Things that Make you go Hmmmm....

Anyone who's ever been on vacation with me knows what a freak I am about sunscreen. I can't have fun if I'm worrying about getting burned, which happens in about 0.0001 seconds.

So, I'm always on the lookout for new ways to protect myself. I was very excited to discover two products that promise to make quicker work of protecting your skin. But I'll warn you, they may sound too good to be true.


CLEANSER WITH SPF
Freeze 24/7 recently launched the first-ever wash-on sunscreen, Ice Shield. I don't know about you, but I've always been under the assumption that cleansers are designed to remove things from your skin. And here they promise that by washing your face, you can get SPF 15, UVA/UVB protection!

How it works: A revolutionary innovative encapsulation technology allows Ice Shield™ to bind sunscreen to the skin while the mild cleansing system washes away dirt and impurities. Apply a nickel size amount to wet palms and work into a rich creamy lather BEFORE applying to face, neck and ears. Leave on skin for at least 1 minute; this allows the sunscreen to penetrate your skin. Rinse off and PAT dry, to avoid rubbing off your protection. Please note that Ice Shield is not designed to replace your regular sun protection regimen. Rather, it super-charges your protection (and helps you out on lazy days when you forget to apply sunscreen).

Ice Shield uses Avobenzone, a key sunscreen active ingredient and recognized by the FDA as an effective UVA filter. I'm inclined to believe the hype, because sunscreens are regulated by the FDA, and they don't take approvals lightly (think about how long it took them to approve Mexoryl!). If you still need convincing, it's also recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation as an effective UV Sunscreen.

Purchase for $48 at Bliss. (Currently on sale at Overstock.com for $42.99).


SUN PROTECTION PILLS
Ever dreamed of being able to simply pop a pill and protect your skin from the sun? I have, every summer as I slather on creams, lotions and sprays. Well, it seems that my wish may have come true. Two companies now offer oral supplements that are supposed to boost your sun protection. And the best part is that protection is systemic - head to toe, even if you miss a spot with your creams.

Heliocare is an oral dietary supplement that claims it has antioxidant properties that help maintain the skin's ability to protect against sun related effects and aging. The key ingredient (Polypodium leucotomos) is derived from the fern plant and is full of antioxidants that become active within 30 minutes of swallowing the pill.

Experts say those antioxidants pick up the damaging free radicals that are released when UV radiation penetrates the skin. This sun damage contributes to wrinkles and skin cancer. Note that Heliocare is NOT a replacement for topical sunscreens. Its main function is to enhance the body's ability to deal with UV that gets through topical sunscreens.These supplements are not cheap, costing about a dollar a day. Purchase 60 tablets for $59.99 at Drugstore.com

SunPill, another dietary supplement, promises enhanced sun protection with daily use. They recommend taking one tablet daily in the morning, and taking two during prolonged sun exposure. Like Heliocare, SunPill advises use with a traditional topical sunscreen and says it's most effective when taken as part of an ongoing health regimen.

Some writers are more skeptical about SunPill, especially since it doesn't publish its ingredients on its website. ABC News noted that "SunPill has been less enthusiastically received by skin care experts. Doctors interviewed by ABC News say the SunPill doesn't have the science to support its claims as a 'digestible-sunscreen.'" Another news article bashed their claim-testing methodology.

SunPill is available via its corporate website, with various pricing plans averaging out to a dollar a day.


HMMMM?
So what do you think? I love new technology, especially things that save me from worrying about getting a sunburn, developing wrinkles or heading down the road to skin cancer. These products may provide more help in the battle against sun damage, but it looks like we'll have to wait a bit longer for the holy grail: never having to spend time applying topical sunscreen or worrying about whether we're perfectly protected.