From sunburns to dry, flaky skin to germ-laden beauty supplies, summer weather can be tough on your skin and beauty routine. USA TODAYs Michelle Healy asks skin care experts for advice on keeping your ce and skin healthy and protected in the season ahead:
Expert advice on summer skin care?Beauty & Ski,Martin E. Klimek, for USA TODAY
Dermatologist Dr. Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, at right, 34, conducts a skin cancer screening with Laura Zagaroli.
Martin E. Klimek, for USA TODAY
Dermatologist Dr. Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, at right, 34, conducts a skin cancer screening with Laura Zagaroli.
You should be applying sunscreen all year round but come warm weather and even more opportunities to be outdoors, the most important thing you can do to care for your skin is using sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen,Fitted hats says Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, a dermatologist in East Bay, Calif., and clinical instructor at the University of California, San Francisco. She recommends zinc-based sunblocks for best protection and stresses the importance all skin types and ethnicities reapplying it every two hours as people become more active.
And all skin types and ethnicities require daily use of sunscreen. Even darker skin tones are susceptible to sunburns, skin cancers, brown spots, and wrinkles, just like Caucasian skin, says Badreshia-Bansal.
If youre using photosensitizing topical or oral medications,Monster Energy Hats such as antibiotics or retinoid products it is even more important to practice this basic step, she says.
A growing number of moisturizers and foundations now contain sunscreen, but users typically put on these products sparingly and do not reapply them regularly, so you may not be getting the full SPF (sun protection ctor) you need, says dermatologist Jocelyn Lieb, associate director of Advanced Dermatology P.C. in Ridgewood Baseball hats, N.J.
A moisturizer with a strong SPF of at least 50 can be used without an additional sunblock, she says. But otherwise its best to first put on a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, followed by moisturizer and foundation or base, if you use it.
Some brands of mineral makeup are promoted as offering UV protection, often because they contain a high content of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, two ingredients commonly found in traditional sunscreen. But the jury is still out on the level of protection they provide, says Lieb.
Neglected places:
The chest, back of hands, ears and lips are often neglected when it comes to sun protection, but they also need shielding from the suns damaging rays, says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at Mount Sinai Hospitals Department of Dermatology in New York.
An opaque lipstick (preferably with an SPF rating of 15 or above applied every two hours) or a sports stick with sunscreen are good bets to protect the lips, but avoid wearing plain petroleum jelly or lip glosses that dont include sunscreen before spending considerable time in the sun, says Lieb. They can act like baby oil,cheap hats absorbing UV rays and leading to sunburns.
To get dry, flaky skin prepped for summer exposure, gently exfoliate to give the skin a smoother and brighter appearance. Youre not only removing dead skin cells from the suce of the skin, youre also removing dirt and oil, says Zeichner. Whether its an over-the-counter body scrub or microdermabrasian kit, he recommends limiting the process to once a week and never exfoliating sunburned skin. Exfoliation is also a must if you use a sunless tanning product to help ensure even coverage New era hats, he says.
When to toss old makeup:
Be aware that germs can lurk in old makeup and beauty supplies. Looh sponges, for example, may be great at removing dead skin cells, but dermatologist Jocelyn Lieb doesnt recommend them because they offer the perfect warm, wet, dark environment for bacteria to grow.
Mascara, eye shadow or any other eye-area makeup should immediately be tossed if youve had any recent eye infections such as conjunctivitis, says dermatologist Sonia Badreshia-Bansal.
In ct, old eye makeup goes off in texture and color and can also breed bacteria that causes eye irritation or infection, says celebrity makeup artist Sandy Linter 59fifty, co-author of The Makeup Wakeup: Revitalizing Your Look at Any Age.
Under normal circumstances, manucturers typically recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase, because of repeated microbial exposure during use and the risk of eye infections, according to the Beauty & Skin CareFood and Drug Administration. The FDA notes that eye makeup has a shorter shelf life than other cosmetics.
Figuring out beauty products shelf-life can be difficult, given that expiration dates are not mandatory. Even when they are posted, they are general guidelines, says the FDA, and products may start to degrade before the expiration date if not stored properly.
Zeichner recommends tossing any product that doesnt look right, smell right or isnt working the way it did initially.
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