative but from my point of view the treatments they advise are far too late.  In the article it talks about skin changes and ageing and by the age of 60 it slides.  In your sixties I would recommend all of the treatments, in particular volume replacement in the cheeks.  What would I recommend – well, I would start this at 30 years old if necessary,  I myself at the age of 34 some 6 years ago started to have the product ‘Sculptra’ to re-volumise and lift the mid part of my face.

Sculptra is a product which is injected and promotes your own collagen production. I love this idea – I love this product.

And I’d rather be an avid EDUCATED AGE PREVENTOR than a deflated 60 year old age preventing fire fighter

Prevention is better than a cure.

Products are reliable, enhanced and in the case of Sculptra, clinical studies released in the USA show results can last as long as 25 months.

Of course a whole face approach is required

Unilevers latest round of research – fuller lips really do make you look younger.

Get Lippy

Totally agree – lip enhancement and augmentation really does make patients look younger, feel better and most of all gives them the confidence to smile.

I’ve used all types of lip fillers, Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm. However, I always use a semi- permanent one – for example, one that doesn’t last forever. Why? Simple, a lip enhancement or augmentation should be produced to be in harmony with the rest of the face, to look natural.

We all age, whatever magical treatments, lotions, potions or surgery we may have – age is inevitable. So a set of lips placed permanently at the age of 21 may not look quite as good at 50! Think about it – Jackie Stallone.

So my advice – use a product that’s simple, safe and effective – always ensure its pain free – yes it can be. Ask your practitioner for a local anaesthetic – most important ladies and gents – keep it natural, keep it semi-permanent (you are much better having it enhanced every 6 months or yearly, but most of all keep them in harmony with the rest of your face.