SPF-RYWHERE

Recently I needed to replace my daily moisturizer. I bought 3 at a time last time because there was a good sale. Unfortunately, I am guessing because it was kind of old, my last jar suddenly separated and was unusable. I was ill prepared with a back-up stash. So I ventured to the local drug store to see what I could get that would be acceptable until I could afford a better brand. Little did I know what a challenge it would be to get a decent, reasonably priced, moisturizer. Brand after brand touted itself to be the best, but ultimately only listed it’s primary function as sunscreen. I was looking for something that would reduce the appearance of wrinkles, even tone and texture and keep my skin fresh and young. Every tube/jar/bottle I picked up said it was a daily moisturizer, yet when I looked on the back under directions and uses; it's only listed use as sunscreen and not one word about wrinkles and improving skin. 

Now, I already have make-up foundation with SPF and I am ok with that, I don’t need it in my other face products. If I wanted sunscreen, I would buy sunscreen. If SPF is an “added bonus” to the function of a product, (as it is with my foundation) I can be ok with that too. It  doesn’t bother me too much if there is some other so called “benefit” if the main function is what I want. I want the reduced wrinkles, improved tone and texture, and youthful appearance to be the star, not the side note. These products didn’t even make the effort to list the side note. They dedicated every inch of space to promote use as a sunscreen and some also went to the trouble of stating on the package that it reduces the risk of skin cancer and recommended limiting any sun exposure.

Honestly, I feel like there is constant overstatement on the benefit of SPF. Don’t get me wrong. There is a need for it at times. But doubled up between moisturizer and foundation, daily? Why is that necessary? What about the days that the sun isn’t out, what about the fact that I am indoors most of my regular work week? I think I can manage to put sunscreen on separately when it is called for, like when I am at the park, not when I am sitting at my desk for 8 hours. SPF doesn’t really need to be in every single product and doesn’t need to be the biggest selling point of any product except sunscreen.

Think about what sunscreen does. It blocks your skin from functioning in a way it was designed. This is why we are seeing so many people deficient in Vitamin D and people are resorting to supplements. We have been brainwashed to believe the sun is bad and will kill us if we expose our skin for even one minute. This is ridiculous. While there is a time and a place for protecting our skin from the sun, there is also a need for UV exposure to improve our health. The goal should be moderate non burning UV exposure and avoid overexposure. These products, the message from the cosmetic industry and dermatologists is to avoid any and all UV. They want you to think that having unprotected skin is a sure fire sentence to death by melanoma. That isn’t true. Science doesn’t support that concept. No one would have survived in the years where people were outdoors more than indoors and before the invention of sunscreen. Humanity would be extinct. 

P.S. I'm back! Visit regularly, I have a few more thoughts on sunshine, tanning, sunscreen, and UV exposure to share. Thanks for reading. I know this is a bit rusty... hopefully getting back into the swing of things will get my writing brain back in shape.