REVIEW/SUN PROTECTION Sun Protection their importance and why include anti-ageing ingredients? Dr Georgia Lee explains

DrGL Sun Protection offers more than the usual

I have been using DrGL®Sun Protection SPF30 ANTI-AGING (FACE/BODY) since my trip to sunny Cambodia some time last year, and love the various properties of this product. Hence before I left for my trip to Vietnam early last month, I did an interview with Dr Lee regarding her sun protection range.

Sun Protection Check List

Other than preventing skin cancer and sun burns, sun protection is one of the most powerful anti-ageing protection you can have in the long run. Wear a wide brimmed hat that offers proper shade for your whole face and cover up as much as you can, while also slathering on at least a teaspoon of sun protection over exposed areas like face, neck and chest area before heading out or sitting next to the window is the best you can do for your skin. On days that I do not wear makeup, DrGL®Sun Protection SPF30 ANTI-AGING (FACE/BODY) is one of the sun filters I prefer for its light and mild calming scent. According to Dr Georgia Lee, it is important to give the sun filter at least 30 minutes to be fully absorbed by the skin before venturing out. The chemical sun filter then protects skin from harmful sun rays by absorbing the UV rays.

Sun Protection Outdoors

While outdoors continue to keep your skin protected by topping up your sun protection with a convenient spray like DrGL®Sun Protection Mist SPF29 PA++ (Hair/Face/Body). Re–spray over exposed area each time perspiration is wiped off. The fine mist in DrGL®Sun Protection Mist SPF29 PA++ (Hair/Face/Body) sits on the skin like a second skin to cover the targeted area evenly. This convenient spray function makes it a great outdoor sunblock as it is more hygienic without the need to smooth out the product over the skin, and its ultra light texture makes it ideal for our humid weather while also more suitable for acne-prone skin.

For water sports or activities that leave you perspiring; and requiring prolonged sun exposure, a more water-resistant product would be better and should be paired up with the DrGL^®Sun Protection Mist SPF29 PA++ (Hair/Face/Body) for touch ups. However, waterproof sun protection usually clog pores, hence DrGL doesn’t have a waterproof formulation in its range. Note also that perspiration will cause sun protection to run off regardless the type of sun protection used, hence re-application is crucial. This is one fact that kept ringing in my head while I was baking in the hot Vietnamese sun.

Will Makeup Do The Trick?

Perhaps your sweat-resistant foundation and BB creams could help to prevent the sun protection from sliding off? “No.” says Dr Lee, “It is best not to use makeup when exercising as pores become enlarged during perspiration. This could make skin more prone to clogging.” Hence, a sun protection tip from Dr Lee would be to use DrGL Sun Protection SPF 30 Antiaging as a base, layered over with DrGL^®Sun Protection Mist SPF29 PA++ (Hair/Face/Body) as a more convenient touch up choice when outdoors.

Good Reasons for Anti-Ageing Ingredients in Sun Protection

Dr Georgia Lee has two cream based sun protection and one lighter textured one in the form of a mist. “The cream based formulations can be used on a daily basis while the DrGL^®Sun Protection Mist SPF29 PA++ (Hair/Face/Body) is great for touch ups. The latter is also the ideal choice over the cream based ones for those going through puberty and those with oily and acne prone skin types, as well as those who do not use makeup and are not compliant with makeup remover.” Due to the ease of application, teens who do not have the discipline to spend a few minutes to care for their skin are also most likely to use this sun protection dispensed via a spray. I may be no teen, but the convenience is something I can easily get used too. Imagine just spritzing this on and popping over to the convenient store across the road.

DrGL® MAN Sun Protection SPF30 PA++ ANTI-AGING (FACE/BODY) & DrGL®Sun Protection SPF30 ANTI-AGING (FACE/BODY)

Both of the above work like multi-taskers as they have moisture, anti-wrinkle and sun protection properties all rolled into one product. The cream based sun protection offers more than sun protection. Other than physically filtering out UV rays, with micronised physical sunscreen, Gingko Biloba Leaf extract and skin-revitalising amino acids neutralise and fend off the ageing effects of UV rays and free radicals, while also improving collagen production and blood circulation.

Tip: “These are great for normal skin, or those constantly exposed to drying air–conditioned environment,” says Dr Lee. Note that despite being referred to as cream by Dr Lee, these formulations have a light texture.

Is a Sun Protection for The Body Safe for my Delicate Face?

One of the amazing things about Dr Lee’s sun protection formulations is that they are indicated on the packaging to be for use over both the face as well as the body. According to Dr Lee, there are long term benefits in applying a product good enough for the face and yet price-friendly enough for the body. In this case, the DrGL’s face and body sun protection keeps skin-ageing over both the face and body synchronised such that there is minimal tell-tale sign of the ageing. In the long run, it would also be more economical than undergoing laser treatments or using skin firming devices all over the body and the face.

DrGL®Sun Protection Mist SPF29 PA++ (Hair/Face/Body)

The antioxidant-rich light texture of the mist makes it an ideal sun protection for oily and acne prone skin. Antioxidants like Scutellaria Baicalensis root extract and Paeonia Suffruticosa root extract offer both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Licorice and Arbutin reduces skin redness and pigmentation with skin brightening properties. The other two ingredients like Ubiquinone and Rutin neutralise the harmful effects of free radicals from exposure to UV irradiation.

Tip: It has water-based properties that makes makeup remover unnecessary. For touching up when outdoors, simply spray over make up or bare skin after wiping off perspiration.

How to use:

The formulation is created such that it attaches to the skin and leave a layer of UV protection. To apply 
DrGL^®Sun Protection Mist SPF29 PA++ (Hair/Face/Body, place the can about 30cm from the face or target area. At this distance, the mist is fine and there is minimal dripping on the applied surface. Also if the spray is placed at the correct distance, the fine mist will cover the area evenly, so smoothening the treated area with your hands is not necessary. Give some time for the product to be absorbed into the skin so that even if your fingers accidentally run over the skin while pulling stray hair strands away, re-application is not necessary. Before reapplying the sun protection mist, note that it is always better to apply over dry skin, but if time is an issue or the sunlight is very strong, then it is better to reapply immediately to protect against unnecessary exposure, as the perspiration will eventually evaporate.  

DrGL^®Sun Protection SPF30 ANTI-AGING (FACE/BODY), $108 (50ml)

DrGL®MAN Sun Protection SPF30 PA++ ANTI-AGING (FACE/BODY), $108 (50ml)

DrGL^®Sun Protection Mist SPF29 PA++ (Hair/Face/Body), $88 (60ml)

DrGL Skincare is available at www.drgl.com and Escentials outlets in Singapore.

Writer: Wee Ping

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