Changes coming to sunscreen labels!

Hi all! In case you've missed it on the news this week, the FDA will be rolling out some mandatory changes to sunscreen labels beginning in 2012. So why am I bringing it up now? Well, because some of the information is good to know ahead of time and all the time. The short version of the story is this: Manufacturers will now have make their labels much clearer as to what the ingredients are and what the product will do, making them more like an over-the-counter medication than a cosmetic item. The biggest changes are:

1. No more words like "waterproof" or "sweatproof" because that was kind of a marketing gimmick to begin with. If you swim, exercise/sweat, surf, whatever you have to reapply. Period. There will be instructions on when to re-apply on the label as well.
2. Only SPF 15 and above, broad spectrum (UVA and UVB protection) can claim to prevent skin cancer. Everything else will say "prevent sunburn" or something similar.

Again, this won't take effect until next summer, but these things are good to know right now.

This article from Boing Boing on 4 things you didn't know about sunscreen is excellent, I highly recommend giving it a read.

Also, here's a video link to the Today show where they discuss the changes.

Summer time beauty needs

www.nair.com

Well, if you're in the South we're about a month deep into summer weather. Gonna get a little personal here and review a product to keep your bikini area smooth for swimsuit season! I decided to try out Nair moisturizing bikini cream. I am not a waxing girl, always just used a razor, but I figured for $5.29 at Rite Aid I would give the cream a shot.

Since I have not used this product before I tested on a small spot a day ahead of time. I didn't notice any reaction, so I went ahead with the rest (not ALLLL the rest, mind you, just areas I deemed necessary...) Anywho, I left it on for 4 minutes, and it did a pretty good job of removal! It doesn't smell bad at all. There was a little twinge of burning near the very last minute, but once I had completely showered off it was fine. I'd say the results are slightly better than shaving. Now. One thing I didn't consider was avoiding putting the cream back on the same spot I had tested...I have some slight redness today in the "double application" area, but other than that fine.

Other reviews I have read online say it doesn't last too long, which I had already suspected. But again, it works just as well if not better than shaving, it's cheap, and it's fast (4 min!). So unless I break out in hives in a day (which I will obviously report back about), I will continue to use this product! They also make a version for sensitive skin, which I may try next. This area is prone to sensitivity anyway, as you all know, so if you even suspect you might have issues I would go with the sensitive skin version right off the bat.

Happy sunbathing (wear your sunscreen!!)