Sunscreen | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Aug 27, 2008

Powder Sunscreens, Full Spectrum Protection That Won’t Ruin Your Makeup

August 27, 2008 By Carleenp 12 Comments

Regular application and reapplication of sunscreen should be an essential part of any beauty routine, but it can also be problematic when wearing makeup. That sunscreen that you applied this morning needs to be reapplied part way through the day, yet you don’t want to ruin your full face of makeup. What to do? The answer lies in powder sunscreen.

Powder sunscreens generally consist of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or both. These are wonderful sunscreens because they provide physical blocking of the full spectrum of the sun’s rays. Unlike chemical blockers, they will not break down in sunlight, meaning that they last longer, and the full spectrum protection keeps you completely protected. Because they come in powder form, they also can be applied over makeup without ruining your look.

There are a number of good items out there. In particular, take a look at your favorite mineral foundation or finishing powder. Chances are, it has an SPF factor. So, most mineral makeup can be applied as a powder sunscreen. But since mineral foundations do not always have a listed SPF rating or are formulated for more coverage than a person might want to apply, a formulation intended purely for use as a sunscreen may be desired. Below are several recommended items. Many of these are fairly high in price, but I have found that so little is needed for an application that they last a very long time.

* Colorescience Sunforgettable SPF 30 (select color) is packaged in easy to use tubes, complete with a pop-up brush. The powder is so fine that you barely notice it, and it is available in both Almost Clear and Perfectly Clear versions. It provides SPF 30 coverage. Read Previous Review.

* Jane Iredale Powder-Me SPF 30 Dry Sunscreen comes in both Translucent and Tanned versions. This one has a sponge application and includes a mirror.

* iS Clinical SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen - Translucent (pictured) provides SPF 20 coverage and comes with its own pop-up brush. A medium tinted version is also available.

* Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30 is another one with a prepackaged brush and SPF 30. Available in translucent.

Disclosures: Beauty and Fashion Tech at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

Filed Under: Mineral Makeup, Skin Care, Sunscreens Tagged With: ColorScience, iS Clinical, Jane Iredale, Mineral Makeup, Peter Thomas Roth, Powder, Skin Care, Sunscreen

Jul 4, 2008

Happy Fourth of July! Plus, Wear Your Sunscreen!

July 4, 2008 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Happy Fourth of July all! While out and about this weekend, don't forget your sunscreen!

Personally, I recommend Badger Sunscreen SPF 30 for both face and body (Read Review), or if oil control is an issue, try DermaQuest ZinClear (Read Review).

For a powder that can be applied over makeup, look at ColorScience Powder (Read Review).

Need more suggestions? Try the Sunscreen Category!

Have a great Holiday Weekend!

Filed Under: Misc., Sunscreens Tagged With: Badger, ColorScience, Dermaquest, Sunscreen

Jun 17, 2008

AB Skin Care: Sunscreen for You and Baby

June 17, 2008 By Carleenp 5 Comments

AB Skin Care is a skin care line created by dermatologist Dr. Craig Austin. While the line focuses mainly on products with a good quality and strength of glycolic acid, today I am writing on a couple of great sunscreens from the line. I will be reviewing the glycolic acid products in another week or two (tiny preview: I really like them) .

AB Sun is right in line with the type of sunscreen I seek out. It has a mix of chemical and physical blockers, high SPF, and antioxidants. For those like me who have some issues with melasma, this is the best type of sunscreen to wear, because it gives full coverage protection and will last longer than a sunscreen that only contains chemical blockers. Here is the what the product literature on it says:

With advanced anti-photoaging complex, AB Sun has been formulated to block UV radiation and provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection using micronized zinc oxide. With SPF 45, AB Sun delivers a unique antioxidant, free radical quenching and neutralizing complex whose composition includes green tea polyphenols and caffeine, two of the most potent ingredients in fighting the signs of aging.

The sunscreen is a thicker lotion that feels slightly moisturizing, but not overly so. Although it is a bit on the thicker side, it doesn’t feel particularly heavy, and it absorbs quite quickly. For a well rounded sunscreen, I highly recommend this one!

AB Baby is a sunscreen that is obviously aimed at babies, but I actually like it for myself. The product description is as follows:

A chemical-free sunscreen with SPF 30 specially formulated for the sensitive skin of babies and children starting at six months old. The moisturizing formula takes effect immediately – so there’s no waiting for the protection to start working to stop sunburn and provide extreme UVA/UVB protection. With vitamins A, C, E and green tea extract, AB Baby provides the highest level of broad-spectrum protection available. It’s your baby’s best defense against the sun, with all in one protection.

This one has a lighter feel than AB Sun and provides a bit of moisture. Its sunscreen is 17% zinc oxide, for some great full coverage blocking. That type of ingredient is great for children, but is also wonderful for those who are battling melasma or other pigmentation issues. I have been wearing it on my areas of concern quite a bit. Because it has quite a bit of zinc oxide, it will make your skin appear a bit white until it absorbs, although I found that it wasn’t an issue, especially if I put on makeup over it. So, this one isn’t necessarily just for babies!

AB Skin Care is available at their online store.