After The Sun
No matter how diligent you are with your suncare protection, you will always miss a spot. But a new technology is about to put an end to this.
Fact: two out of five women actually apply sunscreen religiously before heading outdoors. Myth: one application delivers all the protection needed against skin cancer risks and harmful, ageing UV rays. In fact, there is more bad news: “It is difficult for an application film to sufficiently cover the epidermis due to the topography of the skin, which results in gaps between the layer of sun protection and the skin. This allows UV rays to pass through the suncare barrier and reach the skin surface,” explains Yousuke Ikebe, global suncare researcher for Shiseido. In other words, you are still taking a chance with the sun unless you block its rays with an umbrella or a cap.
That said, no woman wants long sleeves on a b beach holiday. “With previous suncare products, it was w difficult to completely protect you from f UV rays, and it was generally acce acceptable to have tiny ‘UV leaks’. This is why we always recommended using UV-protect UV-protective clothing along with the use of suncare products,” pr he shares. Clothing that will now b be a thing of the past.
Ikebe divulges: “Recently, Shiseido succeede succeeded in developing an SPF measurement device called SPF Master and an in-vitro testing method using an artificial skin film to test the results ofUV of UV exposure. The biggest innovation was that through this new technology, we were able to discover SuperVeil-UV 360, which accommodates the skin’s natural topography, pography, or unev uneven texture, and has succeeded in reducing the leaks of slight light UV U rays to a minimum.”
Truly a world first, this breakthrough raises the bar for suncare technology. “We have newly created and combined complex ingredients, which not only respond to the signs of ageing currently visible but also control factors that may inhibit future healthy skin function,” reveals Ikebe, reassuring us the sunscreen will still allow the skin to “breathe” even though it covers so perfectly.
First on the impressive list of ingredients is rose apple leaf extract. “We have been researching the effect of UV rays on the skin for years with a focus on the effect that UV exposure has on DNA. In this research, we have discovered that rose apple leaf extract prevents UV damage by controlling the generation of free radicals through a unique anti-oxidation effect, thus controlling the chain reaction oxidation process.” In addition to that, natural remedial extracts in ProfenseCEL such as saxifrage controls melanin synthesis, while clara extract keeps in line the enzyme that breaks down elastin. Finally, sophora angustifolia root controls DNA damage.
With all that, one would hardly expect its texture to be so light and quickly absorbent, leaving behind no residue. Ikebe assures that, applied at the end of a beauty regime, “this protector is hardly disturbed by perspiration and sebum, and conforms to tiny ridges on the skin.”
Shiseido may have set a new benchmark for suncare, but don’t expect the company to rest on its laurels. “We can see suncare becoming an even more important part of everyday life with the evolution of UV protection. Don’t be surprised to someday see technology that can alter UV rays and actually turn them into something good for the skin in the future,” says Ikebe. Now that would be suncare worth waiting for.