We are inundated with skinfluencers these days all claiming to know what’s best. I recommended an SPF 40 to an acquaintance recently and this person told me, “that’s not enough.” I laughed out loud. Since when is SPF 40 not enough? No, this person was not going to be lounging on the beach and splashing around in the water. This was just basic everyday skincare. I realized that this person was suffering from “something I heard from a skinfluencer” syndrome and was probably beyond hope so I let it go. I decided to “de-influence” some of these skinfluencer trends... 

SPF, You Decide 

Here is a breakdown of SPF strengths according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association: 

• SPF 15: 93 percent of the sun’s rays 

• SPF 30: 97 percent of the sun’s rays 

• SPF 40: 97.5 percent of the sun’s rays 

• SPF 50: 98 percent of the sun’s rays 

• SPF 100: 99 percent of the sun’s rays 

So, to the person who said SPF 40 wasn’t enough, go forth and prosper with your 0.5 to 1.5 percent more coverage. No sunscreen or sunblock blocks out 100 percent of the sun’s rays. We sell everything from SPF 15 to SPF 50, but if you ask my advice, I’d say SPF 40 is just fine for everyday life. I’m sure dozens of skinfluencers will tell me I’m wrong and that’s ok. I’m not a skinfluencer. 

My everyday SPF: SuperGoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40. It is weightless and leaves no oily shine so it’s perfect for everyone. It also has antioxidants that protect against nasty pollutants. My sunburn-prone friend Donna recently took it on a pool and beach-filled trip to Mexico for a week and suffered no sunburns on her face. If that is not a testimonial, I do not know what is. 

The Rise Of Clean Skincare

I love clean skincare. It is (almost) all I use, and it is not because I subscribe to Gwyneth Paltrow’s way of living, it is because it works for my skin. Ask my friend Jenn and she refuses to use any skincare that refers to itself as “clean” or “organic.” Why? Because common ingredients in clean or organic skincare often cause her to break out. Her skin seems to hate Caprylic or Capric Triglyceride. What is this chemically sounding name commonly found in clean skincare? Often it is coconut oil combined with glycerin. What is coconut oil known to do? Clog pores. Another common ingredient in organic skincare is essential oils. The Saint Jane Superflower Detox Serum is an oil-based serum that is organic in composition and could cause skin irritation. Why? Because this serum, which works absolute wonders on my skin, has essential oils like frankincense, lavender, and rosemary which could wreak havoc on those with certain skin types including sensitive skin. Those with sensitive skin seem to gravitate towards organic skincare thinking it is gentler and that is not always the case. My point is, changing all your skincare over to clean or organic is fine, just know that sometimes those formulations may not work with your skin and could cause more harm than good. Come in and have a conversation with us about your skin. We will come up with a plan together. 

Blindly taking supplements 

Do not do this. Once upon a time, I returned to the sunny Southwest from the gloomy East Coast right before spring hit for an extended period. I continued to take my vitamin D supplement because I am an idiot (I do not believe in self-deprecation but in this instance, I deserve it) and I broke out with cystic acne all along my jawline even on prescription spironolactone! My dermatologist was very disappointed that I did not *consult with a physician before starting any supplement regimen* a warning that is very clearly printed on many (if not all) vitamin pill bottles. She instructed me to stop taking the vitamin D supplements since I was in a very sunny location because vitamin D has been shown to increase testosterone production which can wreak havoc on hormone levels and voila, increase hormonal acne. Most of our nutrients should be coming from our food (or the sun). Supplements are there to supplement, not replace. So, talk to your doctor!

I hope these points de-influenced a bit. As always, let us know your questions or concerns. We are obsessed with knowledge, and I am confident we can get you the products that will work for you, influencers be darned.