Makeover 911 Sun protection made more comfortable By Kinny Salas Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 19:09:00 05/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Unlike women who go to great lengths to stay youthful and gorgeous, men throw in the towel when skincare becomes too time-consuming or uncomfortable.
Take sunblock. While women slather sunblock on, men will go to the golf course or the beach without protection.
There are new SPF products that I suspect had been created to entice the male population, but which we women should take advantage of. These are reasonably priced, feel comfortable and, in some cases, actually make one feel good.
Both genders can now make it a habit to wear SPF even indoors, since the sun’s rays pass through the windows and artificial lights and computer monitors can still cause skin damage.
Neutrogena has three sunblock formulations for the tropics. They are all high-spectrum, meaning they protect against both UVA (rays which cause aging) and UVB (which cause skin darkening). They cost P485 each for all variants and have a patented technology that does not cause effective ingredients to break down under the sun.
1. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 50. This cream-based texture comes in a tube; it provides a velvety texture that gives off a slight sheen but does not appear white on skin. It also acts as a great foundation primer on most skin types.
SPF 50 means you can stay under the sun for 500 minutes before you start burning. Of course, I choose this for my face, hands, and neck, and just put mattifying loose powder because I still get a slight oily sheen.
I have also tried: Godiva Green Tea sun block SPF25, which is very matte and may go well for those with very oily skin. Also, VMV Armada SPF 60 or SPORT 70, which is the most expensive of the selection.
2. Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Sunblock Gel SPF 30 with Helioplex technology. It provides a cool refreshing feel to the skin. I actually look forward to putting this on outdoors because it gives an aircon-like relief on hot skin. Its transparent gel formula is totally colorless and has a matte texture so it is wonderful for the greasy-skinned.
This would have been my hands-down favorite if only it were SPF 50 instead of just SPF30. I use this daily indoors but I switch to the SPF50 the moment I step out of the house. Recommended for golfers and beach fanatics who don’t mind SPF 30.
3. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock SPF 30 with Helioplex. This light veil feels like there is nothing on you. The spray application is very clever as it reaches those tough-to-reach spots like the back. This is my husband’s favorite as he does not like to get his hands messy with product and yet he gets the coverage he wants without his pores suffocating.
I have also tried: Coppertone Sport SPF 30 spray and Hawaiian Tropic SPF 45 spray-on sunblock. These are both water- and sweat-proof without the sticky hot feel.
Godiva
Godiva Skincare is a proudly Filipino brand that has worked around men’s discomfort issue with sunblock. Perhaps it helps a lot that owners Fred and Carleen Reyes’ children are all boys so that the firm has been able to formulate Licowhite Face and Body Wash With Stay-On Sunscreen SPF 15, a broad-spectrum daily sun protection for the whole family.
Men can just slather it on wet skin in the shower, massage on a bit then rinse off so they don’t feel oily or sticky. The skin stays protected under the sun, moisturized, and the treatment’s antioxidants help repair and prevent skin damage. It is a great way to introduce our kids to early sun protection habit.
Tip: Most people still equate rich lather or tons of bubbles with being truly clean. So they may want to use the body wash sunscreen. Soap up first, then rinse, then apply and quickly massage on the body wash sunscreen, towel-dry then you are all set to go. Perfect for indoors or those whose time outdoors is limited to crossing the parking lot toward the tinted car.
Must-have for the beach: Godiva’s Safe Sea Sunblock with Jellyfish Sting Protection now comes in a satisfying SPF 50. It was made for hardcore beach lovers and their children to protect them from jellyfish and sea lice stings while swimming in the ocean. Apply generously even on unexposed areas under the swimsuit 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply after prolonged swimming.
E-mail the author at kinnysalas@yahoo.com
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