A. Angie, this is a very common question that my staff and I get asked on a daily basis. Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, your question is very timely. While many makeup products, especially foundation, contain sun protection it is just not enough. According to dermatologist Leslie Baumann, “Makeup does not provide enough coverage,” she said. “You need seven times the normal amount of foundation and 14 times the normal amount of powder to get the sun protection factor on the label. No one does this.”For just your face, Angie, you need to be using about a tablespoon or large nickel-size dollop of sunscreen to ensure you are getting the amount of protection labeled on the bottle. If you used that much foundation, you would either end up looking like you were ready to take the stage or the grave. Think of your makeup as a little extra bonus protection rather than relying on it as your sole source of protection.
Like most women, I’m sure you are concerned with aging, wrinkles and brown spots. Aging from the sun does not happen overnight, but rather over a lifetime. It is a cumulative process that happens every single day and not just on your beach vacation. Any time you drive to work, sit by the window in your office or walk your dog you are exposing your skin to the damaging ultraviolet rays.
The best defense is to apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF 35 every day of the year as the last step before your makeup. If you are going to be outside, be sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours as the protection factor begins to wear off at this time. If you’re already wearing makeup for the day and don’t want to reapply a liquid sunscreen on top of that, did you know they also make dry sunscreen that you can easily dust over your face? jane iredale makes a great one called Powder-Me SPF 30 Dry Sunscreen that comes in three shades. It is a great alternative to traditional sunscreen and makes reapplication a breeze. Want proof it works? Check out this blog post with an amazing after photo.
Don’t let your makeup with SPF give you a false sense of security, Angie. Your youthful, healthy looking skin will thank you. If you have any questions about sunscreen, be sure to talk with a medical professional.
Jennifer Kauffman is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner, practicing in Warsaw and Ft. Wayne. She is a sought after speaker at medical conferences such as the American Academy of Plastic Surgeons. Jennifer is a member of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and Coalition of Advance Practice Nurses of Indiana. She received her Nursing and Nurse Practitioner degrees from Goshen College, and Indiana Wesleyan University. Jennifer is a Clinical Instructor nationally to physicians and nurses on sclerotherapy.
Do you have a question for Jennifer, about this article or another cosmetic skin care issue? Please call Vein Institute & Medical Spa at 574-267-1900 to have your questions answered and considered for future columns. Questions can also be submitted online at www.veinmedicalspa.com
