Amazing Aloe

August 7, 2014

Is your skin feeling dry and chapped from fun in the sunshine this summer ?

Try using this simple ingredient that is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C and E, and loaded with folic acid, copper, iron, sodium, calcium, zinc, potassium, chromium, magnesium and manganese.

What is it? Aloe vera!

Aloe vera has been shown to heal minor wounds eight days faster than standard dressing. It has amazing antibacterial qualities and can ease eczema and psoriasis flare-ups.

Aloe vera can be gently rubbed onto sunburned and chapped skin. Aloe vera gel can be found in almost any grocery store, usually in the health section. Try out Glow’s Sunkissed Spray that uses the amazing properties of aloe vera juice. 

TIP: Fill an ice cube tray with aloe gel. The next time you get burns, bug bites, or have too much sun exposure just pop one out for nearly instant relief.

What's in Your Sunscreen?

March 31, 2014

Summer is on its way, or at least we hope so! With the onset of warmer weather comes the beautiful sunshine. It soon will be time to slather on that sunscreen to avoid the damaging UVA and UVB rays. But before you reach for your sunblock check the ingredients list because not all sunscreens are created equal.

Some sunscreens use chemical ingredients, like avobenzone and benzophenone,  that absorb UVA/UVB radiation. These chemical ingredients can sometimes cause acne, itching, rash, and stinging sensations.

Other sunscreens use physical compounds, like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, that reflect and scatter UVA/UVB rays. Unlike the chemical ingredients, physical ingredients do not usually cause skin irritations or allergic reactions.

 The first thing to be concious of when deciding what type of sunscreen is best for you is to determine what spectrum of light the sunscreen protects you from. Zinc oxide is a full spectrum blocker that helps to reflect UVA , UVB, and even UVC rays, while titanium dioxide generally only provides adequate protection from UVB and some UVA radiation.

The second thing to look out for is nano-oxides. Nanoparticles are one-twentieth the thickness of a human hair, and therefore are easily absorbed by the skin and can be harmful for living cells and organs. Many sunscreens contain nano-particles of physical ingredients as they are more transparent on the skin. However, the damage that they can cause to our health and well-being is not necessarily worth the price. 

So, next time you reach for your sunscreen glance over the ingredients list. And remember to reapply every few hours, especially after swimming and rigorous excercise!

For more information on sunscreens and staying safe in the sun check out these links:

http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/sunscreen.pdf

http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/sunscreens

You can also check out GLOW's new summer line (coming in a few weeks) that includes a lovely sun lotion bar that uses non-nano zinc oxide to provide safe broad spectrum coverage.