It is estimated that 90% of sun damage is the result of unplanned or casual sun exposures when people may not have active photoprotection.  This might include riding in a car, walking outdoors briefly or stopping to talk with friends, without a sunscreen.   Multiple short and unprotected exposures to the sun may actually become more damaging over the course of a lifetime than a smaller number of lengthy exposures resulting in sunburn.

A sunscreen is the single most important part of any anti-ageing strategy.   Sunscreen is to skin, as brushing is to teeth.  Daily use of sunscreen is required or one’s entire skincare strategy will be compromised.

Key Active Ingredients:

• Cyclomethicone: volatile silicone fluid that imparts light, non-greasy feel, excellent spreading of actives and sunscreens, thus enabling better penetration of actives.

• Allantoin; classified by FDA as active skin protectant against sunburn, cracked skin & lips.

• Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide; they work by as a physical block by reflecting the photons of light up and out of the skin so there is no absorption of energy. 

• Trehalose and Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (trade name Trealix) is combination of actives from mushrooms and vegetable materials.  It possesses excellent moisturising ability by linking more water to the skin cells.

• Kakadu Plum Extract (extract from the fruit of native tree Terminalia Ferdinandiana).  Fruit contains up to 4% Ascorbic Acid making it world’s richest source of Vitamin C that is very stable due to stabilisation by enzymatic system present in it.  Vitamin C acts as a free radical scavenger, protects the skin from photo ageing, prevents irritation and acts as lightening agent.  The extract is also rich in different minerals, amino acids, fruit acids and antioxidants.

• Eurol BT (Olive Leaf Extract); multifunctional material with anti-ageing activity, as well as free radical scavenging properties, photoprotective activity. Also improves elasticity and hydration of the skin. It is also used in anti-acne skin care.

• Glycerine; well known humectant (attracts water to the skin).

• Tinosorb S; broad spectrum sun filter, excellent for UV-A protection, photostable, compatible with organic and inorganic filters; shows synergistic effect with UV-B filters to achieve high SPF.

• Tinosorb M; in micronised particle form, highly effective sunscreen with triple action: UV absorption by a photostable organic molecule; light scattering ability and light reflection, due to its micro fine structure.

Short wave lengths of light (UVB) tend to do most of its damage in the epidermis (the outer layers of the skin), while the longer wave lengths of light (UVA) produce damage in the dermis (the inner layers containing collagen and structural elements of the skin).  When the energy of these small particles of light strike a component of skin (where the light wave stops), the energy released alters the chemistry of that component and damages the component.  This is the initial damage.  These chemical changes also produce free radicals and these radicals continue on to cause additional damage (secondary damage) to other skin components.  Unprotected sun exposure produces double levels of damage; the initial energy damage and the secondary free radical damage.  

In time photodamage and subsequent free radical damage cause collagen to become broken and dysfunctional.  Melanocyte (pigment) cells become dysfunctional and produce volumes of pigment that result in age spots and other forms of pigment.  Fibroblast cells become dysfunctional and do not produce new collagen.  Macrophage cells fail to perform adequate skin immune functions, etc.  In this manner unprotected sunlight causes the damage we identify as ageing.

At one time as much as 90% of the visible damage in skin ageing was thought to be caused by sun damage.  With better public education and sunscreens this form of damage is on the decrease.  Nonetheless, it is estimated that 90% of sun damage is the result of unplanned or casual sun exposures when people may not have active photoprotection.  This might include riding in a car, walking outdoors briefly or stopping to talk with friends, without a sunscreen.   Multiple short and unprotected exposures to the sun may actually become more damaging over the course of a lifetime than a smaller number of lengthy exposures resulting in sunburn.

Chemical sunscreens protect the skin by absorbing the light particles (photons).   When this energy is absorbed, the molecules of the sunscreen are destroyed, rather than a skin component.  This still results in chemical reactions and the process generates free radicals that produce the same type of secondary free radical damage that unprotected sun exposure produces.  Subsequently chemical sunscreens are not the most complete or effective form of sun protection. They prevent a larger degree of the initial sun damage but allow secondary free radical damage, which adds to the speed of the skin ageing process.

Physical sunscreens such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide work by reflecting the photons of light up and out of the skin so there is no absorption of energy.  There is no chemical reaction and no free radicals are produced.  Unlike chemical screens, the physical screen type of photoprotection produces no free radicals and no secondary skin damage.  This is why dermatologists have recommended the combination of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as superior sun protection.  Skinstitut’s Perfect Protection is a physical (non-chemical) screen using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.  It provides UVAI, UVAII and UVB protection.  

A sunscreen is part of an anti-ageing strategy.  Combination of chemical and physical sunscreens (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) provide much better anti-ageing benefits than chemical sunscreens because physical screens eliminate much of the secondary free radical damage that can result from sun exposure.