A common myth many people have is that dry skin leads to wrinkles & moisturizers can prevent them. Not true. Actually 90 percent of wrinkles are caused by the suns UVA light & sun damage is the #1 cause of premature aging in women & men.
Why is UVA so bad? Even at low-level exposures, UVA light erodes the skin's support structure, breaking down collagen, causing wrinkles & sagging. What's worse, scientists have found that UVA penetrates deep into the underlying support structure of the skin & is the culprit for most deadly melanomas. If you want protection from both UVA & UVB rays, check your sunscreen for at least one these 3 products: Titanium dioxide & zinc oxide or avobenzene.And make sure your skin protection has at least a an SPF of 15.
Your options for sun protection are SPF moisturizers, basic sunscreens or tinted moisturizers. Here, I run down the best of the best. Oh & don't forget to apply sunscreen to your neck!
- The Best Sunscreen in the World
For years you could not buy the best sunscreen in the world. But now you can. We've loved La-Roche Posay's sunscreen for months now & use it religiously, but we had to order it from Canada. Now you can find it in boutique drugstores in here in the US. Why does this sunscreen work so well? Because of the chemical 'Mexoryl,' well-known all over the world to protect skin from wrinkle-causing UVA rays.
How good is Mexoryl? "It produces a product which gives us almost perfect protection against sunshine," said Dr. Vincent DeLeo, chairman of dermatology at Columbia University to ABC News. Buy La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Lait SPF 60 online at www.zitomer.com.
- An A+ Sunscreen for Your Face
I've used Kielhl's Ultra Protection Water-Based Sunscreen Lotion SPF 25 for years. I slather it on every day under my moisturizer & foundation. It goes on smoothly & a bit sticky & you have to cover the resulting shininess with powder. Try the version with moisturizer. I didn't because it's an extra $15 or so.
- Best Body Sunscreen
Experts swear by Frog Superblock SPF 45. Its long-lasting lotion protects even the fairest of skin types.
- Best Facial Moisturizer with SPF for Dry Skin
Want your sunscreen combined in with your moisturizer? If you have dry skin, Eucerin Extra Protective moisture lotion SPF 30 is a solid bet. It contains the 'gold standards' of skin protection -- microfine zinc & titanium oxides. This will guard skin again aging UVA rays & skin-cancer causing UVB rays.
- Best Facial Moisturizer with SPF for Oily Skin
Don't like those heavy creams for your face? Try an oil-free, noncomedogenic sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. We like Dual Nature Face Protection SPF15 Skincare by Aveda 1.7oz
- Best Facial Moisturizer with SPF for All Skin Types
Moisturizers with SPF protection are great time savers. A great bet is L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Moisturizing Day Care SPF 15. But be careful, it's very thick. Another great bet is Clarins Hydration-Plus Moisture Lotion SPF 15, which combines sunscreen with Clarins' all-time bestselling moisturizers. A top favorite of dermatologists is Olay Total Effects UV Protection
.
- Best Tinted Moisturizers
Rona Berg, the premier beauty expert, lists her favorite tinted sunscreens in her book, 'Beauty, the New Basics.' They include: Clarins Tinted Moisturizer SPF 6 & Shiseido Tinted Moisturizer SPF 10
. Other good bets plugged by dermatologists in InStyle's annual best products list include: Clarins Tinted Self Tanning face cream SPF 15 (my personal fave).
| 