Does your moisturizer protect your face?

Do you believe your SPF15 facial moisturizer protects you from those harmful
UVA rays? Guess again. Unless your product is clearly marked UVA/UVB the chances
are it’s only protecting you against UVB rays, the main cause of sunburn
and development of skin cancer. But it is the UVA rays that are responsible
for penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin destroying skin fibres and
elasticity, causing premature aging and wrinkles. Unless you know what to look
for you might not be as well-shielded from the rays as you think.

The reason UVA protection may not be included in your moisturizer is that
its presence changes the consistency of the product. “In order to successfully
emulsify, the UVA protection ingredient needs to be mixed with an oilier, greasier
base. Sunscreen in general needs to have an oilier base than most moisturizers
in order for it to stick to your skin,” says dermatologist Dr. Peter M.
Vignjevic.

Since grease and oil are both undesirable in a cosmetic product for your face,
most moisturizers don’t contain UVA protection, leaving you exposed, unless
you make a point to apply it separately.

What canou do

• Add a UVA/UVB sunscreen to your daily regime or find an all inclusive
product that can do both.

• Make sure the product is clearly marked “UVA/UVB protection.”

• Look for products containing the ingredients oxybenzone, titanium
dioxide or Parsol 1789 (avobenzone) and Mexoryl SX; which block sufficient UVA
rays.