Pharmacymix.com, Skin Care Pharmacy and Blog Specializing in Anthelios and Mexoryl Sunscreens

Will Ferrell Sunscreen

You have to admire celebrities who do something for a good cause and Will Ferrell’s new sunscreen benefiting the charity Cancer for College, certainly benefits a good cause. The new line of amusing sunscreens features Will Ferrell’s name and photo on 3 different lotions: Sexy Hot Tan, Sunstroke and Forbidden Fruit. And it benefits cancer survivors to realize their dream of a college education.

What is wonderful about these sunscreens is that they offer SPF 30 broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and are enriched with aloe and vitamin E. The line is PABA free, Alcohol Free, Mineral Free, Fragrance Free and is marketed as being non-greasy and designed for an active lifestyle.

What’s not so wonderful about the line are some of its active ingredients, which are listed as Homosalate, Oxybenzone, Octisalate, Avobenzone and Octocrylene. It’s good to see that avobenzone is appropriately stabilized with octocrylene. While a very blocker of UVA rays, avobenzone is also highly photounstable (meaning that it degrades upon exposure to light). In Will Ferrell’s sunscreen line, avobenzone is stabilized with octocrylene, meaning that it can hold up in light, delivering good UVA protection.

In a previous post, however, I discussed that some sun filters, including homosalate, oxybenzone and octisalate, included in this line, possess estrogenic side effects. Studies suggest that ingredients possessing estrogenic side effects may increase the risk for breast cancer. As well, oxybenzone has been linked to skin allergies and cell damage.

10 Summer Skin Myths: Busted

According to Dr Barry Powell, UK National Director on Skin Cancer ‘The number of people being diagnosed with a malignant melanoma has quadrupled since the 70s and is still going up.’ Unlike with many cancers, young people are the most at risk. ‘It kills 2,600 people a year, mostly in their 20s and 30s who love the sun.’

A recent article can help you to separate fact from fiction and keep your skin safe this summer.

1. Women sunbathe more, so they are more at risk FALSE It’s true that more women are diagnosed, but they’re also better at getting moles checked early. More men die of skin cancer because they leave it too long before getting checked.
2. Skin cancer is easily cured, you just have to remove the mole. FALSE If caught early enough, skin cancer can be cured, but it spreads quickly to the lymph nodes and other organs. Also, it doesn’t respond well to chemotherapy, so treatments are limited.
3. Even wearing SPF50 doesn’t protect you from the sun 100%. TRUE ‘People go out in the sun when it’s at its hottest, thinking they’re OK because they have sunblock on, but it only gives you 85% protection at best,’ says Dr Powell. During the hottest hours of the day (between 11am and 3pm), cover up and stay in the shade as much as possible.
4. There’s no point buying anything higher than SPF30 TRUE Don’t fret about buying pricey SPF50s, says Dr Powell. ‘SPF 25-30 is all you need. Anything above that doesn’t give you much additional protection.’ (Our note: higher SPFs often result in higher UVA and UVB protection. That said, SPF 60 offers about 99% UVB protection. Any higher than that is minimal)
5. If I go to my GP it’ll take forever to be referred to a specialist FALSE ‘The two-week rule means if your doctor is concerned about your mole he’s obliged to make sure you’re seen within two weeks.’ says Dr Powell. (Note: these are UK regulations)
6. Being in the sun has health benefits TRUE ‘There are lots of positive effects of being in the sun,’ says Dr Powell. ‘It’s a major source of vitamin D and also has a great feel-good factor. We don’t recommend people stay out of the sun completely, just limit the amount of time they spend in it.’
7. You can only take sunblock on holiday once TRUE Sun creams have a shelf life of 2-3 years, but exposing them to direct sunlight can make them go off. If yours was sitting next to you on the beach last year it’s probably time to get a new bottle. (Note: most sunscreen manufacturers state that their product is good for 12 months once opened. However, heat and humidity will decrease this)
8. You only get skin cancer on the areas you’ve exposed FALSE ‘You can get sunburned on your back and it will encourage a mole somewhere else to change,’ says Dr Powell. ‘I saw a nun recently who had a melanoma on her bottom, she certainly hadn’t had any sun there.’ Check all moles regularly.
9. The sun’s not strong enough in this country to cause cancer FALSE ‘The highest instance of malignant melanoma in the UK is in Western Scotland,’ says Dr Powell. ‘The sun doesn’t shine much there but there’s lots of people with Celtic skin who burn easily.’ If you have pale skin take extra care. (Of course, think differently if you live elsewhere – the Southern US, Southern Europe and anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere)
10. 10 An SPF30 always give you 30 times your natural protection FALSE Unless you apply the right amount (a fistful for an adult, a golf ball for a child) SPF protection drops steeply. One study found if you slapped on half the recommended amount of SPF70, you’d get a shockingly low SPF of 8.4. Most people apply a quarter of the amount they should.

Amino Acids In Skin Care

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and as such, they are essential to life. They play important roles in metabolism and nutrition and can now be found in a range of skin care products. Skin care products containing amino acids claim to improve the skin’s moisture barrier, helping to keep it hydrated and more youthful looking. Some manufacturers advertise that topically applied amino acids also have anti-aging benefits, including the ability to reduce wrinkles. Is there any science to back up these claims?

Amino Acids and Skin

Amino acids are major components of collagen and elastin, which make up the skin’s supporting network. As well, they are an integral part of the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), which helps to maintain a healthy skin barrier. A healthy skin barrier is important to help retain moisture and block the entry of foreign particles, which may damage skin.

Studies have shown that amino acids help to hold moisture in the skin; their inclusion in skin care products for this reason makes sense. Some amino acids may also possess antioxidant properties. And others may help to heal wounds. However, there is no research to support their ability to minimize wrinkles.

If products containing amino acids intrigue you, then certainly select them for their ability to help hydrate and moisturize dry skin. If you have dry skin, you may also find the following dry skin tips helpful. Current research doesn’t support the inclusion of amino acids in products promoting their ability to minimize wrinkles.

In Love With: Marie Veronique Organic Sunscreens

You may have noticed that we’ve been introducing more organic and/or natural personal care products to PharmacyMix and I’m excited to introduce another – Marie Veronique Organic Sunscreens.

Beyond just another organic skin care product, Marie Veronique Organics sunscreens have been formulated by an esthetician and a chemist to deliver a range of sun protection products that are not only safe, but effective as well. The sunscreens contain non-micronized, non-nanoparticle zinc oxide. In fact, the Environmental Working Group rates Marie Veronique Organic sunscreens to be amongst the 10 safest and most effective available.

Zinc Oxide and Antioxidant Formulation

Zinc oxide is the only sun filter (chemical or physical) that delivers protection against the full UVA and UVB spectrum – from 290nm up to 400 nm. This ensures that skin is protected not only against sun burn, but also against the long term damage associated with exposure to UVA rays – skin damage, wrinkles, age spots, skin discoloration and some types of skin cancer. If your sunscreen contains only titanium dioxide, you are not getting full UVA/UVB protection.

Marie Veronique sunscreen formulas are non-comedogenic and recommended for use in all skin types. The addition of a green tea base boosts the sun protection level and also helps to protect against free radical damage that may be generated by exposure to UV rays. Marie Veronique’s Sun Serum and Crème de Soleil products contain the benefits of zinc oxide combined with essential fatty acids necessary for powerful anti-aging support such as the richly emollient and healing emu oil and the essential oil helichrysum, known for its anti-inflammatory and skin regenerative properties. The formulations are rounded off with antioxidants including pomegranate seed and red raspberry oils. Marie Veronique sunscreens are free from harmful chemicals, parabens, fillers, waxes or fragrances.

Choose From

We stock a select range of these luxuriously effective multi-purpose sun protection, anti-aging and antioxidant formulations:

• Marie Veronique Sun Sun Serum SPF 20: Marie Veronique’s lightest sunscreen which combines the sun protection power of zinc oxide with the benefits of a potent  anti-aging serum.  Perfect for everyday moisturizing and protection – this product can be used every day as a moisturizer with SPF protection. I’m using this one every day!
• Crème de Soleil SPF 30: Made with zinc oxide, EFA rich emu oil and pearl powder. This light screen protects, repairs sun damage, moisturizes, and gives your skin a lustrous finish.
• Crème de Soleil Tinted SPF 30: made with zinc oxide, EFA rich emu oil and pearl powder.   This light screen protects, repairs sun damage, moisturizes, and gives your skin a lustrous finish. Tinted lightly with the addition of iron oxides.