Why we need to wear sunscreen on daily basis?

Ever since I moved to Doha (the temperature could reach as high as 50 degree), I becoming more conscious about wearing the right sunscreen. Is not that I don’t wear sunscreen daily; in fact I apply sunscreen every day, whether it shines or rains or whether I’ll be indoor or outdoor.  I was more concerned about the SPF, I used to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 PA++ but somehow I felt it's not enough to protect my skin.

So I switched to sunscreen with SPF 50 PA+++ and I feel more secured now.. 

Well with SPF 50, theoretically, I could stay outdoor for at least 8 hours 20 minutes before I would get sunburn! Hooray!!! 

But of course, nobody would stay outdoor for that long in here, especially during summer!

Ok, let’s get started with topic!

We all know that the rays that come from the sun, UVA and UVB rays, could caused damage to our skin, from early skin aging, eye damage (including cataracts) to skin cancers. By wearing sunscreen/sunblock, it will help to protect our skins from UVA and UVB rays. Thus even when summer is over, that doesn’t mean you could skip sunscreen/sunblock in the winter. It’s still vital to apply protection 365 days a year!

Knowing the difference between UVA and UVB rays can help you pick up the best and suitable sunscreen/sunblock for your skins.

What is UVA and what is UVB?

UVA (Ultraviolet-A) rays constantly present, no matter the season or the weather. They are so powerful that they also penetrate some clothing and even glass. So, most of us are actually exposed to large amount of UVA throughout our lifetime.

UVA rays are responsible for the signs of aging because they penetrate deeper into your skin than UVB, and has been long known to cause skin aging and wrinkling.

In short, when you think of UVA rays, think sun spots, uneven skin tone and wrinkles.

UVB (Ultraviolet-B) rays are rays you can blame when you get sunburn or skin reddening. Unlike UVA rays, these rays aren’t the same strength year round – its intensity varies by season, location and time of a day.

So when you think of UVB rays, think sun burn and cancer.

(For further understanding about UVA and UVB, you can learn from here)

So, what is the difference between sunscreen and sunblock?

Sunscreen is a chemical sunscreen/ organic sunscreen. It acts a like a sponge; absorbing the sun’s ray. Chemical sunscreen texture is colourless, odourless and runny.  It can sometimes double as a makeup primer (depending on the active and the formulation).

Common ingredients found in chemical sunscreen: Octylcrylene, Avobenzone, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Oxybenzone, Homosalate, Helioplex,A-MBC, Mexoryl SX and XL, Tinosorb S and M, Uvinul T150, Uvinul A Plus.

Sunblock is a physical sunscreen/inorganic sunscreen. It acts like a shield; deflecting or blocking the sun’s rays.  Physical sunscreen texture usually thick and opaque which can be hard to apply. It tends to leave a white cast and rubs off more easily too, so frequent application is necessary. Common ingredients found in physical sunscreen: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and Zinc oxside (ZnO).

(You can read more information here.)

And what is the difference SPF and PA+++?

SPF (sun protection factor) shows protection against UVB rays, the rays that causing sunburn. The number in SPF represent the length of time you can stay out in the sun without burning.  To see how long your sunscreen will last, take a number of SPF and multiply it by 10 (a person would normally start to bun in 10 minutes).

For example: SPF 15 x 10 = 150 minutes (2 hour 30 minutes) of sun protection

                     SPF 30 x 10 = 300 minutes (5 hours) of sun protection

PA shows protection against UVA rays, the rays that causing photo-aging.

PA is rated by PA+ (the least protection), PA++ (medium protection) and PA+++ (the greatest protection).

Simply put, when you shop for a sunblock/sunscreen be sure to select one that offers a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB protection.

Who should wear sunscreen/sunblock?

Anyone over the age of six months should use a sunscreen daily. My kids are wearing sunscreen. 

How to protect our skin?

-      I believe you’ve heard advice to stay out the sun through mid day hours, right? It’s the UVB rays you’re avoiding (try to avoid sun between 10 and 4pm, when UVB rays are the strongest).

-      Apply minimum sunscreen SPF 30 on areas will be exposed to the sun

-      Re-apply sunscreen every 3-4 hours, if you intend to stay outdoor longer.

Remember don’t let a cloudy day affect your decision to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. The less you protect your skin, the more prone you are to sunburn, cancer and aging. And don’t forget your sunglasses to protect our eyes too!

Happy shopping and Good luck ladies!

  

Love, Shantz

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

From 1^st July onwards, Google has shutdown their blog reading program Google Reader which means that everyone reading this blog using Google Reader will no longer able to L.

However this not the end of the road, you could still read my blog through bloglovin’ just click this button here

For the past few months, I have enjoyed reading beauty and fashion blogs from a reader called bloglovin’. What I love about this reader, there is some categorization to select what type of blogs your want to read; from Art, Beauty, Design, DIY & Crafts, Entertainment, Family, Fashion and many more. This makes blog-reading lots of easier and fun. Just check this out. I’m sure you guys gonna love it J

Love, Shantz

{Review} - Khiel's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution

Hooray! Finally I did my first product reviewJ.

I love whitening products especially now I am in my early 30s and I could see some pigmentation around my cheeks. As many of you who struggle with skin pigmentation issue know fading those pesky dark spots can be the most challenging skincare issue of all. The most frustrating thing is to wake up every morning to the same dark spot, day after day, with little to no improvement.

Currently I depend on my 2 holy grails products - SK-II Whitening Spot Specialist serum and Cellumination Essence Ex Serum to combat and prevent old as well as new spot formation. Some of you must be wondering why I still try Khiel’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot solution since I already found my holy grails products, right? What can I say? I’ve always been fascinated by whitening as well as pore minimiser products. I read many positive rave reviews about this serum and it is also one of Khiel’s customers favourite and best sellers product. And since I have run out my SK-II Cellumination Essence Ex, why not try this product. Although I don’t really put too much expectation on Khiel’s but hey the product still deserve a chance. Like a famous saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, this product might not be expensive but maybe the result might be either match or do even better than my current ones.

Kiehl's describes Clearly Corrective as a product designed to target discoloration and dark spots, using a key ingredient called Activated-C and White Birch and Peony Extracts correct skin tone and improves clarity. You can read more about product here.

Interesting diagram from Khiel’s website about the ingredient spotlight and how the serum works:

The Khiel’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution comes in a nice glass bottle and an applicator that reminds me of my beloved SK-II Cellumination Essence Ex. In the bottle, although the serum looks like water but it is in fact a little tacky when applied. I need to pat my face longer for the serum to seep into the skin before applying my moisturizer.  This is something that I did not have to worry when I was using my SK-II serums. I prefer to use this serum in the morning (you can use it day and night) following with only moisturiser and sunblock (when I used Khiel’s serum, I tend to skip most of SK-II regime). I prefer to apply lesser skin care products on day especially when I am going put on some make-up. Slapping too much skin care products will cause your make up to slide down. GASP! 

The texture reminds me a little of SK-II Facial Treatment Repair C.

All you need is just one pump of applicator to
bring just the right amount of serum for the whole face.

So, did it work?

Even after I have finished up the product (It took me about 5 months –like I said, I was only using it one drop every morning). I find that my skin tone is only a tad lighter. However, I find this product work best for me in term of lightening only on my blemishes/ acnes spots (when the acnes are just about to heal) no so much on my pigmentation spots. So in short, my skin condition maintained status quo.  I’m not saying that this serum is mediocre, just that maybe my skin has already ‘customized’ to SK-II products. SK-II worked great because my skin was really bad to start with, so this might be unfair to Khiel’s. But it’s a good product as it does lighten my overall skin complexion.

So, what is my final thought on the product?

·         Easy to use? Yes, but need to pat a little longer.

·         Price? Quite pricy but still affordable comparing to SK-II.

·         Value? Excellent – lasted much longer than expected.

·         Does it work? Yes in term of lightening of my acne scars and No in term of lightening my pigmentation spot. But the product does lighten my overall face complexion.

·         Would I purchase again? Maybe.

Have you tried this product? Let me know how it’s working for you.

Just showing my emptied bottle of Khiel's.

Love, Shantz

Diaper Free!!

This entry is actually non-beauty related; I just want to record every little progression each of my kids has made.

Today, July 7^th 2013, marks an important progression of my eldest son, Brayden.

Brayden is finally diaper-free boy! Yeah..!!!  He is now 3 yrs 8 months. Well done, son!

For the past 1 year, he only wore diapers on nightly basis before he goes to bed and when we go out.  But ever since we moved to Doha, and ever since he has his own room and new bed, he stopped wearing diapers before he sleeps. I guess my eldest boy has grown up! And finally we could save some $$ on diapers; diapers and formula milks are very costly.

So now it’s time to toilet-trained my youngest son.

Love, Shantz