Sunblock. Your Most Important Cosmetic

Your Most Important Cosmetic? Sunblock by a mile!

Are you a skin care junkie? Is your bathroom closet overflowing with bottles and jars? Does the content of these bottles and jars actually do anything to improve your skin?

My guess is "sometimes". We all get seduced by promises of younger looking skin or banish wrinkles overnight. But the sad fact is a lot of the pretty looking products out there do not do what they promise and the wrinkles, acne, broken veins or whatever ails you is still there the next morning.

There is one cosmetic that stands head and shoulders above the rest - Sunblock.

Sunblock is the best preventative of aging skin you can buy in a bottle. It won't make you look younger in a few applications, you need to use it regularly - like every day - but over time it will make a tremendous difference to the appearance of your skin.

Sunblock can be found as lotion, gel, roll on, or spray. If you're on a tight budget you can usually buy a bottle for just a few dollars from a supermarket or drugstore. Test it on an inconspicuous part of you first in case you have an allergy to it! This is more important for the cheaper brands.

Use sunblock even if its cloudy outside. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can penetrate clouds by up to 80%, yes even if its raining. If you're driving, UV rays can penetrate glass, they can also be reflected off glass or water.

And don't just use sunblock on your face. Put it on your hands, feet, arms or whatever bits of you that are not covered up. This is not just for appearances, sunblock can prevent potentially fatal skin cancers and melanomas from developing.

Even if you have never used sunblock and you've already developed premature aging, its not too late! Regular use of sunblock and staying out of the sun can actually reverse some of the damage.

Make sure you use a sunblock which has a sun protection factor (SPF) of over 15 and apply it fairly generously for best results. Its also best to apply at least 20 minutes before venturing out.

Remember - prevention is better than cure!




www.just-natural-skincare.com
Source: http://EzineArticles.com Wendy_Owen

How to Apply Sunblock

Sunblock on? Check.

UVA/UVB protection? Check.

SPF 45,000? Check.

Ready to hit the beach!

Err, not quite. Wearing sunblock (also called sunscreen) is like taking a multivitamin: people use it, think they're safe, and don't realize that it's possibly doing them no good whatsoever.

A bottle of sunblock is your greatest weapon against wrinkles... IF you use it correctly. Let's give a primer on sunblock how to apply sunblock, shall we.

1. Wash your face. Thoroughly. Excessive face-washing is counter-productive, so don't overdo it. Simply run some warm (not hot) water, lather up some moisturizing facial cleanser (not soap) with your two middle fingers, and rinse. Pat yourself dry, but not too dry. Warm, moist skin absorbs best.

2. Do nothing. Let us make this very clear. For your sunblock to work, it has to be the FIRST thing you apply. If there is a layer of anything (makeup, moisturizer, toner, etc) between your skin and the sunblock, it won't work.

3. Apply sunblock liberally. You've heard before that using too much of something it a bad thing, but this isn't one of those times. Don't skimp on sunblock. It's amazing to me how people will try to save money by using less sunblock, and then spend $100 on an anti-wrinkle cream that does nothing for them. It's the SUNBLOCK where you should spend most of your money, since that is the best way to prevent wrinkles.

4. Do nothing (again). Your sunblock requires at least 10 minutes to absorb into your skin and dry up. It also takes about that long (maybe longer) to work, so don't go in the sun right away. Don't add anything to your face, whether it's water, moisturizer, or makeup, for 10 to 15 minutes. If you do, the sunblock won't work. Use this time to do something else, like your hair, or get dressed.

5. Repeat. If you're going to spend time in the sun, repeat this process every two hours. If it's just a day at the office, once will do, unless you plan on eating lunch outside.

6. Weather doesn't count. You need to wear sunblock every single day, no matter what the weather is like. UV rays shine right through the clouds, and you can still get sunburn in the rain or snow. Make it a morning ritual to apply sunblock first thing out of the shower.

7. Don't neglect your body parts. It would look strange if you were 80 and had very few wrinkles... except on your ears. When applying sunblock, don't forget your ears, hands, backs of your hands, other exposed body parts, and your lips. Of course, for your lips, don't use sunblock. Instead, use a lip balm with SPF 15. And let it sink in before applying that lipstick.

All these steps can be a pain in the rear, but your skin will thank you and reward you with fewer wrinkles. Make it part of your routine to do this, get creative, and you'll get used to it. The alternative (facelifts at 35) is far, far more of a pain than this.




Golden rules of sunblock.

-Use SPF 15. Any less will do nothing, and any more will add nothing.

-Block UVA and UVB. UVA ages you, UVB burns you. Most products only block UVB, which means you'll wrinkle like a raisin.

-Go bare. Apply sunblock on clean, warm skin. Make it the first product you use.

-Wait. Allow 10 minutes for it to absorb before applying anything else or going outside.

-Do it again. If spending time in the sun, re-apply sunblock every 2 hours.

-Don't go in the water. If you must, then use a real water-proof brand and re-apply when you're dry. Ditto for sweating.

-No sun? Who cares. Wear sunblock every day, no matter the weather.





www.YourAgelessFace.com
Source: http://EzineArticles.com Sofia_Moussier