I know what you are thinking. “‘The only product’? My sunscreen offers protection from UVA and UVB rays. Isn’t that complete protection?” No.
Let’s start by assuming you really do not know the difference between UVA and UVB rays. Get out your pen and paper – write this down! UVB rays are the ones that burn your skin. They only reach the skins surface (epidermis), and are only prevalent when the sun is out and shining (mostly in the summer). And now for the shocker – they only make up 5% of damaging rays from the sun. So where do the other 95% of the damaging rays come from? That’s right – it’s your UVA rays. They are the ones that go straight through your windows of your house and car, straight through your clothes, and penetrate deeper into the skin (dermis layer). It does not matter whether the sun “is out” – rain or shine, clouds or bright light, Winter or Summer – your skin is soaking up those UVA rays right through that heavy parka you wear in the winter.
Oh, and did I mention there are short AND long wave UVA rays? Prior to UV Expert 20, no product on the market or in the industry ANYWHERE had the ability to block short wave UVA rays. Although short wave UVA rays were known by dermatologists, scientists, etc., there were no products out there to protect your skin from that damage, so it was little talked about. L’Oreal (Lancome) found a way to filter those rays using Mexoryl SX, which they patented, so until they sell the rights NO ONE in the industry will have the protection UV Expert 20 offers.
So now you are getting confused. You are wondering, if these rays do not burn the skin then why do I have to worry about them? UVA rays are the leading cause of skin cancer, and cause up to 90% of aging (lines and wrinkles, age spots, loss of firmness and elasticity). Those age spots that are now just appearing on your skin? Those lines and wrinkles that are popping up on your face and neck? That sagging skin you hoped you would never have? That is actually the consequences to the damage that you did to your skin 15 years ago! It takes 15 years for the damage done by UVA rays to show up at the epidermis level.
Oh! And now you are telling me that you never go out in the sun. Weren’t you listening? UVA rays are the ones that go through windows, on rainy/cloudy days, and straight through your clothes. Do you ever ride in the car? Or walk from the house to your mailbox? 10 minutes of unprotected exposure is enough to damage your skin at a deep level. UV Expert 20 with Mexoryl is all you need for your everyday exposures to these damaging and dangerous rays.
Now, I know another question you are going to have. “SPF 20? That’s not enough, shouldn’t it be SPF 50?” Actually, SPF 20 is all you need for everyday sun exposure. SPF only protects against UVB rays to keep your skin from burning. If you aren’t sure what SPF you need, just take the number (20) and multiply it by 10. That gives you the number of minutes you can stay outside in direct sunlight before having to reapply your sunscreen.
One last thing. Mexoryl is photostable, which means that it maintains it’s UVA protection when exposed to those rays for long periods of time.
Cool, isn’t it? It is FDA approved (it took 5 years, and is only the 2nd sunscreen to EVER be FDA approved. The last one was 17 years ago!), which means that if you go to your department store they will not be able to give you samples. The FDA regulates this sunscreen as if it were a drug. We recommend anyone over 6 months of age wearing this everyday. I personally recommend wearing it on your face, neck, chest, arms and hands, where you get the most damage. The sunscreen is only $33, which is a steal for complete protection that will actually keep the damage that has already occurred from coming up to the surface (no, really, if you use this everyday those age spots, wrinkles, etc., will most likely never surface). And it’s moisturizing too! Wear it under your foundation as an alternative to your regular moisturizer during the summer if you just want light moisture.
So, what have you learned? UV Expert 20 is the ONLY product in the industry, on the market, that is able to protect against all the rays of the sun. Even Neutrogena which boasts “better than before UVA protection” can NOT block short wave UVA rays, regardless of what you read. They can’t, and they don’t. They have better protection against long wave UVA rays, but not short wave. The ONLY filter for that is Mexoryl, which is owned solely by L’Oreal (who owns Lancome). So until they sell the rights – you won’t find this protection anywhere else.
If you are going to spend your money – spend it on something that is worth it. Don’t go only half-way when it comes to your skin and your health. And don’t skimp out on your children’s skin either. Say “no” to that new $35 shirt you were eyeing, and pick up a bottle of UV Expert 20 with Mexoryl. Do yourself a favor and protect yourself and the ones you love.
Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
