Protect Your Skin By Using Organic Sunblock

Some people are under the mistaken assumption that the only time to use organic sunblock is on especially hot and sunny days. The truth is that anytime that we’re out in the sun, the sun’s rays are having a negative impact on our skin. There is a constant barrage of ultraviolet light that can cause our skin to age before it’s time, and it can lead to more serious skin problems in the long term. Even on days when it’s not all that hot outside, it is a good idea to use organic sunblock.

With that said, organic sunblock is still most needed when a person is spending a day out in the sun, especially if they’re trying to tan. This is when there is the biggest risk of sunburn, which is a direct result of intense sun exposure
. It’s important to understand how to choose the right organic sunblock for the job. SPF, or sun protection factor, is the rating system that is used to determine the strength of a organic sunblock. Usually, a minimum sun protection factor of 15 is recommended for tanning or prolonged sun exposure. However, much more powerful levels of protection are available — up to a 60 SPF rating or more.

There is another factor to consider, as well. There are multiple types of ultraviolet light rays that are harmful to the skin — UVA and UVB. Many organic sunblock are designed to effectively block only one UVB rays, while UVA are actually the more dangerous type. It is a good idea to look for a organic sunblock that is designed to block both types of rays. Organic sunblock that contain the ingredients zinc oxide, ecamsule, or avobenzone are the best choices for full-spectrum protection.

When it comes to just routine daily sun exposure, a full application of organic sunblock isn’t really necessary. If you’re just eating lunch outdoors or walking for a little while outside, then you should be okay just using other skin-care products that contain minor organic sunblock. For example, there are many facial moisturizers that include enough organic sunblock to protect your skin from the sun’s rays on a day-to-day basis.

One of the negative effects associated with sun exposure to the skin is wrinkling. The sun is one of the primary factors when it comes to skin starting to look aged before it’s time. For people who are concerned about aging and wrinkled skin, there are special organic sunblock treatments that are design both to reduce and prevent wrinkles. Many of these have high SPF ratings for maximum protection from the sun’s light.

Aside from wrinkles, the other major impact of the sun on human skin is skin cancer. Heavy exposure to the sun without the proper protection can lead to a person developing deadly skin cancers. This is one reason why it’s especially important to get organic sunblock that protects against UVA rays. Despite the fact that UVA doesn’t cause any burning sensation or redness, it is actually the primary cause of skin cancer. So when you’re looking to buy organic sunblock, make sure that you make an educated choice that will truly protect you from skin problems.

Using Organic Sunblock Is Recommended

Like many people, I see a dermatologist regularly, and no matter what is going on, the dermatologist always asks whether or not I am using sunscreen. In fact, the dermatologist that I see makes it a point to ask all of the patients what their average sunscreen or organic sunblock usage is like. And contrary to popular belief, dermatologists are usually very against going out into the sun so that you can “lay out”. In fact, most dermatologists would recommend that you avoid any type of prolonged period in the sun so that you can avoid doing any further radical damage to your skin.

I make it a point to use organic sunblock with an spf of 85. I look for organic sunblock that won’t clog up my pores and is hypoallergenic because my skin is extremely sensitive. But applying and using organic sunblock goes far beyond this. In the future, I don’t want my face to be leathery and wrinkled when I know now that I can prevent this from happening. This is why it concerns me that so many people in their 20s and 30s seem to be reckless in how much sun exposure they get. I have friends who, when the summer rolls around, make it a part of their “go-do” list to go around to whatever sandy, sunny spot that they can in order to get rid of the paleness that they cannot seem to stand about themselves.

In recent years, I have come across more and more people who diagnosed with and successfully treated for skin cancer. It is a scary thought to think that for these people, their situations-their diagnoses could have been prevented if all they had done was had the foresight to say, “Hey, wait a minute; let me put on a hat before we go out into the boiling hot sun,” or “Hey, let me just grab my sunscreen before we head out. Instead, many people don’t want to be bothered with having to put on organic sunblock. For some men, putting on organic sunblock isn’t quite as manly as ‘winging it’ while for others putting on organic sunblock is annoying because they may not like the way that it feels or makes their face shiny.

The great thing about organic sunblock today though is that there are so many different varieties to choose from. For example, I have one type of organic sunblock that I put on my face, and another type of organic sunblock that I use to put on the rest of my body. And while organic sunblock typically isn’t that cheap (a bottle can sometimes be as much as $10-15), isn’t the price that you pay at the checkout counter relatively small in comparison to the kind of damage control that you would have to do when you are older and frequenting the dermatologist to have skin cancer removed?

So, the next time that you are thinking of going to the beach with friends, do yourself a favor. Pack up a beach umbrella, a fashionable sun hat and maybe some sort of summery linen pants and/or long sleeved shirt, and don’t forget to put on your organic sunblock at least thirty minutes prior to the time you hit the beach to avoid sun burn.

10 Great Organic Sunblock Tips

Organic sunblock is used by many people to help prevent sun burn and skin cancer. Recently, many organic sunblocks came under attack for not protecting people from skin cancer and sun burn. Federal Drug Administration in the US does not have any standard for organic sunblock protection as of now. So the question becomes how do you know what organic sunblock to use and which ones not to use? These helpful tips provided below, you can avoid sunburn and protect yourself against skin caner.

Tip #1 Use Organic sunblock With A SPF Of 30 Or Higher

SPF 30 provides protection for most of the day. For example if you get sun burn in 10 minutes, SPF 30 will protect you for 300 minutes. If you use SPF 15, you will be protected from the sun for 150 minutes. SPF does not prevent you from tanning. This is a misconception which causes people to use a lower SPF. People will tan no matter which SPF that they are using.

Tip #2 Make Sure To Use A Broad Spectrum Organic sunblock

Broad spectrum organic sunblock protects both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are present even when there is no sun and can lead to skin cancers. UVB rays are present when there is sun light out. People tan with UVB and UVB causes sun burn and also cancer if the skin in not protected.

Tip #3 Be Sure To Reapply Organic sunblock Early And Often

Water breaks down organic sunblock even if the product is water proof. The sun will also break down your organic sunblock over time. Reapply organic sunblock at least once every hour if you are out in a pool. Be sure to use your sun screen daily.

Tip #4 Be Sure To Apply Organic sunblock Even If You Are Just Resting In The Shade Away From Sun Light

This is because UVA rays are present even when there is no direct sun light.

Tip #5 Be Sure To Avoid Organic sunblock That Contain Oxybenzone

Oxybenzone is a toxic organic sunblock that soaks into the skin which might be a contributing factor to skin cancer. Instead look for natural organic sunblock that contains Zinc Oxide or Titanium oxide.

Tip #6 Buy New Organic sunblock Every Year

Most sun screen do not protect as well after 12 months because the ingredients start to lose the amount of sun protection that they can give.

Tip #7 Take A Break At Midday

Midday or peak sun is also a good time to get out of the sun and take a break indoors. The sun is strongest at this point. The sun is strongest between 12:00PM and 3:00PM.

Tip #8 Wear Sun Glasses, Hats And Tight Shirts

Wear UV sunglasses to protect your eyes, hat to protect your scalp and tight shirt to protect your body from the sun.

Tip #9 Take Special Care When Going To The Beach

Organic sunblock may need to be reapplied more frequently since the sand and the water reflect the sun creating a stronger UVB ray. Higher altitudes also gives the sun more intensity.

Tip #10 Be Sure To Drink Plenty Of Water

Water keeps your skin hydrated and improves the protection of your organic sunblock.

Whats the Difference Between Sunblock and Sunscreen?

Sunblock is different than sunscreen. An organic sunblock physically blocks the sun’s UV radiation of the skin, both UVA and UVB. Examples of natural sunblock are clothing, umbrellas, and trees. Chemical sunblock scatters, reflects, and physically blocks UV radiation. The most well-known physical organic sunblock is zinc oxide. Other commonly used organic sunblock is talc, titanium dioxide, and red vetenary petrolatum.

Sunblock does have some disadvantages. Many older chemical sunblock is opaque, the skin can not be seen through the sunblock. This may not be cosmetically acceptable for many people. They can also be greasy and clog pores, a problem for people with acne-prone skin.

A new organic sunblock formulation has been developed that contains micronized titanium dioxide. The advantage of this formulation is that it is almost invisible and still has good UV blocking capabilities.

Natural Skin Care Products Future

Natural skin care offers a bright future for those who embrace it, although there are many analyst who believe the road ahead may be unknown. The large growth of natural skin care products in the beauty product market primarily stems from consumers want a safer alternative to many synthetic based skin care products. Several cosmetic chemists have spoken out that even though some of these synthetic skin care ingredients are altered they still are derived from a natural source. However the majority of synthetics undergo chemical processing which will alter the natural skin care ingredient beyond the point of return to its natural state. As processing continues to progress perhaps there will be advancements in the altercation process.

Another large road block in the natural skincare product market is the lack of natural ingredients. Because these natural skin care ingredients are grown it suggests that if the demand continues to grow the potential supply of natural skin care ingredients could become limited. This is especially the case in organic skin care ingredients which make up a portion of the overall natural skin care product market. The good news with many of these organic skincare ingredients is they are grown relatively easily and are abundant. However there are some ingredients like organic rose oil which will becomes a prime commodity and highly sought after because of their uniqueness, limited availability globally, and challenges in cultivation.

The final major factor in the natural skin care product market is preservation. Although several companies suggest they are 100% natural, many use a small portion of naturally altered ingredients to allow for longer shelf life. Basic organic chemistry will answer a simple question of how long shelf life can be expected with a water based product. Most will claim you are limited to 6 months with a water based natural skin care product that uses natural skin care preservative systems like grapefruit seed extract. The other option is to use a gel based natural skin care product. The gel does limit your exposure to bacterial, fungi and other spoiling agents found in all water. However gel based natural skin care production can get costly and greatly affect the consistency of the final natural skin care product.

Time will tell what the natural skin care product market will be. If large beauty product companies continue to develop natural skin care products the outlook is very promising. Consumers will be offered new natural skin care products with the latest production techniques and the most advanced research behind their development. Today, the natural skin care product market is consistently introducing new products like organic sunscreen, herbal anti aging products, natural body lotion, and natural baby skin care products.

Women Are Using Organic Skin Care Products

Pregnant women are becoming more aware of the potential harmful effects of introducing toxins from main stream skin care products infused with synthetic chemicals.  Organic skin care products are a great alternative with added benefits.  100% natural organic skin care ingredients can provide nutritional benefits through the absorption process.  Essential oils, plant extracts, natural vitamins and anti oxidants are the most common base ingredients of organic skin care products.  Each natural skin care ingredient will perform the same function as many of the synthetic ingredients without the risk of exposure to carcinogenics.  The growing organic skincare product market offers more and more skin care products that are safe, clean, and pure.

UV Radiation

q8ghrfivc2 For a six billion-year-old star, the sun is certainly in the news a lot lately, mainly because it is still a source of uncertainty and confusion to many of us.

The center of this confusion is the sun’s ultraviolet A (long-wave) and ultraviolet B (shortwave) rays. Our understanding of exactly what kinds of damage each causes to the skin, and how best to protect ourselves, seems to shift every year as new research comes out. For example, it was once thought that only UVB was of concern, but we keep learning more and more about the damage caused by UVA. And new, improved forms of protection against UVA keep emerging. Keeping up with these new developments is a worthwhile challenge that can help all of us prevent sun damage.
What is Ultraviolet Radiation?

UV radiation is part of the electromagnetic (light) spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. It has wavelengths shorter than visible light, making it invisible to the naked eye. These wavelengths are classified as UVA, UVB, or UVC, with UVA the longest of the three at 320–400 nanometers (nm, or billionths of a meter). UVA is further divided into two wave ranges, UVA I, which measures 340-400 nanometers (nm, or billionths of a meter), and UVA II which extends from 320–400 nanometers. UVB ranges from 290 to 320 nm. With even shorter rays, most UVC is absorbed by the ozone layer and does not reach the earth.

Both UVA and UVB, however, penetrate the atmosphere and play an important role in conditions such as premature skin aging, eye damage (including cataracts), and skin cancers. They also suppress the immune system, reducing your ability to fight off these and other maladies.
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UV Radiation and Skin Cancer

By damaging the skin’s cellular DNA, excessive UV radiation produces genetic mutations that can lead to skin cancer. Both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization have identified UV as a proven human carcinogen. UV radiation is considered the main cause of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC), including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). These cancers strike more than a million and more than 250,000 Americans, respectively, each year. Many experts believe that, especially for fair-skinned people, UV radiation also frequently plays a key role in melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, which kills more than 8,000 Americans each year.
UVA

Most of us are exposed to large amounts of UVA throughout our lifetime. UVA rays account for up to 95 percent of the UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. Although they are less intense than UVB, UVA rays are 30 to 50 times more prevalent. They are present with relatively equal intensity during all daylight hours throughout the year, and can penetrate clouds and glass.
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UVA, which penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB, has long been known to play a major part in skin aging and wrinkling (photoaging), but until recently scientists believed it did not cause significant damage in areas of the epidermis (outermost skin layer) where most skin cancers occur. Studies over the past two decades, however, show that UVA damages skin cells called keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis, where most skin cancers occur. (Basal and squamous cells are types of keratinocytes.) UVA contributes to and may even initiate the development of skin cancers.

UVA is the dominant tanning ray, and we now know that tanning, whether outdoors or in a salon, causes cumulative damage over time. A tan results from injury to the skin’s DNA; the skin darkens in an imperfect attempt to prevent further DNA damage. These imperfections, or mutations, can lead to skin cancer.

Tanning booths primarily emit UVA. The high-pressure sunlamps used in tanning salons emit doses of UVA as much as 12 times that of the sun. Not surprisingly, people who use tanning salons are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. According to recent research, first exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent.
UVB
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UVB, the chief cause of skin reddening and sunburn, tends to damage the skin’s more superficial epidermal layers. It plays a key role in the development of skin cancer and a contributory role in tanning and photoaging. Its intensity varies by season, location, and time of day. The most significant amount of UVB hits the U.S. between 10 AM and 4 PM from April to October. However, UVB rays can burn and damage your skin year-round, especially at high altitudes and on reflective surfaces such as snow or ice, which bounce back up to 80 percent of the rays so that they hit the skin twice. UVB rays do not significantly penetrate glass.

Natural Skincare for Better Health and Firm Skin

With all the marketing material out there is can be a challenge to sort through which skin care products and ingredient make a more effective skin care product. For starters depending on the function of the lotion it will contain different ingredients A natural skincare product with antioxidants and organic ingredients can help your body to rejuvenate itself and keep your skin looking young.

With prices ranging from 4.99 to well over $100 natural skincare lotions will suit everyone’s purpose. Not to say the expensive stuff is the best, but the ingredients are key. A lot of the cheaper products are made with inexpensive fillers like mineral oil which is a petroleum product that suffocates your skin by holding in the toxins. They also may have sodium lauryl sulfate which can rob your skin of precious moisture. Why bother with ingredients that can be harmful or irritating?

The best firming lotion will have healthy, good for you ingredients that help your skin regenerate itself from the inside. A good skin firming lotion review will consider the long term implications of ingredients and recommend products that are natural and have ingredients that are time proven to aid in firming the skin and preventing wrinkles.

Helping your body make more collagen is one of the best ways to keep your skin firm. This important protein keeps your skin firm and smooth but your body slows down its production of collagen as you age and that’s what starts the sagging and wrinkles. Many lotions feature collagen as an ingredient but you can’t stimulate collagen production by putting it on your skin. Your body has to make its own to be useful.

So, what can help you produce more collagen? Cynergy TK is an ingredient that contains Functional Keratin. This is extracted from the wool of New Zealand sheep and is so close to what your bodies produce that it tricks your body into thinking it is “you” and stimulates our cells to make more collagen and elastin. Combined, these proteins are the very essence of keeping our skin smooth and young looking. In addition to making more collagen, using a product with lots of antioxidants is going to help fight aging and keep our skin firm by neutralizing environmental hazards like free radicals.

A powerful antioxidant is CoEnzyme Q10 (CQ10), you may already take this in a supplement form but you can also find it in the best firming lotion. A good skin firming lotion review should let you know if it’s in a nano emulsion formula for maximum benefit. This just means it’s in microscopic particles and penetrates 7 layers deep to eat up free radicals. Nano-Lipobelle H EQ10 is the most effective form of this vitamin like substance on the market today.

Other great antioxidants you can look for in your skin care are Natural Vitamin E, Grapeseed Oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil.

A Couple Myths About Sunsceen and SPF

Sun protection has become a way of life for individuals, who are intent on keeping their skin healthy, and avoiding wrinkles and leathery skin. Getting sunburn repeatedly can increase your chance of getting skin cancer. Melanoma in children has been increasing each year! So it is important for us all to take a practical approach and properly use natural or organic sunscreen and develop healthy skin care habits. Surprisingly, not everyone knows how to apply sunscreen. Only a small percent of the population uses sunscreen protection and only half of those people apply sunscreen correctly. In addition, regardless of the SPF or what the label says, sunscreens must be reapplied every 80 minutes or less. Sunscreen users mistakenly believe that high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) sunscreen products will protect them all day with one application, when in fact; all sunscreens must be reapplied regularly.Two Sunscreen Myths

Myth: Sunblock provides total sun block.
Truth: No sunscreen blocks 100 percent of Ultra Violet (UV) rays. SPF 15 can protect against 93 percent. SPF 30 protects against 97 percent. SPF 50-60 shuts out 98 percent. The higher the SPF the more harsh chemicals are in the product.

Myth: An SPF 60+ sunscreen provides double the protection of an SPF 30 sunscreen.
Truth: This is exactly why the FDA is putting a cap on high SPFs. SPF 30 provides skin with 97% protection, where as SPF 60 provides skin with 98-98.6% protection. There is less than 1.6% difference in protection factor. A SPF 60+ needs more chemicals to achieve a higher SPF, potentially putting more toxins in your body.

The real confusion to consumers has been what a product can do and can’t do. There are a number of natural sunscreen products are available on the market today. The trick is to become educated! Do you believe that just because sunscreens are labeled “sweat proof” or “waterproof” that they are? Currently, the FDA is banning the word “waterproof.” Now the term, “water/sweat/perspiration resistant” is accurate, however; this only means the sunscreen offers SPF protection after 40 minutes of water exposure. The term, “very water resistant” gives 80 minutes of protection. So to be safe, use this basic rule of thumb: re-apply, re-apply, and re-apply!For people who don’t have a lot of time, especially parents, a trend today has been to use aerosol sunscreens because they find them easier to apply. However, people may not be effectively protecting their skin! While being applied, aerosol sunscreens can lose much of their protection during the transfer from the bottle onto the skin. This is because not all of the molecules land on your body.

Chemical Free Sunblock is Best

As humans, we are naturally meant to be in the sun. That been said, most of us have skin so it is better to protect our skin with sunscreen but also to be cautious not to allow too much exposure. It’s also ideal to choose a “physical” or “chemical-free” sunscreen made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide – look for one of those ingredients on the label.  You can try to find one that uses natural or organic ingredients too.Unlike chemical sunscreens, which may cause irritation or allergic reactions because the skin absorbs the active ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sit on top of the skin, forming a barrier against the sun’s rays. There’s no evidence chemical sunscreens are dangerous or toxic, but we just don’t know enough yet about how young children react to the ingredients. Also, sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide start protecting as soon as you put them on, whereas chemical products need to be slathered on 30 minutes in advance so the skin has time to absorb them. Also make sure any sunscreen you use is labeled “PABA-free.” PABA was once widely used in sunscreens but now has been linked with skin irritation. Parabens have recently been exposed as a poor choice of synthetic ingredients as well. 

You may have heard you should look for a “broad-spectrum” product that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Any sunscreen that contains the physical blocker zinc oxide or titanium dioxide will do this.

The sun protection factor (SPF) should be at least 15, but you generally don’t need to go above 30: Higher than that and you’re getting smaller and smaller amounts of added protection – which, in a chemical sunscreen, means a higher dose of unwanted chemicals. It’s fine to use a “children’s” sunscreen, but don’t go out of your way to buy one of these, since they’re usually no different from the adult versions.

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