One of my favorite online news sources, Slate, published several articles concerning suntanning and sunscreen. The best article is the one about how SPF in products is gaged. Here are the links:
Is tanning addictive? By Amanda Schaffer
How do they measure SPF? By Juliet Lapidos
Which sunscreens work best? By Douglas Wolk
Tanning Your Hide By Emily Yoffe
Showing posts with label tanning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tanning. Show all posts
20 August 2007
12 July 2007
What Price, Beauty?
SF Gate Columnist Mark Morford writes for Notes and Errata at least once weekly. He is funny, charming and almost always spot on. Mark is a definite SF liberal and I love him for it as I totally wish I had the money to be a SF liberal. His column last Friday highlighted the near $4000 this female real estate agent spends monthly, monthly on her beautification. Four. Thousand. Dollars.
I am obviously obsessed with beauty and beautification, otherwise why waste time on this blog? But isn't there a limit to how much you spend to enhance, create and obfuscate? This is where some men (often those who could honestly use a nip, tuck and a pluck themselves) criticize such rituals. Not that we gals should filter that through male approval but really, this is a bit ridiculous, isn't it?
What else is this woman, Ginger, doing with her body that such a large amount must be spent to make it pretty again? Mark mentions that she receives Botox injections and tanning salon services. Well they cancel each other out so Ginger is definitely wasting money there. Tanning is drying her skin out creating wrinkles ergo she wants the Botox. Why not go for the sunless tan and better looking and feeling skin, Ginger? I'm sure you're a lovely woman and all this is being done as upkeep but if you keep abusing your skin it will all be for naught.
*Le sigh* I will never understand the obsession over tanning.
For any of you reading this out there, I want to hear from you. That is, those of you who understand and appreciate the necessities of 'slightly above average' upkeep. How much is too much when it comes to beautification?
On another note, the Bourjois Invisible Lip Liner mentioned in the previous post is great. My lipstick goes on true to color and smoothly.
I am obviously obsessed with beauty and beautification, otherwise why waste time on this blog? But isn't there a limit to how much you spend to enhance, create and obfuscate? This is where some men (often those who could honestly use a nip, tuck and a pluck themselves) criticize such rituals. Not that we gals should filter that through male approval but really, this is a bit ridiculous, isn't it?
What else is this woman, Ginger, doing with her body that such a large amount must be spent to make it pretty again? Mark mentions that she receives Botox injections and tanning salon services. Well they cancel each other out so Ginger is definitely wasting money there. Tanning is drying her skin out creating wrinkles ergo she wants the Botox. Why not go for the sunless tan and better looking and feeling skin, Ginger? I'm sure you're a lovely woman and all this is being done as upkeep but if you keep abusing your skin it will all be for naught.
*Le sigh* I will never understand the obsession over tanning.
For any of you reading this out there, I want to hear from you. That is, those of you who understand and appreciate the necessities of 'slightly above average' upkeep. How much is too much when it comes to beautification?
On another note, the Bourjois Invisible Lip Liner mentioned in the previous post is great. My lipstick goes on true to color and smoothly.
24 May 2007
Tanning
I have never understood the desire to tan. Perhaps because I was born with one and so don't really need one. Nevertheless I shall write about this popular beautification activity. Of course you know there are several ways to tan: naturally with the sun, in a tanning booth or with a self-tanner like a lotion or gel.
Suntanning: This is, by far, the most dangerous way to tan if certain precautions are not taken, namely sunscreen. A sunscreen lotion of at least SPF15 must be used to protect your skin. Protection is paramount. While you may achieve a lovely sunkissed glow today, do you really want wrinkles and dry skin tomorrow? You will be old much longer than you will have youth and who wants to look dried up at 40?
Tanning booth: A tanning booth is not much different from sunning out on the sandy beach. In fact it may be dirtier as several consumer reports show the booths are not always thoroughly cleaned. At least sand is sanitary by nature. However your exposure is lessened, and hence your damage somewhat lowered, because you have a limited amount of time on the tanning bed. As opposed to the beach, hours pass as you're usually distracted by, you know, fun. Relaxation.
Self-tanner: The best bet by far. No damage and the lotions have gotten more sophisticated in recent years. They last longer and soak into the skin deeper.
But before you go bounding off to the beach the skin must be prepped. Most women know this but many don't. Exfoliation and moisturizing is the key.
EXFOLIATION
Exfoliation should be a near daily event. Gentle or soft exfoliation with a more abrasive exfoliant once every two weeks or maybe more depending on your skin condition. The most popular exfoliants are salt, sugar and ground fruit pits like apricot. In prepping the skin for tanning I recommend a sugar scrub because it helps to trap moisture in the skin. That is the key to a lovely, long lasting tan. If the skin is dry then the tan will not be even and wow, that's scary.
There is concern post-tanning that constant exfoliation will shorten the lifespan of the tan. To avoid this exfoliate every other day or every two days. If you use an exfoliant on a daily basis in the form of a bath puff or bath gloves, use a soft cotton washcloth if you are comfortable with that. Otherwise use a puff that has very soft netting because those are not as abrasive as others. Whatever you do, do not cease to exfoliate in order to prolong your tan. It'll just backfire. As before, a lack of exfoliation will cause the skin to look splotchy. Continuing to occasionally exfoliate will help the tan (if you do not extensively tan again) fade naturally and beautifully.
MOISTURIZING
Moisturize to prevent that scary "sun-cured leather" look. I remember seeing this one tragic woman at Express one day. Her skin had the look of one who made a habit of suntanning all day, everyday in the summer months using Crisco as a 'moisturizer'/'non-stick solution'. She looked like creased, orange leather and topped this off with blonde hair bleached within an inch of its life. But the coup de grace was the silver, sequined halter top and white capri pants she put on in the dressing room. I do believe I cried.
If you use a sunless tanner, more than likely it has a built-in moisturizer courtesy of cocoa butter or shea butter. For those using a tanning bed, your minimum SPF15 sunblock will probably also have built-in moisturizers. But for you brave/foolhardy souls tanning au naturel, use some sort of quality
moisturizer after tanning. Clinique has their excellent After-Sun Rescue Balm, perfect for cooling down the skin and helping to prevent any lasting damage. I used it once after waiting for a city bus for 45 minutes in the blazing hot sun.
While tanning can definitely enhance beauty, don't undermine that very beauty by not protecting your skin in the long run.
Suntanning: This is, by far, the most dangerous way to tan if certain precautions are not taken, namely sunscreen. A sunscreen lotion of at least SPF15 must be used to protect your skin. Protection is paramount. While you may achieve a lovely sunkissed glow today, do you really want wrinkles and dry skin tomorrow? You will be old much longer than you will have youth and who wants to look dried up at 40?Tanning booth: A tanning booth is not much different from sunning out on the sandy beach. In fact it may be dirtier as several consumer reports show the booths are not always thoroughly cleaned. At least sand is sanitary by nature. However your exposure is lessened, and hence your damage somewhat lowered, because you have a limited amount of time on the tanning bed. As opposed to the beach, hours pass as you're usually distracted by, you know, fun. Relaxation.
Self-tanner: The best bet by far. No damage and the lotions have gotten more sophisticated in recent years. They last longer and soak into the skin deeper.But before you go bounding off to the beach the skin must be prepped. Most women know this but many don't. Exfoliation and moisturizing is the key.
EXFOLIATION
Exfoliation should be a near daily event. Gentle or soft exfoliation with a more abrasive exfoliant once every two weeks or maybe more depending on your skin condition. The most popular exfoliants are salt, sugar and ground fruit pits like apricot. In prepping the skin for tanning I recommend a sugar scrub because it helps to trap moisture in the skin. That is the key to a lovely, long lasting tan. If the skin is dry then the tan will not be even and wow, that's scary.
There is concern post-tanning that constant exfoliation will shorten the lifespan of the tan. To avoid this exfoliate every other day or every two days. If you use an exfoliant on a daily basis in the form of a bath puff or bath gloves, use a soft cotton washcloth if you are comfortable with that. Otherwise use a puff that has very soft netting because those are not as abrasive as others. Whatever you do, do not cease to exfoliate in order to prolong your tan. It'll just backfire. As before, a lack of exfoliation will cause the skin to look splotchy. Continuing to occasionally exfoliate will help the tan (if you do not extensively tan again) fade naturally and beautifully.
MOISTURIZING
Moisturize to prevent that scary "sun-cured leather" look. I remember seeing this one tragic woman at Express one day. Her skin had the look of one who made a habit of suntanning all day, everyday in the summer months using Crisco as a 'moisturizer'/'non-stick solution'. She looked like creased, orange leather and topped this off with blonde hair bleached within an inch of its life. But the coup de grace was the silver, sequined halter top and white capri pants she put on in the dressing room. I do believe I cried.If you use a sunless tanner, more than likely it has a built-in moisturizer courtesy of cocoa butter or shea butter. For those using a tanning bed, your minimum SPF15 sunblock will probably also have built-in moisturizers. But for you brave/foolhardy souls tanning au naturel, use some sort of quality
moisturizer after tanning. Clinique has their excellent After-Sun Rescue Balm, perfect for cooling down the skin and helping to prevent any lasting damage. I used it once after waiting for a city bus for 45 minutes in the blazing hot sun.While tanning can definitely enhance beauty, don't undermine that very beauty by not protecting your skin in the long run.
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