In my spare time (yeah, right!), I like to be very active... cycling, running, walking, etc. Anything outdoors, and I am all in. But I live in Florida. As in the Sunshine State. So I often don't realize how much sun I've acquired during one of my routine jaunts around my neighborhood. Just recently, I've started to notice a distinct sports bra/tank top tan line. As in my face/chest as well as the majority of my arms are considerably darker than where my sports bra/tank top lies. I even have a slight sock tan line. I need to be better prepared to fight sun rays while outside so I purchased a brand new bottle of SPF 60. And for the record, I am a huge fan of Neutrogena due to the fact that I have sensitive skin and a PABA allergy (thank you Mexico trip circa 2006 - sun poisoning is not fun or cute).
Well, this realization made me think about SPF facts and the recent changes to sunscreen labels. At MAC for example, certain foundations are now coming with a more descriptive label explaining the SPF details. This is due to the new federal labeling rules that were put into effect this past summer so that consumers (aka: YOU) can make a more educated choice regarding sunscreens. Now, in order for a product to claim to lower the risk of skin cancer and skin aging, it MUST have the following:
- Broad Spectrum designation: the measure of a product's ultraviolet A (UVA) protection relative to its ultraviolet B (UVB) protection or the label of "Broad Spectrum SPF [value]." For the record, UVA rays are what cause lasting skin damage whereas UVB rays are what cause immediate sunburns. Although, BOTH can lead to age spots and cancer!!
- Use claims: the product MUST have an SPF value of 15 or higher. Sunscreens and Broad Spectrum sunscreens with an SPF value between 2 and 14 can only claim to help prevent sunburn.
- "Waterproof," "sweatproof" or "sunblock" claims: a product cannot claim to be "waterproof" or "sweatproof" or a "sunblock" in order to not mislead consumers.
- Water resistance claims: products must state the length of its effectiveness during swimming or sweating - typically either 40 min. or 80 min.
- Drug Facts: products are required to include standard "Drug Facts" information