The Importance of Sun Protection
A daily sunscreen is the one of the most important anti-aging skincare products in your arsenal – essential for healthy, more youthful appearing skin. Read on to learn about the science of sun damage and how ZO® Skin Health’s Triple-Spectrum Protection® sunscreens and innovative, proprietary technologies offer superior skin protection.
How Does UV Radiation Damage Skin?
Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the #1 cause of premature skin aging – and multiple forms of skin cancer, including melanoma. There are two main types of UV light that reach your skin - UVA + UVB.
UVA light is a longer wavelength that can penetrate through clouds and windows. This is why it is important to apply sunscreen even on cloudy days and when indoors whenever the sun is penetrating the windows in a room. UVA rays are more insidious than UVB rays as they can reach skin’s deeper dermal layer, where it degrades crucial structural proteins collagen and elastin. It is associated with skin aging, including wrinkles, laxity and rough texture.
Tip: a way to remember what UVA rays affect is to think of the A in UVA as representing “aging.”
UVB light is a shorter, though higher-energy wavelength ray. It penetrates the skin’s upper layer, known as the epidermis or skin barrier, and is associated with skin burning.
Tip: a way to remember what UVB rays affect is to think of the B in UVB as representing “burning.”
How Does Hev Light + IR-A Damage Skin?
In addition to UV radiation, it is also vital to have adequate skin protection from high-energy visible (HEV) light and infrared-A (IR-A) rays. These light rays travel deeper into skin than either UVA or UVB rays and have a multitude of detrimental effects on the skin, including: wrinkles, discoloration, dryness and redness.
HEV light, commonly referred to as blue light, is visible to the human eye. HEV light originates with the sun, but is also emitted from the technology we use every day, including smartphones and computer screens, as well as indoor fluorescent light.
Infrared-A (IR-A) rays compose the majority of the sun’s rays that reach the earth. IR-A rays are invisible to the human eye and are particularly harmful in high-dose exposures. IR-A rays can penetrate deep into the skin. Recent research shows that IR-A rays degrade collagen and produce significant free radicals that cause structural damage to the skin. In addition, IR-A rays induce heat that can exacerbate pigment conditions such as melasma.
The Solution for Sun Damaged Skin: ZO’s Triple-Spectrum Protection®
ZO’s Triple-Spectrum Protection® products go beyond conventional sunscreens with scientifically superior skin defense against the harmful effects of UVA, UVB HEV + IR-A exposure, while providing antioxidants, hydrators + lipids benefits.
ZO® Skin Health's Triple-Spectrum Protection® technologies help maintain your skin health by addressing exposure to UVA, UVB, infrared radiation and both natural and computer screen-derived HEV blue light, as well as pollution.
Physical and chemical filters provide sun protection barriers that either reflect UVA and UVB rays or convert them to heat to be released by the skin.
Plant-derived melanin helps to protect skin against potentially harmful HEV light (blue light) damage.
Exclusive ZOX12® complex provides 12 hours of antioxidant protection against IR-A rays as well as other forms of free radical damage.
FAQs About Sunscreen
Sunscreen should be applied and re-applied every two hours – but more frequently if swimming or sweating.
A lightweight powder sunscreen such as ZO’s Sunscreen + Powder is perfect for easy, on-the-go touch ups. Bonus: It provides light, complexion-perfecting coverage and helps to mattify away mid-day shine.
The term “broad-spectrum” indicates that a sunscreen contains sun filters that effectively protect against both UVA and UVB rays. All five of ZO’s facial sunscreen products are broad-spectrum.
Physical sunscreen filters, the most common of which include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, sit on skin’s surface and reflect the sun’s UV rays as they reach the skin.
On the other hand, chemical sunscreen ingredients, examples of which are avobenzone, homosalate and octinoxate, absorb the sun’s UV rays then harmlessly convert them into heat, which is released back into the air.
Hybrid sunscreens are facial sunscreen products that combine a blend of physical and chemical filters.
Yes. It is important to look for a water- and sweat-resistant sunscreen when looking for the best sunscreens for face and body. This is particularly important if you swim or exercise outdoors. Sunscreens can be labeled as “water resistant” for 40 minutes. Ideal for active lifestyles, ZO’s Daily Sheer Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50 offers the maximum 40 minutes of water and sweat resistance.