Because the pros know about smart routines and ingredients, we asked them how they shield themselves from the sun's rays.
Because the pros know about smart routines and ingredients, we asked them how they shield themselves from the sun's rays.
LOVE THE SUN SAFELY
Wide-brimmed hats are a start.
THE SCIENTIST
Frauke Neuser, principal scientist for Olay
TRUST IN VITAMIN B3
Frauke has been involved in cutting-edge science and products for brands such as Olay for 18 years. And she has worn a moisturiser with SPF every day of it. Her must-have ingredient, other than sunscreen: niacinamide (aka vitamin B3). Among its superpowers, the vitamin can increase the skin’s natural defence against UV rays, research shows. In one of Olay’s studies, for example, women who applied lotion with niacinamide daily for two weeks and were exposed to an average amount of UV rays showed less damage compared to those using a placebo cream. “We know niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier and boosts cell metabolism and energy, all of which the skin needs to protect and repair itself,” she says.
RELAX A LITTLE
As a surfer, Frauke applies thick water resistant mineral sunscreen and is obsessive about reapplying. But regular workdays are a one-and-done approach. “Olay did a study a few years ago that looked at what happened to an application of SPF15 during a normal indoor workday,” she says. “After eight hours, it was still an SPF15. Unless you’re sweating or wiping your face, it doesn’t weaken.” A handy tip “I keep a bottle of sunscreen by the door and rub it on my hands before I leave,” she says. “When you drive, your face isn’t always exposed, but hands on the steering wheel are – and they can show the most sun damage.”
THE SKIN CANCER SPECIALIST
Dr Deborah Sarnoff , president of the Skin Cancer Foundation and clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine
THE NAKED TRUTH
A reformed sun worshipper, Dr Sarnoff “lost her appetite” for tanning after watching skin cancer surgery in medical school. Now, you will find her under a big hat and coated in sunscreen, which she swears by applying in the buff . “It’s easy to miss spots if you’re trying not to get it on your clothes,” she says. “After a shower, I’ll think about what I’m going to wear and what will be exposed, then I apply it where needed before I get dressed.”
GO FOR A HINT OF TINT
For her body, Dr Sarnoff likes lightweight lotions with chemical UV filters because she finds them easier to rub in. “I tell my patients to use whatever sunscreen they like the smell and feel of because it won’t do any good if they can’t stand it and don’t wear it.” But for her face, she opts for lotion with zinc oxide, a powerful physical blocker. Her tip: Get one that is tinted. While zinc-based lotions can leave skin a bit chalky, tinted formulas are like BB creams – they protect and even out skin tone in one step.
FILL IN THE HOLES
Dr Sarnoff does not leave home without a pair of sunnies, which offer protection for the eyes and the skin around them. That is key: A University of Liverpool study found that when people apply sunscreen to the face, they miss 10 per cent of skin on average – often around the eyes. Considering that a whopping 5 to 10 per cent of all skin cancers occur on the eyelids, you need the protection. Lips are another area prone to developing basal and squamous cell carcinomas (two of the most common forms of skin cancer), yet one study found that 70 per cent of beachgoers – even those who had applied sunscreen elsewhere – were not wearing lip protection. Dr Sarnoff likes an opaque lipstick because, unlike gloss, it acts as a de facto physical blocker.
Dr Diane Jackson-Richards, director of the Multicultural Dermatology Clinic at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit
Dr Jackson-Richards checks herself for signs of skin cancer – dark spots and abnormal moles or growths – almost every day. “Just look in the mirror when you brush your teeth,” she says. (It is worthwhile, when you consider that the majority of basal cell carcinomas occur on the head and neck regardless of skin tone.) But once every four months, she takes out a hand mirror and stands in front of a full-length mirror or sits on the bed to look everywhere – her back, her thighs, everywhere.
Research shows that although those with darker skin tones have a lower incidence of skin cancer, the survival rate is worse because diagnosis usually comes at later stages. So it is important to screen yourself regularly and flag suspect spots for your dermatologist.
Dr Jackson-Richards uses an SPF30 lotion on most days, but pushes it to 50 or even 70 when outdoors for longer periods. “There’s debate about whether you need an SPF that high, but I think it ensures a bit more protection,” she says. Research suggests that most people do not apply a thick enough layer of sunscreen; choosing a high SPF provides some insurance that you will be well protected even if you skimp.
Dr Jackson-Richards prefers sunscreen lotions, but if she is using a spray – it is convenient, she says – then she takes extra care while applying. “I’ll spray it on and then use my hands to rub it in to make sure I haven’t missed a spot.”
Jennifer Hay, researcher specialising in melanoma and attending psychologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City
“I don’t over-rely on sunscreen,” says Jennifer, whose father died of melanoma when she was 7. “There’s a misconception that if you use sunscreen well, you can stay out and be safe.” The truth: Even high SPFs let through about 3 per cent of the sun’s carcinogenic rays – and that is assuming you apply sunscreen correctly. So Jennifer relies more on clothing, hats and planning. As much as possible, she schedules her days to avoid direct sun when it is most risky: from 10am to 2pm.
