I love that the new sunscreens come in a bigger 4 oz. tube!

Boy! I was too excited and squeezed out an extra big glob of sunscreen lotion.

Look how light and easy the sunscreen lotion spreads on my arm. It took literally seconds to smooth it in.

Tadaaaa! No thick white streaks were left on skin at all.

Active Sunscreen Ingredient:
Uncoated, Non-Nano Zinc Oxide 12%

Inactive Sunscreen Ingredients:
*Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Juice, *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes, *Sucrose Cocoate (from Coconut), Water, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Citric Acid (from Non-GMO Corn), Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate (from Radish), *Glycerin (from Sustainable Palm), *Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Extract, Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E), Gluconolactone (from Non-GMO Corn), Xanthan Gum, *Lecithin (from Soybean), Cellulose Gum.

* = Certified Organic
Total Organic Content: 87%

Other nifty things about this product:

• Non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores). Psst, it definitely did not clog my pores and I didn’t break out at all!
• Hypoallergenic (safe for the most sensitive skins).
• Biodegradable and safe for aquatic ecosystems.

Thoughts:

Just recently, Badger came out with a new and improved line of sunscreen lotions – from the Kids Sunscreen to the Aloe and the Baby Sunscreen, these new sunscreen lotions boast a moisturizing and easy to spread on skin formula! And it comes with a great level of SPF 30 protection!

I was so excited to get my hands on the new Badger Aloe Sunscreen, I squirted a big glob of it on the back of my hand as you can see from the picture above! And this is partially because I was expecting a hard and tough blob of sunscreen to come out of that tube. I am no stranger to thick and hard to spread natural sunscreens so I was thrilled that the Aloe Sunscreen Lotion is the exact opposite of that.I put a decent amount of sunscreen on my face and as I was smoothing it into my face, I was thinking about how easy it was to apply. I have tried other popular brands of natural sunscreens but I always end up with a thick, streaky, and white layer of sunscreen on my face. However, I saw the Aloe Sunscreen Lotion disappear easily and my face did not resemble a ghost at all.

The texture of the Aloe Sunscreen Lotion is my absolute favorite thing about the product. The sunscreen lotion really is a daily sunscreen that is both moisturizing and easy to apply. As for the fragrance, it’s very similar to the other kinds of natural sunscreens with zinc oxide in them. If that sort of fragrance is not your favorite, I suggest trying out the Kids Sunscreen which has vanilla and sweet orange essential oils in it! I am told that the Kids Sunscreen has a creamsicle fragrance to it and who doesn’t love creamsicles?!

I am so glad Badger came out with these new sunscreens. I was always put off from putting on natural sunscreens because of their thick texture and being an extremely lazy person, I never wanted to spend 15 minutes smoothing it on my face. However, I don’t fear putting on natural sunscreens anymore, which is a great thing because it’s starting to get sunny here in Chicago. I have my Badger Aloe Sunscreen Lotion to make my sunscreen routine a breeze!

Purchased: $15.29 (Sale Price) during Badger’s preview of their new sunscreens. It was 15% OFF! Original retail price is $17.99 at www.badgerbalm.com

Q: Have you tried Badger’s new sunscreens? How was your experience? Let me know!

by Amazon.com

No Need to Compare Prices Again, We Compare and Choose Low Prices to offer You Here!

Best Minute Offer by Amazon.com

Extra gentle and water resistant. Pediatrician tested. Helps prevent sunburn. Provides high protection against sunburn. Higher SPF gives more sunburn protection. Retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in water. Our kid friendly formula is gentle enough Cruelty Free Certified organic ingredients Extra gentle and water resistant. Pediatrician tested. Helps prevent sunburn. Provides high protection against sunburn. Higher SPF gives more sunburn protection. Retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in water. Our kid friendly formula is gentle enough Cruelty Free Certified organic ingredients … Show all Product Information by Amazon.com

by Amazon.com

by Amazon.com

No Need to Compare Prices Again, We Compare and Choose Low Prices to offer You Here!

Best Minute Offer by Amazon.com

Extra gentle and water resistant. Pediatrician tested. Helps prevent sunburn. Provides high protection against sunburn. Higher SPF gives more sunburn protection. Retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in water. Our kid friendly formula is gentle enough Cruelty Free Certified organic ingredients Extra gentle and water resistant. Pediatrician tested. Helps prevent sunburn. Provides high protection against sunburn. Higher SPF gives more sunburn protection. Retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in water. Our kid friendly formula is gentle enough Cruelty Free Certified organic ingredients … Show all Product Information by Amazon.com

by Amazon.com

by Amazon.com

No Need to Compare Prices Again, We Compare and Choose Low Prices to offer You Here!

Best Minute Offer by Amazon.com

Extra gentle and water resistant. Pediatrician tested. Helps prevent sunburn. Provides high protection against sunburn. Higher SPF gives more sunburn protection. Retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in water. Our kid friendly formula is gentle enough Cruelty Free Certified organic ingredients Extra gentle and water resistant. Pediatrician tested. Helps prevent sunburn. Provides high protection against sunburn. Higher SPF gives more sunburn protection. Retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in water. Our kid friendly formula is gentle enough Cruelty Free Certified organic ingredients … Show all Product Information by Amazon.com

by Amazon.com

“I wish I too was playing with them” I murmured to myself.

“What is stopping you from playing then” I hear a voice say.

I turned around to see who it is. She is Kyra who used to be my senior in college. I have seen her a couple of times in college. We have exchanged smiles but never spoken. .

“Hi I am Kyra.” She introduces herself.

“Hi I know, I have seen you in college. I was your junior” I reply.

“Oh is it. I am sorry I don’t remember seeing you. What’s your name?” she asks smilingly.

“I am Priya”.

“Nice to meet you Priya.”

She then said about her new job as an intern at an advertising agency, her family, the city’s traffic, her ever nagging boss and all the topics under the sun. For people passing by it must have looked like we both are best of friends catching up after a long time. She did all the talking and I did the listening. While I was listening to Kyra, I observed her carefully. I had to admit that she was very attractive. She had arched eyebrows complimenting her oval face. Her thick brown hair was tied into a pony. But what I found very appealing about her was her flawless skin. As I was lost in my thoughts, Kyra said “I hope I am not boring you with my stories”. “Oh no. Not at all” I manage to tell.

Suddenly Kyra asks “You still haven’t answered me. Why aren’t you playing if you want to?”.

I explain her that I have to attend a wedding in the family by the end of the week, and I get tanned if exposed to sun even for a little time and worse I even get sunburns sometimes! I came along only because my friends insisted to come. I tell her that I am not blessed with a skin like hers. She laughs as I say this. I think she is being too modest to accept my compliment.

“Priya I must show you something”.

“Ok” I say almost in a whisper unsure what it is that she would want to show me.

She picks up her bag from the ground and digs deep inside her bag. She finds her wallet and removes a photo from the wallet. She hands over a picture to me. The picture is of a teenage girl, the girl has striking resemblance to Kyra except for her complexion which is very dark unlike Kyra’s. I decide it must be her sister.

“Kyra, your sister looks so much like you”.

“No it isn’t my sister. It is me.” She says.

I stare at the picture in disbelief.

“I was very dark when I was younger. But then I have discovered the MAGIC” replied Kyra.

“MAGIC” I asked questioningly!!!

Image Courtesy : corallista.com

“Yes. And the Magic is my LAKME , I use Lakme Sun Expert Fairness +UV Lotion SPF 50 PA+++. This is the best. It protects your skin from the harmful UV and prevents sun burns.”

“But does it work” I asked apprehensively.

“Of course it does. Look at me” said a confident Kyra.

She passed her Lakme Sun Expert to me and asked me to apply. Then she had a few tips for me :

• Make sure the SPF of your sunscreen lotion is above 30.
• Apply sunscreen lotion at least half an hour before you go out so that your skin absorbs the sunscreen lotion
• Apply the sunscreen lotion every 5 hours.

I thanked her said I would follow her advice. She said that wouldn’t be enough. She said I introduce my friends to her we all play a game of volley ball. I reluctantly agreed. It was super fun! After volley ball we played water sports too. In spite of all the fun, I couldn’t help thinking of the wedding and the tanning. My thoughts were put to rest only after I returned home and looked at myself on the mirror. Miraculously I hadn’t tanned despite being in the sun the whole day.

I quickly rushed out of the house to grocery shop to buy myself a Lakme Sun Expert!

Thank you Kyra! You are my Sun Shine Girl!!!

This post is my entry to The Lakmé Diva Blogger Contest on indiblogger. 

Human skin color is quite variable around the world. It ranges from a very dark brown to a

near yellowish pink. The color of the human skin is determined by the quantity of melanin

present in the skin. When the quantity of melanin is increased, the skin gets darker.

ABOUT TANNING:

   Sun tanning or simply tanning is the process whereby skin colour is darkened or tanned.

This is a result of over exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation from the sun or from artificial sources,

such as a tanning bed. Therefore, it increases the production of melanin resulting in skin darkness.

Casual exposure to the sun has beneficial impact including the production ofVitamin D by the body;

but over exposure to ultraviolet rays has health effects, including possible sunburn, wrinkles on face

and even skin cancer.

SOME FACTS:       

As a matter of fact, in some Asian countries people take greater measures to lighten their skin

as much as possible. They think that skin gets darker if they exposed to more sunlight. But, this

is the opposite in the United States. Indoor tanning is very popular even though there are known

risks. Many people feel very strongly about the positive effects of tanning.

            However, to help you make up your mind whether tanning is really good or bad for

you, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of getting bronze skin.

ADVANTAGES OF TANNING:   

• One of the most obvious advantages of getting a tan is that it makes you look really

attractive. White skin is good, but sun-kissed skin is even better. If you want to get that healthy

glow, spend some time under the sun.

• Another good advantage of getting a tan is that you get a good amount of vitamin D when

 you spend some time under the sun. Vitamin D is important to help maintain the normal

functions of the body. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to several types of ailments. 

DISADVANTAGES OF TANNING:

•   Not everything about exposure to the sun is bad. Although a glorious tan can make you look

attractive, the effects of tanning is short lived. Depending on your type of skin, you are bound to

lose your tan in just a few weeks.

• Exposing yourself to the sun constantly to achieve that perfect sun-kissed look can actually

damage your skin. According to experts, skin that is constantly exposed to the sun tends to

age faster.

A lot of people who spend too much time outdoors often have premature wrinkles on their faces.

•   Another disadvantage of the tanning is that too much exposure to the ultraviolet rays of

the sun can cause certain types of skin cancers. Studies have shown that people who often spend

hours sunbathing are more prone to certain types of skin cancers. Note that tanning beds also

emits ultraviolet rays that can also be harmful to the skin and the body.

                   However, this sun exposure does a number to your skin (including drying it out), so it is

important to use a variety of different home remedies to ensure your skin is looking its best.

NATURAL HOME REMEDIES FOR TANNED SKIN:

                Normally after few days, the tan fades away on its own if you take certain steps. But if

you are in a hurry to remove sun tan and get back the original skin tone, there are several home

remedies that can help you to do so. Always remember that there is a big difference between a

sunburn and a tan.  

TOMATO WITH CURD:

• Tomato juice can help you as a better home remedy for tan removal.

• Mash half a tomato. Add some amount of curd and mix it well.

• Mix it well. Apply it on your hands and wherever you want to remove tan.

• Keep for minimum 20 minutes. Wash it off with water. Do it regularly for a week.(OR)

• People who are not allergic to tomato, they can directly apply the tomato without curd.  

• Alternately you can also apply a mix of grated tomato and a couple of drops of lemon juice

on your face and wash it off with cold water after 20 minutes.

LEMON:

• The acidic nature of lemon juice makes it a very good natural ingredient for fading or removing 

tanned skin.

•  Apply lemon juice on the affected area. You can rub a cut lemon directly on the skin.

• Allow the lemon juice to get soaked up by your skin for 15 to 20 minutes.

• Some people may face burning sensation or rashes when they apply lemon.

• So, its suggested to mix lemon juice with sugar and apply it.

• This is helpful if you have darker knees or elbows from sun exposure.

• Lemon juice mixed with glycerin is also great remedy for tan removal.

POTATO:

• Raw potato juice is the best natural remedy for tanned skin.

• It acts as natural bleach and will counter the effects of tanning.

•  Apply the juice directly on the areas of skin that have been tanned.

 

 

•  A mixture of potato juice and lemon juice in equal proportions can also help get rid of the effects

of the suntan.(OR)

• To remove sun tan, grate potatoes and sun dry it well.

• Crush it well and store in an airtight container.

• Whenever you want to remove sun tan, just add a little milk powder and make a paste with

 water.

• Apply it on your face and let it stay for about 15-20 minutes. Wash well.

YOGHURT:

• Mix yogurt with lemon juice and apply it on your skin daily before bath.

• This is one of the best remedy for reducing sun tan.(OR)

• Just take the plain fresh home-made yogurt and apply it on the skin.

 

 

• Leave it for 10 minutes, after that wash it off with cold water and apply a good moisturizer.

• I advise doing it at night before sleeping because I found it more effective.

• You can also use yogurt with honey if you have dry skin.

CUCUMBER JUICE:

• Cucumber juice can also be used as a natural bleaching agent in the same manner as potato.

• Applying peels or slices of cucumber on the skin can make a significant difference.(OR)

• Apply cucumber juice on your face for 10 minutes after tanning. 

 

• Vitamin C in cucumber juice can moisturize your skin naturally and helps you improve your skin

tone. You can also rub freshly cut slices of cucumber on your skin.(OR)

• Paste of cucumber and honey is also very useful for soothing the redness due to sun-tan.

ALOE VERA:

• Aloe vera gel is an excellent remedy for taking care of dark tans.

• Apply Aloe vera gel on your skin regularly to soothe the skin and remain hydrated.

 

• You can also go for an easy remedy; just take few leaves of Aloe vera plant and mash them.  

• Mix lemon juice in it and apply the puree to the affected areas.  It also helps to cleanse clear and 

OATMEAL:

• Make a paste of two teaspoon of oatmeal with half teaspoon curd and one teaspoon tomato juice.

• Apply this pack on your skin.

 

• Keep it for 20 minutes or till the time it gets dry. Then wash it away with water. 

• Use of natural scrub like oatmeal (add warm water to oatmeal, mix it well to form a paste) helps

 to remove dead skin cells and stimulate blood circulation.

CURD/BUTTERMILK:

• Curd is one of the best remedy to reduce tan.

• Apply curd on face for 5 min and wash it off.

 

• For more effective results add turmeric to curd and leave it on for 20 min, as turmeric is a 

natural bleach,this will make skin fairer.

• Buttermilk is another proven recipe to fade the sun tan. Wash you face with Buttermilk regularly

for a few days and you would notice the difference.

PAPAYA:

•  Papaya enzymes are one of the best effective for the removal of tan and pigmentation.

• You can rub raw papaya juice or even the ripe papaya pulp on the skin, as it is great for

removing the dark patches on your face.

TURMERIC POWDER AND MILK:

• Take 3 tablespoons of milk and add to it one tablespoon of turmeric powder.

• Apply all over the face or affected areas. Leave it to dry.

 

• Rub in circular motions and then rinse off.

• It not only helps to remove tan it also helps remove fine facial hair.

HONEY:

• The natural anti-microbial, and the anti-oxidant properties found in honey protect the skin from

the damaging UV rays.

• Take honey, curd and lemon in equal quantities and mix well. Apply it on the areas affected by

the damaging sun rays. Rinse with cold water after it dries completely.

• Add one  lime juice to two tbsp of honey. Mix well and apply on the sun burnt areas of the skin. 

• It comforts the burning sensation, and also helps lighten the skin color.

BESAN POWDER:

• In respect to all the above tips, Once in a week make a paste of Besan with 2tbsp of curd, a pinch

of Turmeric.

• And rub it well on your hands; massage it for 10-15 minutes.

• Don’t go out for an hour after doing this massage.

 

Besides these skin care tips for removing tanned skin, here are some tips that will help in

enhancing their effect.

• Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day, even on cloudy days.

•  Apply sunscreen thickly and frequently.  

•  Reapply sunscreen every 1½ to 2 hours and after swimming or sweating.

•  Wear clothing that covers your body or gloves to cover your hands.

• Wear a hat or carry umbrella to protect your head and face.

• Wear sunglasses that protect your eyes from UV rays.

Healthy Tanning!

 

 

Spruced up a bit to reflect the nature’s reds, oranges and yellows in my home…. leaving pictures with you to enjoy… it’s time for a cool bath for Baby Moina Gotta Go ….

Take care

Before buying the sunscreen just think that which sun blocker will give you the most bang for your buck. The higher the SPF, the better protection you will get against sun’s harmful rays. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) let you how long the sunscreen lotion will stay effective on your skin after applying. If you want to see how it works, multiply the SPF by how long it takes your skin to normally burn without any protection when exposed to sun.

For example: if it takes 10 minutes for you to burn, an SPF 15 will allow you to stay out in the sun for 150 minutes without burning.

Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 is suggested but research tells that an SPF 30 will give you more protection during the day. Also, you should apply sunscreen at least every 2 hours or maybe more depending on your routine.

There are two types of sun blocks available:

Chemical Sunscreen: They can absorb the Ultra Violet rays but at the same time bear the risk of developing different types of cancers.

Physical Sunscreens: They have active elements that reflect the injurious rays away from your skin.

Look for constituents like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, red petrolatum or talc. These are commonly used in physical sunscreens and helps in protecting the skin without any side effects.

You can go for any of the below sunscreens depending upon your skin tone:

Water and Sweat Resistance: If you do lot of exercise or swimming, you should go for this kind of sunscreen. In this, the SPF level stays effective for 40 minutes in the water. Very water resistant means it’s effective after 80 minutes of swimming. These sunscreens are not water-proof, so apply them after short intervals.

Kid-friendly Sunscreen: The skin of kids and children is very sensitive, so keep off sunscreens with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and benzephenones like dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or sulisobenzone. Kid’s sunscreens have lesser chemicals that are less likely to harm the skin, like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Sunscreen for Skin Problems or Allergies: Those who have sensitive skin or are allergic, they can use the sunscreen made for children. Try to avoid sunscreens with alcohol, fragrances or preservatives.

Happy Summer Time

Original by Michael Bloch of http://www.greenlivingtips.com/

The regular use of sunscreen lotion might provide some protection from sunburn, but it may also have quite serious health risks – for ourselves and the wider environment.

The sunscreen industry is huge – worth billions of dollars annually. It rose
to mega-profitability when a link was made between skin cancer and over-exposure to the sun in the late 60′s/early 1970′s. Yet the incidence of skin cancer
continues to rise even though these products are widely used.

The latest investigation by the Environmental Working Group of  over 1,700 sunscreens and other sun-blocking products currently on the market  found only one in five sunscreens earned high marks for safety and efficacy.   Leading brands were again this year among the worst offenders.

It’s quite disturbing what’s in some sunscreen preparations. Here’s a partial
list:

Aminobenzoic acid – possible  carcinogen may be implicated in cardiovascular disease.

Avobenzone – possible carcinogen

Cinoxate – some evidence of skin toxicity

Dioxybenzone – strong evidence of skin  toxicity and possible carcinogen; hormone disruptor and has been found in  waterways, soil and air.  Has been shown to have a “gender bender” effect in  animals

Diazolidinyl urea – possible  carcinogen, endocrine, central nervous system and brain effects, skin toxicity an compromises the immune system

Ecamsule – may be carcinogenic

Homosalate – endocrine disruption

Methylparaben – interferes with genes

Octocrylene - found to be persistent and bioaccumulative in wildlife, liver issues and possible carcinogen

Octyl methoxycinnamate – accumulates in the body, may disrupt liver and is a possible carcinogen

Octyl salicylate – broad systemic effects in animals at moderate doses

Oxybenzone – possible carcinogen and contributor to vascular disease, may affect the brain and nervous system in animals

Padimate O – suspected carcinogen

Phenylbenzimidazole – possible carcinogen

Phenoxyethanol – irritant, possible carcinogen, endocrine disruption

Sulisobenzone – strong evidence of skin toxicity, affects sense organs in animals

Titanium dioxide – suspected carcinogen when in nanomaterial form

Zinc Oxide – bioaccumulative in wildlife, evidence of reproductive toxicity

Fragrances, colors and preservatives – I hate to think

To prevent skin cancer, we need to slap on potentially carcinogenic compounds  and chemicals that interfere with our immune and reproductive systems and that also pose a risk to the wider environment?

Millions of gallons of sunscreen is consumed each year.  After application, it
doesn’t mysteriously vanish – it winds up either soaking into our bodies and
accumulating there or is excreted (into the environment) or washed off; again -
into the environment.

I’m now a little cynical about the claimed benefits of sunscreen.  Sure, it  may stop us from burning; but isn’t that nature’s way of telling us “get the  heck out of the sun and don’t stay out here this long again”?  And aside from all the chemicals, does it actually stop melanomas, the most dangerous type of skin
cancer, from forming?

Nobody has proven that sunscreen helps protect against melanomas as far as I
know. In fact, some of the advice from researchers I’ve read basically states;
“we don’t know, but you should keep using sunscreen – just to be safe”. How safe
are we in applying these chemical cocktails?

One of the other problems with sunscreen is in order to be effective against
less serious forms of skin cancer, you need to use a lot of it, and far more
often than what the manufacturers recommend and regardless of what the SPF
rating is.

If you’re in shorts and a t-shirt and working up a bit of a sweat, the amount  you’d need to use over an 8 hour period is the equivalent to a 100 ml or 3.5
ounce tube.  Imagine if you worked outside each day and followed “best practice”
sunscreen application – it would cost you a fortune, not to mention having
applied many pounds of toxic chemicals to your body every year. Let’s not forget
about all that packaging too – mainly plastic tubes and pump packs that wind up
in landfill – millions of them every single year.

By using sunscreen, are we swapping the risk of one type of cancer for more
serious kinds, plus other health and environmental problems?

After many hours of reading on the subject; the cheapest, most earth friendly
and proven sunscreen solutions I could find are:

- stay out of the sun
- stay out of the sun especially between 10 and 3pm
- if you have to spend time in the sun, cover up, wear a wide-brimmed hat and uv sunglasses.

It’s basically all just common sense.

I did come across earth friendly products that contained herbs and oils to
replace some of the chemicals listed above, but I’m really not confident after
the studies I’ve read as to how effective these might be in terms of preventing
melanoma or other forms of skin cancer. There’s also the issue of micronized and nanoparticle ingredients which are still often found in otherwise greener  products. The Environmental Working Group has listed what it believes to be “good” sunscreens here; but even they say “the best sunscreen is a hat and a
shirt”.

Some people just aren’t meant to spend lengthy periods in the sun – and light
skinned Caucasians are a group most at risk. People with lighter features are 20
times more likely to develop melanoma than African-Americans.

Perhaps it’s just another case of us needing to work with the environment
instead of trying to beat it all the time.

One of my biggest concerns when using sunscreen has been wearing make-up over it.  Not infrequetly, foundation, powder or blush would turn dark and orangy when applied over sunscreen treated skin.  Looking at this photo, I can’t imagine where I would actually put the make-up.  Clearly this one tablespoon idea is not something that too many experts  have personally  tried out. 

Other experts  are suggesting a teaspoon or nickel size  blob of sunblack for the face. Moving on, I measured out one teaspoon of sunscreen and started  to put it on my face.  Starting near my eyes, I applied the cream to the sides of my nose and smoothed it over my chin and cheeks– and there it  sat.  And sat.  Rather than looking like frosting, it was more like mime make-up–  a hard look to  carry off.  I decided to see how long it would take to absorb.  After about 30 minutes, I still  looked a bit shiny but no longer like a mime wanna be.  I tissued off the excess and brushed on some mineral make-up.   It turned a bit darker,  but not something anyone else would notice. 

Maybe I’ve got a smaller than average face or my skin is not dry enough to absorb that much product, but one tablespoon for the face is ridonkulous.  One teaspoon  seems reasonable, if I  allow 30 minutes for absorption.  How much sunscreen do you use on your face?  Any appliction tips?  I’ve worked hard  to erase years of  sun aging and  I want to keep those gains.  Any  suggestions?

The wristbands can be hard to find, but I found a cache at a K-mart  near NYU. I still have twenty left, so email me if you want  one.  And  let me know  how they worked for you.

Here’s how they work:  When I  first put them on, they turned a bright  purple.  After an hour wandering around a flea market, they faded to a lighter  lavendar, an indication I should reapply sunscreen.  ( see  first photo).

After another hour gardening, they were  almost yellow, an indication I should get out of the sun.  (second photo).

It showed me that I am getting some protection from my 1/2 teaspoon of SPF30, but should crank it up to a higher SPF and try to get a bit more sunscreen on to my face.  Not a full tablespoon,  but certainly try to work in a bit more.

The wristbands are called UV Sunsense.  Sephora does not carry them, but they are available nationwide at Kmart and Leslie’s Swimming Pool supplies.  Locally they are found at select pharmacies and a number of dermatologists in Florida actually sell  them in their offices.   You can go on line at UVSunsense.com to see where they are available in your area. In New York City, they are at Zitomar, the legendary Madison Avenue pharmacy where a package of  7  strips runs about $10.   You can  order them  on line there   at  zitomar.com. 

At  a little more than $1/ strip they may be    too pricy to wear every day, but certainly are perfect for a day  on the beach .  I think they are also wonderful  for children, making it a fun way  to deal with sunscreens.  They can see when its time to  reapply sunscreen  or get out of the sun. Its certainly a step up from  chasing them around a pool with a bottle of suncreen.

This weekend I am going  on a picnic in Central Park with my RWA  writing group and  will test out  a new sunscreen ( SPF70) on a UVSunsense wristband.

It certainly makes you wonder how the “experts” came up with their recommendations.  Did any of them ever actually try out this quantity  before issuing the one tab guideline.  Seriously!  Not only did I look  like Bozo the Clown, my skin began to burn and itch.  I was so uncomfortable, I was gritting my teeth until I could take the shot and  rush to wash it off.

Even more troubling,  the SPF’s of a product are reportedly based on using one tablespoon on a face.  Since  it creates such a cream pile-up, I might as well wear a ski  mask for sun protection. I did a little more research and found that some dermatologists are  suggests using one teaspoon or a nickel sized dollop–  a much more realistic quantity.  I tried these out  and will post photos  tomorrow showing  what one tablespoon, one teaspoon and what I actually use, look like on my face.

Here’s how it works:  SPF stands for “sun protection factor”.  An SPF 15 means that you can stay in the sun 15X longer without burning.  If you start burning after 10 minutes  of sun exposure, then a 15 SPF  means you can spend 10 x 15 =150 minutes in the sun without burning.   But this sounds better than it is.

Many factors affect how much sun protection you actually have in real time– how much you use, if you’re near water or sands which reflects light,  as well as heat, humidity and time of year.  To me the most interesting things I learned is an SPF 30 is not twice  as good a 15 SPF.  Who knew?

I think that the best way to view an SPF is as proof that this product has actually been tested  and has shown to offer an acceptable level of sun protection.   Most doctors recommend an SPF 30 as a minimum for daily facial  and body use.  If you are spending at least  an hour outside in the sun, this rises to an 40-50 SPF.  The  jusy is still out on how well  higher ( 60-100 SPF) deliver.

Finally keep in mind that sunscreens  are not cumulative.  For example, if you use a moisturizer with a 15 SPF and a 15 SPF  foundation,your acting SPF is still 15, not 30.  Your total  SPF  is only as high as your highest SPF. For more information on sunscreens, click on 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic on my blogroll.  This beauty blog has currently is posting a great series on sunscreens including reviews  of specific  suncare products.   

Let the summer games begin.

For more information on sunscreens, click on 15minute beauty fanatic on my blog roll.  This beauty blog has a great series on sunscreens, including tips on a wide range of products.

Age spots are small irregular marks on the skin that start appearing as one grows older. These spots occur primarily because of exposure of the skin to sunlight over the years. Disorders in the proper functioning of the liver and nutritional deficiencies can also trigger the appearance of age spots. Consuming antioxidants through your diet is an effective way of preventing age spots. Also, you must make it a point to apply sunscreen lotion whenever you go out into the sun, as this helps a lot in the long run to stop age spots from appearing.

There are quite a few simple home remedies that you may follow to prevent the appearance of age spots. One of the most effective natural ways of making age spots less prominent is to extract the juice of an onion by grating it finely, mixing it with an equal amount of apple cider vinegar and dabbing the affected areas with a cotton ball soaked in this mixture. Daily application of this solution will help reduce the age spots gradually, in a month’s time. Alternatively, you could also drink a mixture of two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a liter of water every day. A tablespoon of honey may also be added to this solution for making it taste better. Massaging the affected areas with the juice of a fresh lemon is also known to be of use in treating age spots, as the juice’s acidic property has a bleaching effect on the skin that evens out irregularities in skin pigmentation. It is also believed that applying castor oil directly on the age spots every morning and evening helps fade them in a few weeks. For similar effects, you could also apply aloe vera juice on the affected areas twice every day. You should also massage your skin with vitamin E oil, preferably just after a bath, regularly to reduce the prominence of age spots. Dabbing the skin with buttermilk is also a popular remedy for age spots, since the lactic acid present in it removes spots and makes the skin look smooth and even in tone. For another remedy, soak a few chick peas in a little water for half an hour, then mash them to a fine paste and smear this on the age spots. Leave it on till it dries naturally and then gently wash it off with water. In addition, rub the spots with a small piece of garlic at bedtime every night to get rid of age spots.

1. The sun will burn your skin wherever you don’t put sunscreen lotion on or wherever you do not cover your skin up. Even if the part of your body is an odd location such as the backs of your knees, if it is not somehow blocked by the sun, it will get burned. 
2. Tanning only happens if you’re lucky and a practiced sun-tanner.
3. Do not sleep perpendicular on your bed, lying across the width, with your head butt-up against the wall; unless you want major pain in your neck for the next few days.
4. Driving on I-495 is usually in an East-West direction, but not in ALL places. Beware of the few times 495 goes North-South and plan accordingly ahead of time.
5. There are a billion different ways to drive out to the Delaware Seashore, but if you drive past the Sussex Correctional Institution; you are lost. 
6. Smirnoff Green Tea is an amazing drink.  
7. So is Mike’s Hard Lime.
8. Also, if you have never tried a Key Lime Pie Martini; you have not yet lived.
9. Eating 3 types of breakfast meats (scrapple, sausage, and bacon), plus hot dogs for lunch, might make you sick.
10. Sonic is worth stopping for.

Our new products are:

• Bath Bombs – $4.25
• Shave Splash – $5.25
• SPF 20+ Sunscreen Lotion – $7.00

Soap Crop Bath Bombs come as 1.4 oz. bath bombs/fizzies and are sold in packages of 3 per package. The Shave Splash, which is our product to use after shaving, comes in a brown-tinted glass bottle. The Sunscreen is actually our super selling lotion with a SPF 20+ sunscreen added.  The Bath Bombs and Shave Splash are custom made with your choice of fragrance and color or fragrance and color-free. The Sunscreen comes in a 8 oz. tube and can be ordered in your choice of fragrance but will only come in a white color.

These items have not been added to the website yet but are available with a call or email to Soap Crop. Check out the website at http://soapcrop.com for contact information.