Once more with feeling (or is it peeling?): Beware of sun exposure. Be aware of the fact that most sun damage comes not just from sunbathing on the beach but from exposing oneself to the ultraviolet rays of the sun as one goes through the nitty-gritty of daily living. Such as driving, gardening, playing outdoors, waiting for a ride, etc.
Fact is, where there is light, there is UV (ultraviolet) radiation. And where there is UV radiation, there is potential harm to the skin.
There are three types of radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum of sunlight – UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA, also called the "aging" ray, is the longest ultraviolet ray that penetrates down to the dermis (inner layer of the skin). UVB, also known as the "burning" ray, is the middle-length ray, mostly filtered by the ozone layer. Over the past many years, the depletion of the ozone layer has caused a 10 percent increase in the UVB rays reaching the earth’s surface. UVC, on the other hand, is the shortest ray in the spectrum and is totally absorbed by the ozone layer and does not injure the skin. But then again, we’ll probably unearth more about UVC and its effects as the ozone layer’s gaping hole continues to grow.
But it doesn’t mean that where there’s no sun – say it’s cloudy – there’s no UV radiation. Dangerous UV rays travel through clouds to reflect off sand, water, etc. The bad news, says Dr. Murad, is: "Just because you’re not sunburned doesn’t mean you are out of harm’s way. Sun damage is cumulative and shows up later as signs of skin aging, or in worse case scenarios, as skin cancer. Ninety-five percent of all skin cancers are found on light-exposed areas such as the face, top of the ears, neck, and chest."
The good, nay, bright news is that you can reverse the sun’s damaging effects and be "wrinkle-free forever" by following Dr. Howard Murad’s five-minute, five-week program.
Yes, all it takes is just five minutes – or even less. Says Linda, 31, a marketing executive, "I clean my face as I shower. As soon as I step out of the tub, I spray my face with toner, apply the antioxidant renewal serum, and towel-dry my body and brush my teeth while the serum seeps in. Then I moisturize. Swallow the supplements and, boom, I’m finished and out the door."
Who says a thing of beauty has to take forever?
Dr. Murad, founder of the Murad Skin Research Laboratory and the name behind the top-selling Murad skincare products, assures everyone, "My program is not complicated. In fact, most people are amazed at how quick and easy it is."
So, are you ready for Dr. Howard Murad’s program?
In the book he wrote with Dianne Partie Lange titled, yes, Wrinkle-Free Forever, Dr. Murad unveils his "inclusive" antiaging program, which has evolved over nearly three decades (talk about age). It zeroes in on five principles of skincare:
1) The skin must be healthy. Its most important function is to serve as a barrier to hold moisture in and keep irritants, toxins, and invaders out. And it can only perform these tasks if it’s healthy.
2) Supply the skin with water inside and out, and protect and repair the cell membranes so that each and every cell of the body is filled to its maximum capacity with water. Everything done for the skin is directed toward boosting its water supply.
3) Repair any damage that has occurred as a result of external and internal assault on a daily basis. By restoring and maintaining the skin’s health, it begins to function more youthfully.
4) Skin must be protected from further environmental injury as well as damage from internal forces, like stress.
5) Accomplish all of the above objectives with an inclusive program of a variety of ingredients and supplements that target all the causes of aging, not just one. Everything done to and for the skin is based on a recipe of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, hydrators, collagen-builders, and protectors. No single product or ingredient can do everything that has to be done to repair and rejuvenate skin.
Of course, aging can’t be permanently stopped, says the good doctor, but it "can be slowed and much of the damage can be repaired."
Dr. Murad’s answer to sun damage comes in a range of products, which he calls cosmeceuticals/nutraceuticals that are the products of scientists’ decade-long painstaking research. Dr. Murad’s absolute favorite is pomegranate extract. "Pomegranate should be part of a daily internal regimen. It is rich in polyphenols; the most potent one being ellagic acid, a powerful free radical scavenger."
(To spill more juicy facts about Dr. Murad’s fave ingredient: Recent studies show that pomegranate juice has thrice the antioxidant or cancer-fighting activity of red wine and green tea.)
In the not-too-distant future, you don’t have to slather a dollop of sunscreen lotion all over your body – you simply have to swallow a tablet to protect yourself from sun damage.
So, don’t let the sun catch you without arming yourself with Murad’s whole arsenal of age-proof, suncare products, which includes:
• Pomphenol Sunguard supplement – contains ellagic acid, proven to be a more potent antioxidant than vitamins C and E. Studies show that just one tablet a day increases SPF protection of topical sunscreens by up to 25 percent.
• Oil-Free Sunblock Sheer Tint SPF 15 – contains Murad’s patented Skin Repair System with Co-3, a collagen-strengthening formula that helps treat, repair, and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Its sodium PCA is also a natural moisturizer while its silica absorbs excess oil to prevent shine. Pomegranate antioxidants and broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreens prevent free radical damage.
• Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 15 for Face and Body – its grape seed extract prevents free radical damage while its hyaluronic acid instantly hydrates. Parsol 1789 and other sunscreens provide broad-spectrum SPF 15 protection.
• Waterproof Sunblock SPF 30 for Face and Body – a full-spectrum protector for active lifestyles.
• Self-Tanner SPF 15 – a fast-drying, non-streak formula, it produces a safe tan in two to three hours.
So, who’s afraid of aging?