You’re gorgeous. You love your skin and we wanna keep it that way! Or, like most of us, you’re a work in progress and with the right professional treatments & products, we’re hitting your goals. Either way, we wanna protect what ya got. And one of the best ways to do this is daily application of physical blocking SPFs before ya heat outdoors between 11am & 3pm.
Our Cali sunshine is glorious. It keeps our moods whistling & Vitamin D levels high. At the same time, those same sun rays break down everything they touch. Photo damage from UV exposure is the leading cause of physiological aging in our skin.
According to Mara, founder of SkinCare Lit: “Skin ageing begins a lot sooner than we think, cellular damage begins to occur as soon as our early 20’s from lifestyle and intrinsic factors. At the age of 25, we begin to lose 1% of the skin’s collagen content each year due to the slowing of cellular renewal. This is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of collagen lost per year which results in half a cup of collagen loss by the age of 45. Since collagen is the key component in the skin’s structure, it’s important to protect and rebuild it.”
Our goal with physical blocking SPF is to protect your skin so there is less physiological aging … and less to repair.
I say physical blocking SPF because we now know that chemical SPF can be harmful to our endocrine system and is horrible for our waterways, reefs and ocean life.
Physical blocking SPFs are naturally occurring minerals (typically Zinc & Titanium Oxide) that are mixed in various concoctions to sit on the skin so that they reflect the UV rays headed your way from the sun.
Now, what these minerals are mixed with is where we find differentiation in products. We want to apply ingredients that protect the skin’s barrier, have minimally invasive supporting ingredients, no perfumes (can actually increase UV damage), no harsh preservatives and no harmful fillers (it’s amazing how many useless ingredients get added to mass produced products for reasons that have nothing to do with effectiveness or skin health).
In future posts (and when we talk in the studio as well as do virtual consultations), we’ll dig into the importance of our skin barrier and how to heal & protect it. We can also discuss ingredients in serums and moisturizers that might boost the effectiveness of your SPF and the health of your skin’s barrier & immune functions (that’s how your skin works to keep the bad buggers out).
Before we get int the SPFs, here are a few more things your esthetician wants you to do:
- Do get outside & get Vitamin D!
- Your chest and legs are great areas to expose for max absorption
- Apply SPF about 30 minutes before heading out
- Reapply your SPF every 2.5 to 3 hours (more frequently if you are swimming/sweating/working out).
- Avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours (between 11am-3pm)
- If you must be out during peak times, seek shade.
- Hats are chic and big ass hats are all the rage (plus they offer protection).
- There are also SPF quality clothing that can further protect your neck, chest, arms & legs (plus areas that might be hard to reach with SPF).
Now, after all that, we get to the good stuff: my hand-selected, very favorite physical blocking SPFs. Most of my clients are familiar with these but here they are in a concise list.
To get any of these skin treats in your hot little summer-ready hands, email me at kenya@kenyabonvivant.com … and, if you’re in LA I’ll deliver post-haste.
Read on for SPFs that are soon to be your BFFs!
$30 I love the smell & easy application of Osmosis Protect. And, it offers blue light protection (from screens). Plus it’s loaded with antioxidants and oncology friendly. Protect the skin you’re in with this non-nano coated, zinc oxide-based sunscreen that offers sheer, long-lasting, and broad-spectrum coverage.
$38 Enjoy the sunshine guilt-free with enhanced protection that’s non-toxic and reef-safe. Sun Defense contains a clinically proven formula that reduces the damaging effects of UV exposure while allowing the health benefits of Vitamin D production. (also comes in a Bronzing version)
$9.99 TIZO® Tinted Lip Protection is the ultimate lip protection without the use of chemical sunscreen filters. Using only Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, TIZO® Tinted Lip Protection reflects the sun away from one of the most sensitive areas, the lips. Gentle kiwi, lime and ginger flavor.
$48 TIZO® AM Replenish is formulated with Zinc Oxide, Ceramides, and powerful Antioxidants (Vitamins C and E). Zinc Oxide protects against UV damage and Ceramides help restore the lipid layer. TIZO® AM Replenish helps prevent future UV damage and aids in the repair of existing damage resulting in long lasting moisturization.
$44 Tropical Topical Matte SPF is a sweet treat for the beach and everyday – SPF 30 protects you from UVA and UVB rays, while keeping skin smooth, hydrated and matte.
$44 Quench & Protect Hydrating SPF is deliscious unscreen with all the bells and whistles, including protection from harmful rays, plus moisturizing ingredients and skin soothers in case you forgot to apply it yesterday…
$31 Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is the perfect combination of sun, sensitivity and age defense. Natural Zinc Oxide provides chemical-free broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection at the surface while a specialized amino acid and algae blend provides UV protection at the cellular level. Skin will be moisturized, calmer and better equipped at resisting premature aging.