Get Your Tan On

Now that winter is upon us, it brings to us limit(ed) opportunities. Stylistically speaking, we're limited in terms of fashion, now forced to discard shorts for khakis, tank tops for long johns, and sunglasses for earmuffs. In terms of leisurely activities, our fun in the sun is effectively over for 3+ months (depending on what part of the world you live in). No more surfing, swimming, outdoor runs, and sun tanning; forget about it!

Let winter be a great time to rejuvenate your skin. It's not exactly the ideal time to do it; winter's unforgiving weather can certainly do a number on our fragile skin, but it's a great excuse to stay out of the sun and forgo the tanning bed. Try using a bronzer instead. Not only is using a tinted lotion practically 100% safer in almost every possible way (at least when taking into consideration UV ray exposure, and the it's often perilous results), but it's a heck of a lot cheaper. EVOLUTIONMAN's Moisture Protect Bronze is a great example of an easy-to-use self-tanner that won't go awry with your budget. Plus, a single application is all it takes to mimic a healthy dose of the sun at the beach. It's winter - stand out and stay sun smart!

Are you fully protected?

In a 2011 post, we mentioned that you should be applying an average of one ounce of sunscreen to the exposed skin on a clothed body - face, neck, ears, arms. By applying less than this amount, or by mixing sunscreens, you may be getting less than the advertised protection on the bottle. Understanding how SPF is calculated and the errors in application will help you decide if you are achieving the maximum SPF. 

In the United States, SPF is tested and calculated by using real humans. We'll spare you the technical jargon and math, but in short, male and female volunteers go through a series of medical examinations and are given a skin type according to how easily they burn. Then, the test subjects are given 2 milligrams of the sunscreen moisturizer for every square centimeter of skin that's being tested, just before being subjected to synthetic ultraviolet radiation. The moisturizer is then given a sun protection number based on how well they were protected during that exposure period.  

Moisture Protect SPF 20 (and its Bronze brother) were given a sun protection factor of 20, based on applying 2 milligrams of formula per square centimeter of skin. 


As mentioned, the first mistake in sunscreen application is not applying enough. Since the SPF is calculated on a healthy dosage, which most people do not use, you need to apply that much to get the advertised coverage. Any less coverage means less SPF - this goes for tinted SPF moisturizers as well. Additionally, you can't apply SPF lotion once and expect to be protected all day. When it wears off, your protection wears off. 

The second mistake in application is when sunscreens are mixed. Combining products with two different SPF values does not give you the addition of the SPF, but rather an average of the two. Remember: 

In short, to achieve the advertised SPF, you need to apply generously and reapply often. 

THE MINI-FACIAL: HOW IT'S DONE

Facials aren't just for women or sissies. Facials are an easy way give your skin a health glow, because they utilize two important skincare steps: exfoliation and moisturizing. Resolve skin problems and brighten skin with three easy steps incorporated into your grooming routine.

Winter Bronze

Winter is the season of family, food, and fun, but it is also the season where our skin color is at its most undesirable. Many people will try to correct sallow skin color by a quick trip to the tanning salon. We know how you feel, but this is not the answer. It's been known fact for some time that indoor tanning is unhealthy for your skin, but ABC NEWS recently reported that researchers say "indoor tanning is associated with a 74% higher risk of melanoma." And, according to DeAnn Lazovich and colleagues, of the University of Minnesota, "some forms of indoor tanning machines were associated with a four-fold increase in the risk of skin cancer." This is strong support that fake tanning is carcinogenic. The solution? Fake it instead of bake it.

EVOLUTIONMAN developed Moisture Protect SPF 20 BRONZE to give you that summer glow all year long while protecting you from the sun's harmful rays. No sun is necessary. Apply a thin coat to counter-act the winter blues, or multiple coats to look like you've just returned from a quick trip to the Bahamas. 

For first-time users, our easy-to-use formula makes it hard to go wrong, but we do recommend applying several thin coats instead of one thick one to acheive your desired glow. It's a good idea to cleanse and exfoliate your face beforehand to remove dry skin, and make sure you rub it in properly if you have facial stubble.