The Biggest Secret of Youthful Skin

by Livia Mercer

Would you like to know the biggest secret to a wrinkle free skin?

Here it is! STAY OUT OF THE SUN!!

I bet that's not what you wanted to hear. But there it is. The biggest cause of wrinkles and the signs of aging is sun damage. Over a hundred years ago the sign of affluence among ladies of means was a lily white skin. When they ventured out of doors they wore long sleeved dresses, hats and parasols.

Quite antiquated by today's fashions of sun bronzed goddesses in miniscule bikinis on the beach for hours and later lobstered and wincing in pain at the slightest touch. But maybe those antiquated ladies of past centuries knew a thing or two about beauty after all. In our beautiful country with inviting beaches and outdoor lifestyle it is very difficult to avoid the sun. But we can take measures to minimize its damaging affects.

We all know the slogan in Australia: Slip, Slop, Slap.

If you want good skin, take it to heart. Always use a broad spectrum sunscreen. Look for ones that say they protect from UVA and UVB rays. Look for ones that have zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as these are the physical sunblocks that stops the sun's rays from penetrating the skin and causing damage. What do UVA and UVB rays do? UVA stands for Aging - as these rays penetrate the skin deeply and cause long term damage, resulting in wrinkles. UVB stands for Burn - as these rays penetrate the top layers of the skin causing redness, inflammation and a lot of pain. Always apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapply after a couple of hours if you must remain in the sun, but the better option is to go indoors. Always go for an SPF 30+ but be aware that in this case the numbers don't add up. You can't use a moisturizer with an SPF 15+ and a foundation with an SPF 15+ to get your SPF30+. Whichever product has the highest SPF rating that is the level of protection your skin is getting. Also don't forget your parasol. They might just come back into fashion.

© 2006-2007 Livia Mercer - The Beauty Review Online Magazine

About the Author:
Livia Mercer is the creator of The Beauty Review. A FREE monthly online magazine for women who love beauty and cosmetics and want REAL product reviews by REAL women. For a free, subscription, visit: http://www.thebeautyreview.com.au

Keywords: anti aging, sun damage, sun safety, cosmetics, skincare, tips, youthful, skin

NOTE: You're welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info at the end), and you send a copy of your reprint to livia@thebeautyreview.com.au

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