introduction to sun care
Sun Protection Beyond the Beach
You're probably diligent about wearing sunscreen at the beach and the pool. But that’s not enough. The sun’s rays are everywhere, all the time, and can cause damage such as burns and premature aging every single day. As the rates of adult and pediatric melanomas increase, education and prevention are more important than ever.
TYPES OF SUN RAYS
How does the sun affect your skin?
Infrared-A Radiation (IRA): Anti-oxidants neutralize and limit the negative aging effects of free radicals generated by IRA
Ultraviolet A (UVA): AGING: Penetrates through clouds & glass to reach deep into skin all day long and throughout the year
Ultraviolet B (UVB): BURNING: Most intense exposure from 10am-4pm
DID YOU KNOW
Exposure to the sun’s UV radiation is responsible for 90% of non-melanoma1 and 86% of melanoma2 skin cancers.
GET THE FACTS
From the Mountains to the Sea
Being aware of your surroundings may be the most critical part of skin protection since UV rays are more harmful in certain environments.
90% of UV rays reach Earth on cloudy days
UV levels +4% per 1,000 feet rise in altitude
Water reflection intensifies UV rays by +10-20%
Sand reflection intensifies UV rays by +15-25%
Snow reflection intensifies UV rays by +50-80%
+50% UVA rays pass through windows
+60% UVA rays penetrate through car windows
DID YOU KNOW
80% of the sun’s rays pass through cloud cover on a day when UV levels seem low3
sun protection basics
How does my clothing protect me?
Clothing doesn't offer as much protection as you might have assumed. A white T-shirt has an SPF of about 5. Once clothes get wet, protection drops by about half, so the white T-shirt drops to an SPF of 2.5. Darker, tightly woven fabrics offer more protection—a dark blue cotton t-shirt has an SPF of 10.
skin health
ABCDEs of Skin Health
It's vital to examine your skin head-to-toe each month, all year long. The ABCDE criteria below will help you to understand the differences between a benign lesion and a potentially malignant one. Be sure to talk to your dermatologist when you see any changes on your skin. The sooner a melanoma is diagnosed, the more successfully it can be treated.
| Benign | Malignant | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AsYMMETRY | Symmetrical |  |
Asymmetrical |  |
||
| Border | Smooth borders |  |
Irregular (blurry or jagged) borders |  |
||
| Color | Single color |  |
Multicolor |  |
||
| Diameter | Small than a pencil eraser (1/4 inch) |  |
Larger than a pencil eraser (1/4 inch) |  |
||
| Evolution | No changes |  |
Sudden changes in size, shape, or color |  |
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States making daily sun protection vitally important.
Get the Facts
skin cancers are diagnosed annually4
by applying broad spectrum SPF 15 or higher on a regular daily basis5
Americans will develop skin cancer over the course of a lifetime6
by using a sunscreen daily7
sun protection tips
Protect Your Family
It's essential to make sunscreen a part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth or washing your face.
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application
Apply 1 finger length of product to the face and 2 finger lengths to each other part of the body.
TIP: Don’t forget to protect exposed skin on top of the head.
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application
Reapply frequently and watch the clock. No sunscreen is completely waterproof, sweat proof, or rub proof, especially after sweating, swimming, and drying. Also, avoid sun exposure between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm when the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest.
TIP: A tinted sunscreen compact is perfect to protect skin AND refresh makeup.
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infants
Infants 6 months and older should wear sunscreen, but it’s always best to keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight.
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self-tanner
Get a natural summer glow without the risk of sun damage by using a self-tanner.
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restoration
After several hours of exposure to the sun, nourish your skin with a lightweight, non-greasy after-sun moisturizer that restores the skin and prevents moisture loss.
It's essential to make sunscreen a part of your daily routine.
MINERAL OR CLASSIC?
Choosing the Right Sunscreen
By using a daily sunscreen underneath a mineral makeup with SPF, you can provide your skin with the protection it needs to maintain a healthy, luminous appearance. Avène offers both mineral and classic sunscreen formulas that provide powerful anti-oxidant protection and help shield skin from the damaging effects of UVA/UVB rays.
Which formula is best for you, mineral or classic?
Mineral Sunscreen
For hypersensitive skin, post-procedure skin and children 6 months and up.
Classic Sunscreen
For normal and sensitive skin. Look for oxybenzone & octinoxate free formulas to prevent increased sensitivity.
sunscreen alone is not enough
Keeping your skin healthy requires multiple forms of sun protection.
PROVEN EFFICIENCY
Visible Light Study
Visible light is the range of electromagnetic wavelengths that the human eye can see, including sunlight and artificial light. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (Volume 130) showed that, over time, visible light affects skin pigmentation, even from indoor sources.
The Effects of Visible Light on Avène-Protected Skin vs. Sun Care Protected Skin
In a 2013 published study8, participants were exposed to increasing doses of visible light, some with unprotected skin, some protected by Avène’s High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50. With the application of High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50, it took 3X the amount of radiation from visible light to create a similar pigmentation spot on Avène-protected skin vs. unprotected skin.
aDVANCED DAILY PROTECTION
Avène Sun Care
Introducing a complete range of high-protection Avène Sun Care, with two advanced formulas offering maximum sun protection that’s gentle enough for the most sensitive skin. Suitable for the entire family, including children age 6 months and up.
Advanced daily protection from Europe's sun care leader
Introducing a complete range of high-protection Avène Sun Care, with two advanced formulas offering maximum sun protection that’s gentle enough for the most sensitive skin. Suitable for the entire family, including children age 6 months and up.
- MINERAL — formulas for hypersensitive and post-procedure skin
- CLASSIC — non-irritating chemical formulas for normal and sensitive skin
From Europe’s #1 Sun Care Leader
MINERAL OR CLASSIC?
Choosing the Right Sunscreen
Avène offers both mineral and classic sunscreen formulas that provide powerful anti-oxidant protection and help shield skin from the damaging effects of UVA/UVB rays. Which formula is best for you?
Mineral Sunscreens
For hypersensitive skin, post-procedure skin and children 6 months and up.
Classic Sunscreens
For normal and sensitive skin.
how mineral sunscreens work
Avène MINERAL sunscreens reflect and scatter damaging UVA/UVB rays
Protect hypersensitive and post-procedure skin with gentle, 100% mineral formulas year-round on both cloudy and sunny days.
OUR MINERAL sunscreens
Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+
100% Mineral UVA/UVB SPF 50+ sunscreens offer long lasting hydration and are enhanced with powerful anti-oxidant protection and soothing Avène Thermal Spring Water. Sheer and lightweight, non-whitening. 80 minutes water resistant. Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide
