LOVE . SUN . BEAUTY

I have to admit it: although it may sound vain, wearing a long-lasting lipstick while hiking has its advantages. The moment I pull out my lipstick before a hiking adventure, I usually get the comment “Seriously, you’re putting on lipstick before you go hiking?” And my response is, “yeah, do you like the color?”

After a multitude of years trying my best to enjoy the taste and feel of SPF-infused lip balm and chapstick I’ve finally found an alternative that is better. Something that doesn’t melt off or have a flavor that I ingest as I enjoy the outdoors: matte lipstick.

Matte lipstick stays on through the heaviest of perspiration, shielding my lips from the sun, blocking UV rays, and (here’s the vain part) prevents wrinkles. I have seen many women and men who have developed skin cancer on their lips and it isn’t a pretty sight. In fact, a common reason women get wrinkles on their lips is because the lip gloss they typically wear actually attracts UVA/UVB rays! The sun directly hits the shine of the lips kind of like aluminum foil did in the late 1970s for backyard and beach sunbathers.

Being obsessed with lip gloss myself, I now know to wear it over a lipstick base to keep my lips protected. The sun protection benefits of the lipstick and the hydrating feel of the lip gloss is a happy duo and it typically lasts for a couple hours, which is just the right amount of time for an energetic hike in Los Angeles. Oh, and did I mention I look and feel great? I believe lipstick can provide any woman a confidence boost and there’s nothing wrong with that!

Some lip products feature sunscreen with little to no chemicals, but I have yet to find one that offers a high enough SPF level of protection to make a difference, that tastes okay and that I don’t have to reapply every 30 minutes. So for now, go ahead and call me vain, I will stick to a natural shade of lipstick to prevent premature aging on my pout and look and feel great while doing so!

Now you know my hiking beauty secret, it’s time for you to share yours! Is there a makeup product you won’t leave the house without? What are your favorite lip products?

Written by: Mitzi Runyan 

Q: Can clouds and wrinkles?

A: Yes and no. Let’s start with the no. Clouds do not emit anything dangerous or damaging to our skin. They don’t have much of an effect on our skin or body, other than the fact that they can impact how hot or cold or sunny or overcast it is outside.

Indirectly, clouds can cause wrinkles and it’s largely because we think clouds actually protect us from the sun. 

During sunny days, we know we should be wearing sunscreen, UV wear, sunglasses, and a hat when outdoors. When it’s cloudy or overcast out, we often neglect using them. We don’t think it’s sunny enough to wear sunglasses so we leave them in our car, and we assume UV rays aren’t damaging our skin because we can’t see the sun.

However, even on cloudy days, the sun is still present. It’s so powerful and strong that, even through clouds, the sun’s UV rays are penetrating our skin, causing wrinkles, sun spots, and, possibly, skin cancer. Even if you live in Seattle, you should be protecting yourself just as much as you would if you lived in Los Angeles.

You should make it a rule of thumb that whenever you go outdoors, you should protect your skin premature aging. On your face, always wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and sunglasses. For your body and particularly your hands and chest (which are quick to age due to sun damage), wear a wrap and gloves made with UPF 50+. We recommend Sundriven driving gloves and seven-way wrap, both of which are stylish, comfortable, and luxurious.

The best way to remember to protect your skin is to make it a daily habit. It may help to leave a tube of sunscreen, a UV wear wrap, and sunglasses by your front door so you never forget to use them before you leave the house.

Dark spots – two of the most despised words in women’s beauty and skincare vocabulary. We all know we hate dark spots, but we often don’t know how to treat them and how to prevent them from forming. At Sundriven®, we are passionate about educating women on the causes of accelerated aging and how to treat your skin with the loving care it deserves. To learn more about dark spots, we spoke with Dr. Ottuso, a Florida-based dermatologist with more than 23 years of experience.

Sundriven: What are the most common types of dark spots?

Dr. Ottuso: A lot of people don’t realize there are multiple kinds. The most common benign forms of dark spots are freckles, solar lentigos (sometimes known as liver spots), seborrheic keratosis, and moles. Melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer, can also present as a dark spot.

Sundriven: What causes these dark spots to form?

Dr. Ottuso: Freckles and moles can be hereditary, but they can also be caused by sun exposure. Solar lentigos, as the name implies, is caused by damage from the sun, as is melanoma. We still don’t entirely know what causes seborrheic keratosis, but it is believed that they can form due to sun exposure.

Sundriven: Where on the body do these dark spots typically form?

Dr. Ottuso: While seborrheic keratosis can occur anywhere on the body, freckles, moles, solar lentigos, and melanoma most frequently occur where the sun hits the most, including the face, hands, arms, and shoulders.

Sundriven: Many women with dark spots fear that it may not be benign and that it could be cancerous. How can you tell them apart?

Dr. Ottuso: In order to spot melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancers, keep an eye on any new moles or growths, and any existing growths that start to change. I always tell my patients to familiarize themselves with the ABCDEs of melanoma.

“A” refers to asymmetrical. A benign mole is symmetrical, meaning the two sides match in size. An asymmetrical mole is a melanoma warning sign. “B” is for borders. A benign mole will have even and smooth borders, whereas melanoma often has uneven edges. “C” refers to color, in that benign moles are a single color, typically a shade of brown. If a mole is a variety of colors or has changed brown colors, it could be melanoma. “D” is for diameter. Often, melanoma is larger in diameter than a benign mole. And “E” is for evolving. A benign mole will look the same, but if a mole starts to evolve and change, either in size, shape, color, or other trait, it could be a sign of melanoma.

Sundriven: How can someone treat and remove their dark spots?

Dr. Ottuso: Melanoma requires treatment by a medical professional, and it could involve surgery, radiation, medications, or other treatment. For benign spots, there are a few different treatments a dermatologist can perform that can help reduce the appearance, such as chemical peels, bleaching agents like hydroquinone, laser resurfacing, and microdermabrasion, to name a few.

Sundriven: While treatments are great for minimizing current dark spots, how can women prevent the formation of future dark spots?

Dr. Ottuso: The first thing is to avoid tanning beds and to always wear sun protection when you’re out in the sun. I recommend wearing a sunscreen with a SPF between 30 and 50 that protects against both UVA and UVB rays and is water resistant. Make sure you apply 30 minutes before going outdoors, as well. Beyond these daily protective measures, I recommend getting a thorough skin exam with your dermatologist once a year.