Yep, Random Thoughts from the Doggpound II

Le grand tour of Cali, I will be hitting up LA (blah) SF and the South Bay all in the next 60 hours–it’s gonna be crazy. Luckily I get to see my parents, sister (darn you Jamaica for taking P away, ok j/k), and two best friends I’m apparently also there for work. boo to the hoo for the trabajo but ya that it takes me home for the first time in a year.
And now I leave you this from the good ole Cali days:

P.S. Jeremy lost his 2nd gym ID and his gym shoes in the last week (how does that happen?), let’s hope I find Summy and him clean and fed when I get back

Courtesy of MUA and Essential Day Spa as well as PrescribedSolutions

“UVB protection measures are standardized as SPF factors. Most people do not realize that SPF only tells you how much the product stops a burn and it tells you absolutely nothing about other protection. Many people mistake a high SPF for being good for everything.

When you get to UVA protection (UVA causes aging), there are 2 main types: physical (or insoluble) sunscreens and chemical (or soluble) sunscreens. Zinc and titanium are physical. Helioplex, Mexoryl and Avobenzone are typical chemical examples. Soluble (chemical) sunscreens are less visible and a good choice for many as they disappear rapidly. But they get used up as they protect from UVA. Essentially Helioplex claims that it lasts longer. Mexoryl works by reinforcing protection around a small band cap (called the short UVA) that is missed out by the standard Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) that is in all these products and that has been around since the 1980s. PFA is not a standardized measure of protection and scientists are not agreed that it’s a good indicator.

Interestingly, when you use physical blocks you do not have the problem of the protecting ingredients breaking down with time (for example the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide literally stay on the top of the skin until wiped or washed off). The absorption spectrums of these ingredients (when used together) give good protection up to 380 nm which means they cover the spectrum that Neutrogena and L’Oreal (the owners of Mexoryl, Anthelios and Lancome) are working to protect. For example, they do not have weak protection from 320 to 345 nm that Mexoryl is used for. Physical sunscreens can be more matte and have good long lasting protection.

I work for PRESCRIBEDsolutions and we work exclusively with dermatologists and other doctors. We have products with both physical and chemical sunscreens. What we have found is that while so many products have focused on UVB and UVA protection, dermatologists and plastic surgeons now realize that this is just not enough for their patients including many undergoing the latest cosmetic procedures who need a product that not only provides UVB and UVA but also visible light protection.

The new PRESCRIBEDsolutions’ Up the Anti Full Spectrum and Visible Sunblock SPF 30 was formulated to give comprehensive protection at wavelengths through both the UVA and UVB spectrums upwards to the visible spectrum in a light, tinted cream. Many consumers purchase other products with an SPF 60 or higher without understanding that these may not protect from the type of light that will give them trouble.

So overall,
if you want something more moisturizing you choose a sunscreen with chemical UVA protection. Helioplex, Mexoryl or any of the others shown are fine choices. With all these you will need to reapply.

If you want something longer lasting, use purely physical protection. See how it looks on your skin.

With something that provides physical protection, the larger it is or the more its available, the more it will protect. Therefore I would estimate that the higher level of zinc will give better UVA protection.

You cannot compare fully between different zinc oxides as particle size will not be the same between two products and you will probably want larger particles (though these will be more visible on the skin)

There is a wavelength in the UVA band where zinc stops protecting and therefore you are generally better off with a mix of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide rather than just one of these.

When it comes to UVA protection there are a multitude of excellent screens. Each has a different protection range based on the characteristics of the molecules. For example, we are using a red algae extract called Helioguard 365 as a purely UVA screen which absorbs maximally at 335 nm

So, my suggestions would be:
* Choose combination of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide rather than just one of these.
* Generally the higher the percentages the better, though find something that you like the look of. Its useless to have protection that you do not use because it looks wrong.
* Make sure you use another product with powerful anti-oxidants at the same time. C+E combinations or C with pine bark extract are particularly good at providing the protection against free radicals which, in the end, cause much of the aging of the skin.”

I can’t wait for my Monday impulse-buy to arrive. It’s not so much of an impulse given that I first spotted it in real life at H&M on 5th Ave last month, and when I came home to research it a little more I wasn’t impressed by the $600+ price tag given my self-imposed shoplite or shoppingban as I’m aiming for. I shelved it on my wishlist and figured I could wait until it drops a little in price, but I’ve honestly been too busy to stalk sales like I normally would.
Anyway, I roll into work on Monday morning to the firedrills that started last week and even more madness this week…so I say, 5-minute timeout to stay sane. Log onto my favorite MUA fashion board, and what do my leeeeetle eyes see?–a PSA stating that Saks had just placed my beloved Botkier Bianca on sale for over 50% off
I clicked over to ebates and Saks as fast as I could and within a minute, secured the deal.
Now if FedEx will cooperate (THEY NEVER DO), hopefully they’ll actually attempt the delivery they claim and hopefully be literate enough to read the note on my door authorizing them to leave the package there.
We’ll see…I’ll be grilling hamburgers out front for dinner tonight so I will keep a close watch on any FedEx trucks driving by. Cross your fingers for me, last time FedEx took an extra 3 business days to deliver >:0 Arg!

http://deborahsw.blogspot.com/

While I enjoy cooking new things, and organizing or rearranging our **teeny** condo, I sometimes get bored (and frustrated) with the adult responsibilities/hobbies and revert to the careless hobbies I enjoyed during my not-so-busy years.

Fashion took a big chunk of my time: reading up on it, checking out fashion exhibits at museums, reading endless blogs and message boards (MUA) about it, etc. Then it got a leeeeetle expensive and I put myself on a voluntary shopping ban for the remainder of the summer. OUCH!

Skincare and makeup has always been a big deal, and resurfaced as my new main hobby a few weeks ago. Found a good UVA+UVB high PPD sunscreen, some vitamin C and other antioxidant serums and I”m done/spent. When you have an entire dresser full of these items and a place the size we live in, and then you start to say ok no new XXX until I finish the old XXX. Darnit, think anyone will care if I flush the remainder of my UVA-protection less Kiehl’s sunscreen down the drain just so I can go buy a new moisturizer I’ve read wonders about?

So now I’m back to the scrapbooking or artsy phase…or soon, I will be. Forget the fact that we don’t have a wedding album yet, I’m feeling the urge to make stationary or cards–something along those lines, especially given all the birthdays, holidays, and special events we have this summer. Ahh, my new lemming. It’s the Gocco Printer
Now this investment would have made a lot more sense pre-wedding, but I had plenty DIY stuff going on that another gadget might have made me go insane. So what’s this Gocco printer do?
The Print Gocco is essentially a mini printing press that is capable of printing whatever you can imagine if you can create it and make a B&W photocopy of it.

1. You draw (ya right, not me) or use a photocopy of a design (hello computer!). A flash bulb instantly turns your artwork into a screen stencil.
2. Tape this screen stencil against the flat or single curved project (Works best on flat surfaces or cylinders that have no or slight tapered area.).
3. Then for something glass, you just brush on a thin layer of Armour Etch Glass Etching Cream, wait 2-3 minutes,
4. Remove screen stencil and immediately wash the etching cream off the glass under flowing water.
5. Wash the screen and use it again and again and again!

Well that’s nifty! Apparently these are hard to come by because the original Japanese distributor stopped selling them? Something like that, rumors on saveGocco.com say that a U.S. company may take over distribution of these printers in the U.S. this summer. We shall see, in the meantime I’m tracking one down and contemplating a non-shopping-ban-relevant purchase!
Check out some cool work done with this printer at flickr and etsy:
www.flickr.com/groups/gocco/
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=1045

**image courtesy of HeatherJeanY’s stationary on Etsy

Busy week, so i’m sharing another helpful DailyCandy piece of information, although I’ve included my favorite boutiques only:
What: Caramel
Why: Johnny Cotton, Red Engine, and Wendy Hil at 30 percent off is a sweet deal.
When: June 15-17. Fri., noon-9 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m.
Where: 1603 U St. NW, b/t 16th & 17th Sts. (202-265-1930).

What: National Jean Company
Why: Up to 50 percent off the entire store (Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Clu, Cheap Monday) is no bum deal.
When: June 14-17. Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m.
Where: 7301 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda (301-907-0295).

What: Blush
Why: Tory Burch, Rebecca Taylor, and Ya-Ya at 30 percent off is enough to make you jump for joy.
When: Thru June 30. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 1089 Seven Locks Rd., Potomac (301-340-3940).