Sunscreens and Clogged Pores???
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free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:35 am

I am totally clueless when it comes to sunscreens, but have been using MD Formulations Total Protector 30 since using this skincare line for the past month. If you read this article, it tells you that zinc oxide (which seems to be the main ingredient in this sunscreen) can be pore clogging. Does anyone know of a sunscreen that contains Avobenzone (also called Parsol), or even a moisturiser with built in sunscreen, or something that is less pore clogging? I am wondering whether this is contributing to my clogged pores. Also, because I already have a colour, I am wondering whether I need to have such a high factor (especially here in the UK ). Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

Spf or sun ptotection factor, is the amount of increased protection a sunscreen provides. If you are like most people, you will begin burning after 15 minutes without protection. An SPF helps protect against sunburn, and does not “stop” the tanning process completely!!! It’s the burning that you want to omit, that is what causes skin damage! it’s not the tan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Determine your protected sunning time by multiplying the SPF number by the amount of time it normally takes you to show signs of burning if unprotected.

For example: Spf 8: 8 x 15 = 2 hours of increased protection.

Spf 15: 15 x 15 = 3 3/4 hours protection.

If you burn in 5 minutes (usually very sensitive skin) with an spf 15: 15 x 5 = l h 15 increased protection.

Most common sunscreen ingredients are: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and avobenzone (also called parsol 1789) and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane.

Avobenzone (also called Parsol) is less pore clogging than titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, but some people do experience irritation (rash or little red bumps) from avobenzone. Titanium Dioxide and Zinc oxide are natural products but can be more pore clogging as they sit on the skin’s surface and deflect back the UV rays, rather than absorbing into the dead layer of the epidermis.

A combination of Avobenzone and titanium dioxide or zinc oxide may be less clogging then td or zinc alone for some people. But in the end they all block the pores to a certain degree because of there texture.

Remember the lesser the spf in your cream or lotion the less chances your skin will react!! for example an spf 8 in your cream will give you minimal to no skin irritations or pore clogging!!! So it comes down to choose what works or is best for your skin or what you feel more comfortable with!

spf 2 blocks: 50%
spf 8 blocks: 86%
spf 15 blocks: 92%
spf 30 blocks: 96%

Spf 8-15: Is sufficient to give your skin ideal protection against the harmful effects of light for normal exposure to the sun like at home, at the office, in the city, day to day errands,. but the more sun you are exposed to (an entire day at the beach, for instance) the higher the SPF should be to give your skin optimal protection.

Sunscreen: Is usually a cream or lotion. It is a chemical protective product works by absorbing a minimal amount of the uv rays and filtering them. Many people have allergic reactions to the chemicals in sunscreen seen as a rash…

Sunblock: Is usually an opaque cream or paste. Provides a physical block that functions by reflecting rays. sunblocks contain natural minerals. Sunblock protects you by reflecting the uv rays before they penetrate your skin. Makeup with spf in it do not offer enough protection against the sun you are better to skip those entirely and splurge on a good moisturizer with sunscreen or a sunblock.

One should never go to bed with sunscreen on your face, not to mention all the chemicals that will sit there causing irritation and blocking your pores. At night your skin heals and renews itself taking in nutrients from the air and your treatment creams. The skin’s optimal renewal action takes place between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. this is a time to nourish the skin not block the pores…… Please wash off your sunscreens as soon as you can.

Again I stress my view on spfs use - apply them when you need them do not abuse there use…… they are meant to be used when you are outside….

When you need protection from the sun especially during summer time, or whenever you are out in the open, for day to day use in the summer while doing errands, in and out of the home/car all day then an SPF 8 to 15 is sufficient… You can apply 30 when you will be outside for a longer period of time. In my opinion high spf lotions are not to be used daily all year round if you are not working outside or if you will be inside most of the day…..

If you really feel the need to wear a cream with spf daily stick with the ones that have a low spf… like an spf 8 and use an spf of 30 on areas (spot treat) where you need extra protection such as discolorations spots….. In my opinion if you are inside most of the day you do not need a cream with an spf in it!!!

Best protection is to wear a hat whenever possible and stay out of the sun during the peak hours of 10/11 a.m. - 3/4 p.m.

Note: If you have pigmentation spots (discoloration) and are worried about them you can spot treat them with an spf 15-30 if you wish!!! instead of putting an high spf all over the face.

Did you know that Vitamin C,Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Carrot Oil and Vitamin E help support the skin’s natural defences against uva/uvb! Vitamin E protects the cells against the adverse effect of free radicals, it protects skin during sun exposure!

Many studies have shown that antioxidants may be a very important strategy for preventing skin cancer.!

Aloe Vera was used 1000s of years ago as an essential protection against the rays of the sun.!

If you will be spending time out in the sun please always apply a sun block/sunscreen over your serums or creams containg vitamin A or C.!!!!!!!!!!

My tips for this summer!!

- First time you go out in the sun, go for no longer then 30 minutes - fairer skin less time and find a shade place you can go too after the initial 30 minutes then increase gradually through the summer always protecting the skin!

- Go out between the times of 9-11 am and after 3-4 p.m.

- Prepare the skin properly and treat the skin after being out in the sun!

To prepare the skin properly apply your moisturiser under your sunscreen or sunblock, the layers help to protect the skin! After your time in the sun wash off your sunscreen or sunblock and apply a moisturiser or product designed for after sun!!

Please try and stay away from tanning beds, in my opinion they are not safe for your skin!

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:47 am

Quote:

It’s the burning that you want to omit, that is what causes skin damage! it’s not the tan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry sharons, but I don't agree at all. Burning is caused by UVB but it's not the only way to damage your skin.

A tan is result of either a slight combo of UVB and UVA radiation (delayed tanning) or just UVA radiation (immediate tanning) and UVA rays penetrate the lower levels of the skin and cause aging. So a tan is a sign of skin damage.

We don't just look at the SPF in sunscreens. We also check the PPD (persistent pigment darkening) which tells you how much UVA protection it gives you and that's a major factor for most of us in our search.

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:59 am

Sorry Molly, I really am (honestly) clueless about Sunscreen. I am half Jamacian, so I thought that with my colouring, I already have a natural protection. Due to this, I thought I might need a slightly lower protection and hoped I could find something that was maybe less pore clogging. Also, (without sounding too dumb) I couldn't really understand your answer Confused

.

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:14 am

Hi
We've discussed sunscreens here ad infinitum and we're all confused too

so join the club. But I think most of us are agreed on the general principle that both UVB and UVA do damage the skin. Tanning is a sign that you have come into contact with these. What to use as SS is where we are all divided.

Anyway, here are a couple of things to read which I think explain the basics quite clearly
There's my sunscreen faq here (which needs a few changes already in the light of new info)
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=15442
And here's Kathleen's page with some more depth
http://www.skincarecentral.biz/sunscreens-about-.html

And yes, you're lucky your skin does have natural protection so you won't age as rapidly as me Sad

but you are still aging from UVA radiation just at a slower rate.

I read that having a tan gives you around SPF4, but I've never read anything saying what protection having naturally darker skin would give you. Maybe someone else knows. It would be interesting if there was some info somewhere.

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much right now as you head for a dark UK winter and you have darker skin. In fact I'm not going to worry so much either (just some light mineral protection for me, I think) when I fly back to London soon. Loads of people will disagree with that though so don't quote me Laughing

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:21 am

sharons123 wrote:

Does anyone know of a sunscreen that contains Avobenzone (also called Parsol), or even a moisturiser with built in sunscreen, or something that is less pore clogging?

Yes. I really like Peter Thomas Roth ultra sheer moisturiser which has parsol in it. I have had big problems with sun creams and moisturisers with sunscreen in the past clogging my pores.

This is not a sun cream but a moisturiser with sunscreen, I would say it's sufficient unless
you are actually going out sunbathing or in hot sun all day. (though PTR also has suncreams with Parsol).

I did not know that this moisturiser had parsol in it till I got it (my facialist had just recommended the product) - actually i had not heard of parsol before I read it on the label.
It's £40 at Space NK and £20 on EDS.
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/peter-thomas-roth-max-she-p_950.htm

If you'd like to try this before you buy it, I'd be happy to put some in a small pot and post to you (as you're in the UK the costs are insignificant to me). I've got some in a pump action bottle but I'm not using it much at the moment as the weather is do dull and I'm hardly outdoors.

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:35 am

Molly, thank you for your reply, I will look into the information you have provided. There is an article I have read which says, and I quote,
"Black skin has great advantages over white skin in sun exposure. As melanin is distributed more evenly and produced faster in black skin, it can absorb more UV light (30 percent more than white skins), thus minimizing the damage to underlying cells. The thicker surface layer of skin gives more protection, and a higher concentration of sweat and sebaceous glands results in swifter skin cooling. The secretions from these glands filter the rays more efficiently. Though, it is less likely, black skin can nevertheless burn if unprotected and unused to strong sunlight".
That's the only thing I know of. I think I need to read a little more about UVA and UVB. Once again, thanks for your reply.

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:50 am

Hello daisylondon, thanks for your contribution and suggestion. I have never used PTR, but seems to have good reviews on here. Do you use the whole of this skincare line? If you are not using this moisturiser at the moment, what are you using instead? Hope you don't mind me being so nosey Embarassed

By the way thank you for your offer, I will PM you if I decide to take up your offer.

daisylondon wrote:

sharons123 wrote:

Does anyone know of a sunscreen that contains Avobenzone (also called Parsol), or even a moisturiser with built in sunscreen, or something that is less pore clogging?

Yes. I really like Peter Thomas Roth ultra sheer moisturiser which has parsol in it. I have had big problems with sun creams and moisturisers with sunscreen in the past clogging my pores.

This is not a sun cream but a moisturiser with sunscreen, I would say it's sufficient unless
you are actually going out sunbathing or in hot sun all day. (though PTR also has suncreams with Parsol).

I did not know that this moisturiser had parsol in it till I got it (my facialist had just recommended the product) - actually i had not heard of parsol before I read it on the label.
It's £40 at Space NK and £20 on EDS.
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/peter-thomas-roth-max-she-p_950.htm

If you'd like to try this before you buy it, I'd be happy to put some in a small pot and post to you (as you're in the UK the costs are insignificant to me). I've got some in a pump action bottle but I'm not using it much at the moment as the weather is do dull and I'm hardly outdoors.

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 7:03 am

I have at stages used the whole skincare line but i've been flirting with other stuff I've got as samples or ordered after joining EDS.

But right now I'm using a mixture of Organic Pharmacy and PTR (yes weird mixture I know of natural and clinical but PTR also uses a lot of natural stuff, do have a look at the PTR website). My skin was happiest when I was using PTR but Eve Lom cleansing balm (just as a make up remover) so I am thinking of moving back that.

I just wanted to try some Organic Pharmacy stuff out really. It's mainly OP stuff to wash and hydrate in the morning then PTR at night (when I am 'treating' my skin). So at the moment, in the morning I put on OP moisturiser (it's a nice fluid texture) which doesn't have any sunscreen in it. Some days if Im not going to have any risk of all at sun, I'll put on my PTR hydrating lotion which is 10% glycolic. I'd never do that in the summer. You can put it on in the day and go out in the sun but only if you have sunscreen on top but I don't like
layering products.

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:13 am

I just wanted to note that I have never had problems with sunscreen and clogged pores when I used an oil cleanser to remove the sunscreen. i remember a few years ago, when i did not use an oil cleanser, i would frequently get pimples. I think a lot of people who complain about sunscreen leading to breakouts aren't necessary having an adverse reaction to the sunscreen itself but are not properly removing it, which is the problem.

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:11 am

I do believe that sunblock clogs pores. Science just isn't advanced now to solve this problem. Try to find some less heavy sunblocks, such as SkinXeuticals, which is the best I have tried.

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:15 am

I do infact cleanse with Dermalogica Pre-cleanse at night to remove make-up and sunscreen. I am trying to narrow down what might be contributing to my pores getting clogged, and thought that maybe it could be the sunscreen. I'm not saying it is, just that it might be. Thanks for your contribution.

skincareaddicted wrote:

I just wanted to note that I have never had problems with sunscreen and clogged pores when I used an oil cleanser to remove the sunscreen. i remember a few years ago, when i did not use an oil cleanser, i would frequently get pimples. I think a lot of people who complain about sunscreen leading to breakouts aren't necessary having an adverse reaction to the sunscreen itself but are not properly removing it, which is the problem.

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:29 pm

i think just about everything put on the skin clogs pores to some extent, even the minerals that are good for the skin. I was addressing the users who experience breakouts with sunscreen.

For some people, it's a problem of not cleansing properly since many people (not really on this forum Smile

, we tend to know a little more than the general population) don't know about precleansing or cleansing oils or what not.

and i don't think we're ever gonna invent sunscreen that doesn't clog pores to some extent since we are in essence, covering our skin with some sort of concoction when we apply skincare.

free skin care · Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:38 pm

I have a dark skin and I still use SPF30. Living in southern california I don't think I really have a choice. The sun is intense here. The PTR All Day Moisturizer with SPF30 and everything else good for your skin (that should be the actual name for it) has done well by me for years.

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