My Skin Care Routine –Beyond Sunscreen

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019 by madelynsmark ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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Unfortunately, when I googled “care for freckled skin” a lot of the posts that came up were still about getting rid of freckles, or how to “deal” with them (lookin’ at you Allure). But care for freckled skin goes beyond daily sunscreen. Although, and I can’t emphasize this next part enough, SUNSCREEN SHOULD BE A DAILY PART OF YOUR RITUAL.

Now that that’s out of the way, freckles are an indicator that we have skin sensitive to the sun’s rays, so other impacts besides freckles and sunburning may be happening that we can’t see. Dehydration, for example, may exacerbate or speed up the development of fine lines.

The skincare and cosmetics industry stays churning out a never-ending supply of “must have” products that promise everything from youth to impossible beauty standards. Instead of making impulsive, emotional decisions motivated by my own deep-seated insecurities about the way I look, I tend to turn to reddit to make informed decisions about skincare products. I can’t recommend the subreddit r/skincare_addiction enough. It’s a deep reservoir of information and testimonials about skincare products, routine orders, and which products are worth the hefty price tags these skincare products often carry.

While you’re sifting through that massive archive of information, here’s my daily skincare routine. It’s really about finding what works for your unique skin type, but these are the products that have been kind to my skin and effective in addressing my skin issues. I have that stellar combination of oily and dry skin—so I tend to avoid products that are heavy and will make me look like I’m sweating profusely all day, but I still need that added moisture to quench my skin.

Morning Routine

Rinse with cold water, pat dry.
Apply eye serum oil. I use the “Eye Serum” from Thesis. It’s a natural and organic combination of oils that stays smooth under my make up and isn’t too heavy. The oils include Jojoba, Grapeseed, Argan, Rosehip, Lavender, Palmarosa, Blue Chamomile, and Vitamin E. The 1 oz bottle runs around $18, but it lasts me an entire year.
Let it dry, drink coffee/eat breakfast.
Apply daily light sunscreen. For freckled people it’s wise to find a sunscreen you can wear year-round that isn’t too strong in the odor department and goes on smooth under make up. Read my earlier review and recommendation of Coola.
Brush teeth while letting the sunscreen set a little. Apply make up.

Evening Routine

Remove make up/wash skin. I get worried about stripping my skin of its natural oils, so I typically only use make up remover and water at the end of the day. Pat dry.
When skin is completely dry, I use Avene Retrinal Eyes. I gently tap this around any fine lines and crows feet I see starting to form, and then smooth it around the brow bone. This product uses a less intense form of Retrinaldehyde safe for the delicate eye area, but everyone should be careful when trying retinoids for the first time. They supply skin with vitamin A when used topically, but some people have negative reactions like burning and irritation.
After the Avene sets, about 15 minutes, I apply more oil. In the evening I prefer Mountain Rose Herbs Restorative Skin Oil. This is my time to really go nuts with the moisturizing since no one will see my overly-shiny face except my husband and my pillow case. Its divine smell also helps me drift off to sleep.

That’s my basic routine. And as my mom always tells me, don’t forget your neck! What are your go to products? Drop a comment or email me at freckledtheblog@gmail.com.

7 DIY Sunburn Remedies Made From Household Items

May 26, 2019May 27, 2019 by madelynsmark ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Sometimes sunscreen application goes wrong, and we have to deal with the aching, glaring soreness of a sunburn. Unfortunately, sunburns are a consequence I’m all too familiar with. But I’ve also learned how to alleviate the pain, itching, and peeling with natural ingredients found in most kitchen pantries.

Natural Relief for the Sunburned Freckled Person

Vinegar

One of my worst cases of sunburn happened when I was living in Guam. I loved playing in the Pacific Ocean and wasn’t aware how often the island sun would require me to reapply sunscreen. Fast forward a few hours and I’m tomato red with a serious case of sun poisoning.

A severe burn can cause the most subtle movement to hurt the entire body. It’s exhausting, and requires a more intense treatment. That’s how I found myself holding my nose and taking a bath in distilled white vinegar. While odorous, I could bare it for the relief it gave my skin.

Bonnie K. McMillen, R.N., B.S.N., college health nurse at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, told Livestrong that vinegar helps balance the PH levels of sunburned skin, kills germs that could cause infection, and relieves pain.

Aloe Vera

Sometimes the best medicine grows straight from the ground. In the case of sunburns, Aloe Vera stores a thick, clear gel in its leaves that can soothe an angry sunburn. Studies have shown that the Aloe plant species contains Aloin, which combats inflammation. For that reason, Aloe Vera gel is excellent for sunburns as well as rashes, first- and second-degree burns, and even some allergic reactions to bugs and flora.

If you don’t feel like running to convenience store, Aloe plants are fairly easy to grow. Aloe Vera plants are considered a succulent, meaning they prefer drier soil–no worries if you forget to water this plant for a little while. Plant them in a well-draining container and make sure they have six to eight hours of direct sunlight, and you’ll have a personal supply of Aloe leaves.

Green Tea

Photo by Aleksandar Cvetanović on Pexels.com

Green tea is an excellent treatment and relief remedy for singed skin. The National Center for Biotechnology Information found that in a controlled study, green tea significantly healed burned skin faster than sunburned skin that didn’t use any topical remedy.

Green tea contains compounds like polyphenols, which have been proven to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. To spot-treat a burn, simply make green tea as you normally would. Enjoy your tea, and chill the bags by leaving them in the fridge. Apply the green tea bags to the sunburned area for relief. For more coverage, chill all the green tea, then dip a rag into the liquid and dab onto your body.

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is both good for the gut and the skin. Its high concentration of vitamin B can help in cell regeneration of the skin, and the riboflavins keep skin hydrated. So have a snack while you’re soothing a sunburn and save a spoonful for your skin.

Plain Water

A sunburn isn’t just an indicator that the top layers of skin are damaged. Dehydration inside the body often goes hand in hand with scorched skin cells. And, if the body isn’t hydrated, it makes it all the more difficult for your parched skin cells to recover and repair the damage.

Jeffrey Brackeen, MD, advises the Skin Cancer Foundation that sunburned skin actually draws liquids out of the body, making dehydration a greater possibility for sunburned people. To prevent this, it’s important to drink an excessive amount of water while recovering.

Chilled Petroleum Jelly

That study published in NCBI that mentioned the effectiveness of green tea on healing sunburns also studied the use of vaseline. Turns out, it’s just as helpful at speeding up the repair and recovery of a burn.

Reader’s Digest also reports that vaseline keeps quenched sunburns hydrated, and chilling the jar in the fridge first will provide some sweet relief for the aching pain.

Honey

Honey is a super power food that also has an amazing impact on sunburns. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, “honey provides a moist healing environment, rapidly clears infection, deodorizes, and reduces inflammation, edema, and exudation. Also, it increases the rate of healing by stimulation of angiogenesis, granulation, and epithelialization, making skin grafting unnecessary and giving excellent cosmetic results.”

We’ll take it! Honey works great as a quick and easy face mask for cosmetic purposes, and the U.S. military uses it in combat today to clear out infections in open wounds. Honey is everything.

I’d love to hear how you stop the itching, peeling, redness that comes with sunburns. Drop me a comment or email me at freckledtheblog@gmail.com with your favorite sunburn remedies!

When sunscreen application has gone wrong the worst can happen—sunburn. But there are practical, easy ways to heal and manage scorched skin.

New Study Shows Sunscreen Seeps Into Your Bloodstream

May 23, 2019May 27, 2019 by madelynsmark ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Say what now?

When my husband sent me an article that explained how topical sunscreen can enter into our bloodstream, I responded, “Yes! Now even my blood is protected from the sun *vampire emoji.* His reply, “That’s … not normal.”

In early May 2019 the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study, funded by the Food and Drug Administration, that revealed that the active ingredients in sunscreen do indeed absorb into the skin and enter the bloodstream.

So What if There’s Sunscreen in My Body?

For the time being, don’t toss out the sunscreen. Skin cancer is still the number one cancer diagnosis in the United States. In fact, more Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all the other cancers combined. So, continue to protect that skin.

However, the FDA will be looking further into the chemicals that enter the bloodstream. Something that may be nontoxic as a topical treatment could have more harmful effects on the body when absorbed internally. Those that slather on the sunscreen every day could have particularly high levels of these chemicals in their body.

Which Sunscreen Chemicals Are The FDA Studying?

Avobenzone
Oxybenzone
Octocrylene
Ecamsule

Is It Harmful for Sunscreen to Be Absorbed into the Body?

Hopefully not, but the fact is that the FDA and medical doctors just don’t know. At worst, long-term absorption could harmfully impact internal organs. The study has placed a spotlight on how little testing is done on sunscreen chemicals in general.

The FDA is also cracking down on sunscreen companies to submit more data regarding whether their UV-blocking chemicals absorb into the skin beyond the toxicology threshold. If they do, those chemicals could be a carcinogen to the body.

Alternative Sunscreens that Won’t Enter the Bloodstream

As the most avid and enthusiastic sunscreen users, freckled people shouldn’t have to choose between protection from skin cancer and absorbing potentially cancer-causing chemicals in the body. There are some safer sunscreen alternatives out there, while we wait for the FDA to get more definitive answers on chemical sunscreens.

A mineral-based sunscreen is a physical barrier from the sun’s rays –meaning it sits on top of your skin. Because it’s a physical barrier it doesn’t contain all those chemicals that we’re now worried about being absorbed into our bloodstream.

In lieu of those chemicals, mineral sunscreen is made with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which reflect UVA and UVB rays aways from the skin. You can find a mineral sunscreen in a lotion or a powder for your sun protection needs.

How Does SPF Work?

May 5, 2019May 27, 2019 by madelynsmark ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Ever wonder how a cream can magically shield from the sun’s invisible rays? Here’s how our spiffy SPF protects our freckled skin.

Who Was the First to Use SPF?

In the loosest sense of sun protection, SPF use goes back to ancient times. The Egyptians, ancient Greeks, and some Native American tribes used local ingredients to protect from the sun, repair sun damage, and sometimes to lighten skin for cosmetic reasons.

One of the pioneers of sunscreen development was chemist Franz Greiter. His sunscreen was commercially marketed in 1938 and popular among mountain climbers and hikers. Greiter also introduced the SPF concept to the world in the 60s.

What Does That SPF Number Mean?

Every bottle of sunscreen has a little number associated with it, I’ve seen it range from 10 to 150. For longer than I’d like to admit, I thought that number meant how many minutes I could stay outside without worrying about getting sunburned. WRONG. I have all the sunburns to prove it.

I was wrong, but the SPF number does relate to time and sun rays. According to Steven Wang, MD., An SPF of 30 will block about 97 percent of UVB rays, whereas SPF 50 will block about 98 percent. He also states, “Ideally, with SPF 30 it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you weren’t wearing sunscreen.”

How Is the SPF Number Determined?

For every bottle of sunscreen you buy, there’s a burned butt somewhere in the world. Just kidding. Kind of.

In order to protect your skin, someone had to expose a very vulnerable part of their body to some ultraviolet rays.

Sunscreen is tested and created in a lab, where a volunteer exposes a part of their body that the sun doesn’t shine on—typically their butt.

It’s a simple observational experiment. Scientists test how long it takes for the patch of skin to redden after being slathered in sunscreen, then test again for how long it takes that patch to redden with no sunscreen applied. The final step is to divide the number of seconds it took the sunscreened butt to burn by the number of seconds it took the no sunscreen butt to burn. Voilà – SPF.

What’s My Ideal SPF Number?

It’s tempting to buy the highest SPF number out there, slather it on, and go about your business in the sunshine. But this can be one of the worst mistakes sunscreen wearers make. When too much confidence is placed in that high SPF number, people forget to reapply. And keep in mind, these sunscreens are made in a controlled lab setting, while in reality the sun’s intensity varies, like if you’re near the Equator, at the top of a mountain, or in reflective waters.

The Environmental Working Grou p shed light on several reasons why higher SPFs may not be worth the extra cost and confidence. For example, in an experiment conducted by Procter and Gamble, the same brand of 100 SPF sunscreen was sent to five different labs for testing. The SPF results from the labs came back in a range of SPF 37 to SPF 75.

The point is, don’t put all your trust in that SPF number, and reapply as often as possible if you’re out in the sun for long periods of time.

Sunscreen isn’t perfect, but it’s a huge help to a freckled persons health. Slather on (repeatedly) and enjoy not being sunburned!

Feckless Freckles—How Our Freckles Can Cause Harm

May 3, 2019May 5, 2019 by madelynsmark ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

This blog is meant to create an environment of understanding and acceptance of freckles. They’re cute, quirky, and unique—and we celebrate that! But an important part of freckle empowerment is reckoning with the harm that freckled people are more at-risk for.

It’s important to start by saying freckles are not something to be “treated.” They’re your genetics and part of living in a world that depends on sunshine.

Freckles themselves are normal, but they can make it more likely for us to develop abnormal skin conditions. Here are a few things to look out for.

Freckles in Places Not Exposed to the Sun

If you find freckles in places that never see the light of day, like your armpits, groin, or stomach even though you’ve never worn a crop top, then it’s something noteworthy enough to bring up to your dermatologist.

Neurofibromatosis (NF1) is a genetic skin condition with freckles and skin growths as symptoms. While called freckles, these aren’t the type of freckles caused by the MC1R gene. The NF1 freckles can appear at birth, and MC1R freckles can’t, because they require a certain amount of sun exposure to appear.

The NF1 neurofibromas tumors that appear beneath the skin and within the body are generally noncancerous.

Skin Cancers

According to the World Health Organization, when it comes to developing skin cancer, “people with pale or freckled skin, fair or red hair and blue eyes belong to the highest risk group.”

It’s alarming to me that I check all those boxes, but it’s also one of the reasons this blog focuses so heavy on sunscreen slathering every day.

The reason freckles are an indicator (not a cause) that a person might be more susceptible to skin cancer is because freckles are a tell tale sign of low amounts of melanin in the body. Melanin is the skin’s shield from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, and our shields are spotted and filled with holes.

If you notice that a freckle has become raised, itches, or an entire patch of skin has darkened, these are all reasons to make an appointment with your dermatologist.

Did I mention SUNSCREEN?

Hutchinson’s Freckle

Hutchinson’s Freckle is a special kind of dot that is also different from the freckles we inherit in our genes and earn in the sun. This freckle typically develops on people age 40 and over who have had a lot of intensely sunny days in their lives.

It’s usually found on the face or hands, and in the beginning is nothing more than a superficial cancer. However, if you’re concerned that you may have developed a Hutchinson’s Freckle, it’s important to talk to your doctor about a skin biopsy. Left alone, a Hutchinson’s Freckle has the ability to transform into aggressive malignant melanoma.

Reckoning With Your Freckles

When it comes down to it, all the potential harm our freckles can cause is due to having sensitive skin. Luckily, it’s in our control to mitigate these risks by strengthening our skin’s barrier with sunscreen. Also, put a hat on, some shades, and cover your most sensitive areas (shoulders and upper chest for me) with clothing. Then show off your spots in the moonlight.

Sunscreen Review: Coola

May 1, 2019May 5, 2019 by madelynsmark ♥ 1 Comment

Coola sunscreen is highly recommended for its skin nourishing ingredients and weightless feel. But only if you're ready to splurge on sunscreen! — Yes, I broke out my shag rug to take a picture of my beloved (and pricey!) everyday sunscreen. See the smudges on the bottle for proof that this goes everywhere in my purse with me.

This blog post is 100% my own opinion and I have not been compensated monetarily or with any products.

I slather on the sunscreen every day, in every season. If you catch a whiff of some strong, banana boat smell in the middle of a dark and cloudy winter’s day, I’m probably close by.

Since I go through so many tubes of sunscreen, I tend to become obsessed with the ones that work for me. Right now, I’m using Coola sunscreen for daily application to my face. (Yes, I use different sunscreens for face and body).

How to Find the Best Sunscreen

Generally when I find a sunscreen I’m willing to commit to, several factors come into play. My main considerations are weightiness, smell, ingredients, price, skin reaction, and SPF level. Here’s where Coola scores in those sections:

Weightiness

Coola’s lightweight formula is perfect for layering under makeup. Although their site says that the product will reduce shine, I find that it adds a little shine—but in a good way. This is the beauty era of faces glistening with highlighter and hydration, and I find that once I’ve finished putting makeup on, the shine is just enough to glimmer without looking greasy.

Because Coola is lightweight it’s perfect for my everyday sunscreen— it doesn’t look like I’ve glopped on heavy duty sunscreen. But if I’m spending serious time out in the sun on a rare beach trip, I would likely go with something with heavier weight and power.

Smell

I have Coola in the cucumber scent, but I absolutely smell nothing in it. Maybe my nose isn’t sensitive enough, but they also offer an unscented version if you can detect a smell.

Ingredients

The ingredients in Coola sunscreen take it beyond sun protection and into skin nourishment. It also contains rose hip seed oil, which deposits antioxidants into the skin, plankton extract, and shea butter. My skin always feels softer after applying. And there’s no ghostly-white cast that many sunscreens leave. I’m pale enough, thanks.

Recent studies have found that common sunscreen ingredients, like oxybenzone, can disrupt hormone levels and cause issues to reproductive and thyroid systems. You don’t have to worry about what’s in your sunscreen when you use Coola, it avoids all those toxic chemicals.

Price—$$$

Here’s where I get tripped up about Coola. For all its skincare and protection awesomeness, you’re going to have to pay. Its 1.7 fl oz bottle costs $36. For me, that places Coola firmly in the fancy shmancy sunscreen section. Luckily, it spreads well and you don’t have to use a lot to cover your face. A bottle usually lasts me a couple months with daily application. But if I’m tightening my budget, I have to sacrifice the expensive sunscreen and go with my drugstore choices.

Skin Reaction

I’ve noticed that some cheaper sunscreens will leave a burning sensation around my eye area. The last thing I want is to trade a sunburn for some kind of chemical burn. None of that stinging happens when I apply Coola, and I’ve never had any breakout reactions either. It feels nourishing on the skin (as it should, for the price).

SPF Level

Coola’s SPF, or sun protection factor, is at a moderate 30. This makes it ideal for an everyday sunscreen, when I’ll only have limited direct exposure to the sun. If I know I’m going to be camping or hiking, then I’ll opt for a stronger sunscreen, more oriented for outdoor/sweat/sport use.

Overall, if you’re in a sunscreen splurging mood, I definitely recommend Coola. I don’t regret buying it once I’ve been using it for a few days. But when I’m forced to be more frugal, I find that it’s a sunscreen I can live without. Basically, Coola is my sunscreen indulgence.

Check out the Coola website for more information or to purchase!

Freckled

A 130 SPF full coverage site for the speckled and freckled.

Category: health