Good Morning Sunshine!

Tropical islands evoke fantastic images of sandy beaches, calming waves, and lazy days, a break from our 9-5 routines to bask in the glorious, warming sunshine. Ahh…
Wait. Sunshine? I used to be a sun worshipper, not only because I like a glowing tan as much as the next girl, but also because I grew up in Minnesota where the sun only graces us with its presence occasionally. Sunshine was euphoria for me, and I am sure many of you can agree.
And then came the dark side of the sun. Cancer, wrinkles, age spots…hmm, suddenly that sunny tropical island doesn’t seem so appealing any more. Of course, sunscreen is the easiest way to avoid many of the negative effects caused by the sun. But where to start?
And I know what you are thinking. Yes, it is the first week of December. Like you, I am bundled head to toe to keep warm in the short, bleak winter days. Even for those of you who are not planning your next vacation to Cancun and don’t live in Florida, sunscreen is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer. Unless you plan to draw the shades and stay in your house all day, I implore you, for the sake of that gorgeous skin of yours, to use sunscreen each and every day.
There are two types of rays which emit from the sun: UVB and UVA rays. UVB rays are the rays that will burn your skin, and UVA rays are the rays that cause aging and leathering. A simple way to remember this is UVB (remember the B) rays Burn, and UVA (remember the A) rays Age. They’re both bad, and so when looking for a sunscreen pay attention to whether the sunscreen is broad spectrum. A broad spectrum sunscreen is one which protects from both UVA and UVB rays. This is just as important, and many argue more important, than the SPF of the sunscreen.
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. There are minute differences in how well SPF 15 works in comparison with SPF 50. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, SPF 15 blocks 93 percent of UVB rays; SPF 30 blocks 97 percent; and SPF 50 blocks 99 percent. Minor differences really, but depending on how sensitive your skin is to the sun, they are well worth noting. As you may have also noticed, the SPF in sunscreen can only tell you what percentage of the UVB (B for Burn) rays you are deflecting. If you don’t have a broad spectrum sunscreen, you may not be burning, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t wrinkling like a raisin as you sunbathe.
Sunscreen should be applied every 2-4 hours, especially when you are outside. If you are working in a lightless cubicle all day, slather it on before you go to work and about thirty minutes before you clock out. But if you have a sunny corner office, be sure to be putting it on throughout the day. Most UVA (A for Aging) rays are not blocked by windows. As we mentioned earlier, don’t judge your sunscreen use by the weather. An estimated 40 percent of the sun’s harmful rays reach the earth even when the sun isn’t showing its shining face.
The very best face sunscreen I have found is Cellex-C Sun Care SPF 30+. This broad spectrum sunscreen doubles as a moisturizer for those of you who like to get up and go, and its ultra-light formula is non-greasy and completely safe for even the most sensitive skin types. Find it at www.skinstore.com.
MD Skincare (www.mdskincare.com) offers an on-the-go alternative called Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Sunscreen Packettes. These single-use packets are perfect for tossing in your purse. Clinique offers a broad spectrum balm called Sun-Care Lip/Eye SPF 30 that is also easy to use on the go.
For even further protection, Clinique also offers Advanced Stop Signs Eye Cream with SPF 15. In addition to offering further sun protection for the delicate eye area, this eye cream is especially illuminating.
Whether your next trip is to a fantasy tropical island or the nearest grocery store, never forget to wear your sunscreen.