They are:
-zinc oxide
-titanium dioxide
-avobenzone
(aka Parsol 1789
or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane)
-Mexoryl SX
-Tinosorb
Each of these ingredients protects against UVA, which has been proven to cause signs of aging and skin cancer.
On your next shopping trip for a daytime sunscreen moisturizer, if you don’t see any of those on the ingredient list as an active ingredient*, put it back. You’ll be surprised at how many moisturizers that claim to offer UV protection actually don’t have any of these ingredients. These products are simply not suitable for daytime use alone and will have to be paired with a proper sunscreen product.
Estee Lauder DayWear Plus SPF 15 for Oily Skin (featured yesterday) is a great daytime moisturizer because:
1. It has butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane as an anti-UVA ingredient.
2. It includes anti-oxidants such as grape seed extract and rosemary extract.
3. The product is housed in an opaque bottle and is dispensed with a pumper, so the anti-oxidants don’t lose their benefits due to exposure to light and air.
During daytime, UV protection is really all we need. The rest is just a plus.
In Japanese skincare and foundation products, a PA marking (ranging from PA+ to PA++++) specifies the level of UVA protection alongside the SPF marking (which only indicates UVB protection). For example, Sofina’s Very Very UV Cut Milk has the “SPF 24 , PA+++” marking.
This is standard practice in Japanese cosmetics, and I hope more western brands would adopt a similar system. This will definitely raise the awareness of proper sun protection, which is the most vital part of anti-aging skincare.
Tomorrow: Five pillars of a great all-round moisturizer.
*If the list does not indicate what the active ingredients are, at least it has to be close to the top of the full ingredient list. (The ingredients are listed roughly in the order of the percentages they occupy in the formulation.)
Related Posts:
Anti-Aging Week 5-1: Wisdom from Mom
Anti-Aging Week 5-2: Top of the Chart
Anti-Aging Week 5-4: The Best 10 Minutes You Could Ever Spend
Anti-Aging Week 5-5: Sagging Skin vs. Thinning Purse
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
whats your take of the lift fusion from the sephora web-site that promises no need for surgery with the product? Ive always used lancome and estee lauder and went to the web-site to buy some foundation (bare minerals) and then saw the anti-aging lift fusion. Was just wondering if you have tested it or anyone who is subscribed. Thanks so much, Rhonda
Hello Rhonda,
Thank you very much for reading my blog and leaving your comment!
I have not used Lip Fusion myself. But I have tried a couple of lip products that have a plumping effect.
I know Lip Fusion is very popular in the US. But I would not think that the actual plumping effect is as good as what plastic surgery can do, mainly because the effect is short-term at best.
Also, some people (like me) who have sensitive skin will not like any kind of tingling sensation (which is basically a form of skin irritation). I myself find the tingling sensation a huge discomfort.
For people who prefer a temporary lip-plumping effect and who don’t find the sensation irritating, things like Lip Fusion may be worth considering. But many lip glosses can achieve virtually the same visual effect. One of my favorites is the Dior’s DiorKiss lip gloss line.
Thank you very much again for taking your time to leave a comment!
You sure do have a lot of good Anti-aging information on your blog. Do you ever review wrinkle creams if users submit them?
Hi Karla,
I am assuming you meant guest reviews, and at the moment I don’t feature them on my blog.
Thank you very much for stopping by! :)