Canadian Beauty

HI!  Just your local #beautyblogger reminding you that even though it may be cloudy outside, and even though the forecast calls for intermittent showers, and even though you feel as if it should be much warmer than it is outside, you still need to wear sunscreen.

I send out that reminder after reading the results of a survey commissioned by the AVEENO and NEUTROGENA.  The results of the consumer survey were as follows:

• One in three Canadians does not see tanning as a risky behaviour
• Over 60 percent (61%) of Canadians think they look healthier with a tan
• Almost 50 percent of Canadians (48%) think it’s important to get a base tan before a vacation in
order to avoid sunburns
• Over 50 percent of Canadians (54%) think that it is fine to tan as long as they do not burn
• 69% of Canadians work under the impression that skin cancer is correctible if it is detected early
enough
• One in every four Canadians does not use sunscreen
• Only one in every 10 Canadians has ever had a skin cancer screening from a dermatologist

If you’re one of those people that like tanning, just remember that a tan means that sun damage has taken place, so even though you might feel like you look healthier, your skin is actually not healthier.

And while I’m sharing information, take into account these nuggets of wisdom from “Cosmetic’s Cop” Paula Begoun:

• There is no such thing as a safe tan, whether it is from the sun or a tanning booth/bed.
• UVB rays from the sun cause sunburn.
• UVA rays from the sun are silent killers because you don’t feel them but they are the primary cause of skin cancer, wrinkles, and a weakened immune system. (UVA rays even penetrate through clear glass windows that do not have a UV coating.)
• Even on a cloudy or hazy day, all the sun’s rays are present and damaging your skin.
• Sitting in the shade or wearing a hat only protects against a portion of the sun’s rays.
• Surrounding surfaces such as water, sand, cement, and grass reflect the rays from the ground to your skin giving you a double whammy of exposure.
• Altitude is a sun enhancer: For every 1,000-foot increase in altitude, the sun’s potency increases by 4%. Don’t forget the sunscreen when you’re skiing!
• A product’s SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number is a basic indicator of how long you can stay in the sun before getting burned.

(Read more of Paula’s Sun Sense here.)

To that end, check out my new favourite sunscreen so that I don’t get a tan: Aveeno Protect and Hydrate Lotion Sunscreen with Broad Spectrum SPF 30.  This sunscreen is for face and body, and so of course, I tested it on both.

Right out of the tube, the lotion is thick and white and super creamy – which is fine for something you’re going to put on your body, but maybe not for something you want to put on your face.  After all, with summer’s humidity and potentially sweat-inducing temperatures, you want something lightweight on your face because it’s less likely to clog your pores, and let’s fact it: if you’re less likely to feel it on your face, then you’re more likely to use it often.

Well, I’m happy to report that although the lotion looks thick, when you start rubbing it into your skin, it actually feels watery in consistency and is easily smoothed over skin.  It absorbs in a matter of minutes and ends up being a powdery finish that you can’t see or feel.  Whether you choose to top it with makeup or leave your skin as-is, you’ll actually forget that you’re even wearing sunscreen – that’s how light-weight this lotion is.

The sun protection this lotion provides is broad spectrum (as stated on the label) which means that it protects from both UVA and UVB rays – you’ll prevent sun burn and skin damage.  Though the lotion is basic – there are no antioxidants in it – I still use it daily because I apply antioxidants at night time anyway, and a basic lotion is fine for my face and body.

And as for the “Hydrate” in the name of the sunscreen – I will say that despite the matte finish, this lotion is definitely not drying (sidebar: have you noticed that some super greasy sunscreens leave your skin feeling really dry?), and my oily skin gets enough hydration from it that I don’t need to use a moisturizer during the day, I can just apply this sunscreen.

Pick it up at food, drug, and mass merchandisers for $14.59.  It also comes in SPF 45 and 60, but I have not tried those.  My guess is that the higher the SPF, the less lightweight the lotion is, but if you need better sun protection then go for one of those.