Posts Tagged ‘summer’

How To Properly Use Sunscreens

How do you know if you’re protecting your skin from the sun’s damaging UVA/UVB rays? Are they really that bad? What should you look for in a sunscreen? Why isn’t there an SPF in all the facial moisturizers?

Tanning is an interesting subject. Most people like the look but don’t want the damage. Most also don’t use sunscreens properly.

I walked past a tanning salon the other day. In the window was a poster of three bronzed, attractive people dressed as Doctors. The caption read “As Doctors, we know the importance of Vitamin D. That’s why we use tanning beds” or something to that effect.

The sun still does provide a good portion of our Vitamin D, but there’s still a lot of controversy about how much is necessary and safe.

Most people with lighter skin tones that live in fairly sunny climates can get enough from the sun with approximately 15-20  minutes outdoors, three times a week.  This amount varies depending on where you look. This amount is the average that I could find. There were some that swore you need MUCH more than that, and others that listed you could get an adequate amount from food alone. I like the moderation approach.

We’re going to go over the steps that are required to get the most out of your sun protection.

Why should you wear sunscreen everyday?

The sun emits lots of fun radiation. We all know about UVA/UVB, the chances of skin cancer and the awesome Right of Passage of your first (and hopefully only) peeling sunburn.

What a lot of people don’t realize is the slow, long term cosmetic damages that can occur. UVA/UVB actually break down collagen and elastin. Think of spandex that’s left in the sun: faded, thin and no stretch left to it. That’s what sun exposure does to your skin. Over time there’s no bounce back and you’ll see increased sagginess. It won’t show up for a few years though. So all those fabulous tans you get when you skin and body are already at their peak, will add futher damage to the natural aging process, speeding it up and increasing the effects.

On top of this you increase the chances of hyper-pigmentation and age spots. This is amplified if you use AHA products or whitening/lightening products on your skin and don’t protect your skin.

Unfortuntely once this damage has occured, it is very difficult to reverse. One of the most frequent complaints we see with facial cilents in spas is women coming in wanting to reverse 20 years of tanning with a few treatments and a cream they apply once a day. But they don’t want to stop the tanning. Sigh.

They like the darker skin and warm feeling, but don’t want all of the side effects that come with the habit.

What ingredients offer protection?

According to Health Canada there are two types of sunscreens, Physical and Chemical.

Physical sunscreens use small particals that will scatter and reflect both UVA/UVB rays. Usually they are titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Products that contain these require an NPN (Natural Health Product Number) from Health Canada in order to be able to claim the SPF

Chemical sunscreens use a variety of filters to absorb the rays and turn them into heat. More of them absorb UVB than UVA.  This list is longer and can be seen here on the Health Canada site. Any products that claim SPF and contain these ingredients must have a DIN (Drug Identification Number) on the packaging.

How do you use them?

The products need to be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure in order to have time to stabilize on the skin and provide protection. You should always apply sunscreen in a moderate to thick layer to make sure you get even coverage. Within 20-30 minutes of the first application, you should reapply. This has been found to give even better protection. Mostly becuase you’re more like ly to et the areas you missed the first time.

If you’re in the sun for any significant amount of time, you should re-apply every two hours. The chemical sunscreens absorb and do stop working. this is especially true efter swimming or heavy perspiring.

Physical sunscreens are quite popular right now in mineral makeups like Jane Iredale. They’re an easy way to get the protection on your face, wtihout the aggrevation of that most liquid/chemical sunscreens can do to the facial skin.  For heavy protection you really need to make sure you put on an even  and denser application to make sure you get everywhere. These are more resistant to water than the chemical ones are.

Still, extreme beaching may require a re-application.

Everyone should wear a minimum of SPF 15 whenever they are outside, even if it’s cloudy. Our goverment only recognizes SPF’s up to 60, it pretty much plateaus there.

What about when you have reactive skin an most sunscreens cause irritation?

I’m looking at you redheads. I often hear that certains brands cause rashes or irritation. This tends to happen on the fair-skinned which is unhilarious ironic considering they usually burn the quickest.

We’ve had great success with the B Kamins Sunbar UVShield. It’s fragrance and oil free. So it you have problems with other ones, this one usually works.

Why don’t all moisturizers contain SPF?

We get asked this all the time. If you read above, you would’ve come across the instruction that you have to reapply your SPF every 2 hours when outside. Most people would not want to go through their beautiful moisturizers that quickly. Plus it would be super pricey. The spa brands have realized this and usually just make moisturizers that moisturize.

Sunscreens have to go through a lengthy process to get approved by Health Canada. For companies to do that with every moisturizer everytime they make a new one and for people to only apply it once a day is just ridiculously inefficient. So suncare products are seperate.

You can also go the mineral makeup route.

Conclusion:

It really is in your best interest to protect your skin. It takes minimal effort. Once you find a sunscreen that works for your skin, just make sure to apply it before you leave the house. Then give yourself another slather once you’re out in the sun. Better yet, work that shade! Pale is in, didn’t you hear?

In 20 years, your skin will still be healthy, radiant and nice and firm (barring other naughty habits like smoking, dehydration, lack of sleep and unhealthy diet. Please also don’t use soap to wash you face. Use a face cleanser)

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

Getting Those Toes Ready For Summer! Learn To Love Your Feet

Finally it’s May. It felt like a long, gloomy winter. Those first few sunny days, that warm breeze. You open the closet, take out the flip flops, and then realize in horror that you’ve done little to no maintenance on those feet in months!

A hack job here and there on the nails, the occasional inspired heel filing, but that’s about it. Is that polish left over from your last pedicure for the Christmas party? Oh my.

Over the next couple of weeks we’re going to explore the best ways to take care of and maintain beautiful feet, the esthetician way! We’ll talk about tips and tricks that being in the industry has taught us over the years and give you guides on how to do everything from how to properly file your feet to how to apply french polish on your own toes. The steps to a pro pedicure will be broken down.

There are at least three estheticians in this office on any given day. Between us we have 16 years combined experience and thousands of pedicures. We know feet. I asked around to find out what is the more important thing they’ve learned about foot care.

Leanne (Manager, Esthetician for 8 years): “Try filing the feet when they’re dry, you’ll get a smoother finish”

Majida (Book Keeper, Esthetician for 6 years): “Always moisturize. Always. Go do it right now”

Sheena (That’s me. Social Media/Merchandiser, Esthetician for 3 years): Use a nail file on your toe nails. You get rid of those jagged edges that catch on socks and sheets and it makes a huge difference to the tidiness and look of the foot.

I always loved doing pedicures the best. They were like  mini, hour long art projects. It always broke my heart how insecure people could be, or how quickly others could grossed out. It was also consistently hilarious to hear from every client a variation of “Sorry my baby toe is so weird”.

We’ve seen everything from foot models, to the worst fungus and athlete’s foot. We’ve done pedicures on babies, to the elderly to paraplegics. Feet are amazing in their diversity and it’s the time of year to celebrate that!

So get out that foot file! Prep the nail file! Choose a saucy color that represents you as a person! We’ll help you establish an easy foot care routine that will have others noticing and coveting your look.

First things first. Go get a pedicure.

If it’s been awhile, leave the tough work for the professional. They have a better angle.

After that or if yours aren’t particularly bad, upkeep and maintenance are all you need.

Next Post: The Foot Soak

Visit www.spaboutique.ca for a wonderful array of foot care and nail care products!

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!