Blog: Everything Under the Sun
Can Bluelight from Devices Damage your Skin?
It goes without saying (and we’ll remind you until the end of time) that sunscreen is a priority when it comes to protecting your skin from damaging UV rays. But here’s a bolt from the blue—literally. Now you have to think twice before using a device—like that smartphone, computer or tablet that you’re probably reading this post on. Here’s what we know. Scientists and dermatologists have recently discovered that many of the electronics you likely use every. single. day. emit a damaging blue light that can lead to changes in your skin cells, resulting in premature aging, hyperpigmentation, age spots, and melasma. The facts of (blue) light: Exposure, even as short as 60 minutes, can trigger cell changes Most Americans spend more than 11 hours per day (really!) using digital media for both work and pleasure Millennials check their phones (on average) 150 times a day One study suggested that swelling, redness, and pigment changes are more prevalent in people with darker skin Using mineral-based SPF to block blue light is imperative. While chemical-based sunscreens can be effective when protecting you from the sun’s UV rays, they don’t do a great job at blocking blue light baddies. Time To Block The Blues Our 100% mineral SPF protection to the rescue: Mineral Crème SPF 50 A silky-smooth formula that feels like cashmere on your skin. Not only does it provide broad-spectrum protection, it also leaves a true matte finish that gives your complexion an even natural look. Naturally derived zinc oxide helps reduce the risk of photo aging and skin cancer, while Vitamin C and natural antioxidants fight sun and free radical damage. Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 A silky, luxurious mineral formula that provides broad-spectrum protection, blends effortlessly into all skin tones and leaves you with a smooth, filter-like finish. Infused with powerful antioxidants + skin smoothing ingredients like Vitamins C and E, green tea, cranberry fruit and pomegranates for a youthful healthy-looking glow. Solar Stick SPF 40 On-the-go must-have that glides on flawlessly (without any white residue) to deliver powerful mineral (SPF 40) protection. Perfect for backpacks, gym bags or handbags, this lightweight essential is water resistant up to 80 minutes and gentle enough for the whole family—even kids 6 months and older. Tinted Solar Stick SPF 40 A lightweight, easy-to-apply lightly tinted Mineral SPF 40 stick for anyone on-the-go. Convenient and portable it can be used on lips, cheeks, nose, forehead, ears, shoulders…in fact, anywhere harmful light could hit. This powerful sheer tinted shield blends seamlessly with all skin tones to leave a flawless matte finish. Power up your skin’s barrier of protection, before powering up you’re your device.
Learn more
Why You Really Need SPF in the Winter.
Hands up if you wear SPF every single day—even in winter. Not that we’re doubting you, but studies show that only a mere 10% of Americans (you know who you are) wear sunscreen on hot and sunny days—not to mention wintery, gloomy, or chilly ones. Time to face facts: even if it’s cloudy out, don’t forget that crucial SPF step. Otherwise, you’re leaving your skin at risk for hyperpigmentation (dark spots), photoaging (wrinkles and fine lines), even melanoma. Sunscreen is not a suggestion, it’s a must 365 days a year. Here's why you need to factor SPF into your daily routine. Ultra-violet (UV) rays can be just as damaging in winter months and dull days as scorching hot ones… you know, when it actually feels like your skin is burning. Truth is, that’s every day. Surprisingly (and shockingly) the ozone layer is thinner during winter, thus, allowing more harmful rays to damage your skin. Whether you’re a ski bunny, or just can’t avoid snow because of where you live, snow and ice reflect up to 90% of the sun’s rays—oh snow! Live in the Northern Hemisphere where winter feels cooler than summer? Don’t be fooled, you’re actually closer to the sun’s harmful rays in winter because of the earth’s tilt. Who knew! Your Daily SPF checklist Apply to all exposed skin—even your lips Apply at least 20 minutes before stepping outside Apply to areas exposed to reflected UV rays—think under your chin, and bottom of your nose Reapply at least every 2 hours—more if sweating or swimming Apply no matter the weather (rain or shine) or time of year Apply even if “just driving” or sitting in a sunny “indoor” spot We’ve got you covered—literally. Mineral Crème SPF 50 A silky-smooth formula that feels like cashmere on your skin. Not only does it provide broad-spectrum protection, it also leaves a true matte finish that gives your complexion an even natural look. Naturally derived zinc oxide helps reduce the risk of photo aging and skin cancer, while Vitamin C and natural antioxidants fight sun and free radical damage. Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 A silky, luxurious mineral formula that provides broad-spectrum protection, blends effortlessly into all skin tones and leaves you with a smooth, filter-like finish. Infused with powerful antioxidants + skin smoothing ingredients like Vitamin C and E, green tea, cranberry fruit and pomegranates for a youthful healthy-looking glow. Daily Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 30 A must-have daily dose of lightweight hydration, broad-spectrum protection, antioxidants and nourishing ingredients, all in one. Dermatologist developed and recommended SPF hydration to keep you protected AM-PM while also giving your skin an ultra-dewy youthful glow. Solar Stick SPF 40 On-the-go must-have that glides on flawlessly (without any white residue) to deliver powerful mineral (SPF 40) protection. Perfect for backpacks, gym bags or handbags, this lightweight essential is water resistant up to 80 minutes and gentle enough for the whole family—even kids 6 months and older. Kid Stick SPF 40 This gentle, unscented and water-resistant mineral sunscreen stick is perfect for children’s delicate skin and provides powerful broad spectrum protection in a grab-and-go stick. It glides on smoothly, quickly and easily and feels great on little faces. So, now you know why SPF truly is essential year-round. Make it a part of your daily routine and commit to daily SPF!
Learn more
C The Difference - Your guide to the antioxidant-rich vitamin that delivers A+ skin.
We all know about the bountiful benefits of Vitamin C when it comes to our overall health and wellbeing—but here’s the bad news. No matter how much broccoli or berries you add to your diet, they’re probably having zero (really!) effect on the top layers of your skin. Time for a C change! The good news? There’s another way to give your skin the daily dose it deserves—topical vitamin C, and it’s a game-changer. C-ing Is Believing Beloved by dermatologists and skincare specialists alike, Vitamin C has become a superstar ingredient because of its brilliant (literally) lightening and brightening benefits. But it’s so much more…this triple threat treat also boasts incredible anti-aging, collagen enhancing, healing, soothing and smoothing properties that help deliver A+ results. Here's the scoop on Vitamin C for your skin It neutralizes oxidative stress. In other words, it protects your skin from damaging free-radicals from the environment. Helps trigger and stimulate collagen synthesis. Basically, it gives you a firmer, smoother, plumper complexion and a more youthful appearance. Inhibits something called “enzyme tyrosinase.” Translation: it effects and decreases the production of melanin (dark spots) to brighten your complexion. C For Yourself Mineral Crème SPF 50 A silky-smooth formula that feels like cashmere on your skin. Not only does it provide broad-spectrum protection, it also leaves a true matte finish that give your complexion an even natural look. Naturally derived zinc oxide helps reduce the risk of photo aging and skin cancer, while Vitamin C and natural antioxidants fight sun damage and free radical. Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 A silky, luxurious, universal tinted mineral formula that blends effortlessly into all skin tones, leaving you with a smooth, filte-like finish. Infused with powerful antioxidants + skin smoothing ingredients including Vitamin C and E, green tea, cranberry fruit and pomegranate for a youthful healthy-looking glow. MD Mineral BB Crème SPF 50 A multi-tasking sheer tinted mineral based formula delivers the ultimate skin-loving trifecta. A natural matte finish, anti-aging benefits and broad-spectrum protection. Made with naturally-derived zinc oxide, and infused with caffeine, niacinamide, Vitamin C and other antioxidants to minimize discoloration and redness for a brighter even finish. Daily Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 30 A daily dose of lightweight hydration, broad-spectrum protection, antioxidants (including Vitamin C) and nourishing ingredients, all in one. Dermatologist developed SPF hydration to keep you protected while also giving your skin an ultra-dewy youthful finish Evening Retinol Serum A restorative lightweight night serum that restores dull, tired and lackluster skin. It’s calming and nourishing ingredients (including Vitamin C) leave your skin feeling velvety soft while helping to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles and pores. Gleam + Glow SPF 50 A one-step daily radiance moisturizer that provides all-day hydration, SPF protection, potent skin-nourishing ingredients (yes, more Vitamin C) to leave skin with a sheer natural glow. Try adding Vitamin C in your skincare routine—because C-ing is believing.
Learn more
Should You Be Wearing Sunscreen When Getting Gel Manicures? Here’s Everything You Need to Know!
If you get gel manicures and pedicures, you’re already familiar with the UV lamps they use to cure your nails. The UV lamps essentially set the polish, as the gel contains chemicals called photoinitiators, which requires a direct dose of UV lengths to be hardened in a process called photoreaction. What you may not know is that although the amount of time that your hands/feet are exposed to these UV lamps is rather short, the exposure is the equivalent to the recommended limit of UV rays for an entire day, according to a study conducted by the Australasian College of Dermatologists. The UV light can potentially increase the risk of skin cancer and cause premature aging. Before you get your gel manicure/pedicure, you should always ensure to apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. In doing so, this one little step can assist in preventing skin cancer and premature aging skin. You should apply your sunscreen a couple minutes before the polish is applied so that you don’t have to wash it off and so that it has time to start working. We suggest an easy, on-the-go applicator such as our Tinted Solar Stick SPF 40 or our Solar Stick SPF 40. These quickly lay down a powerful, sheer SPF shield that blends seamlessly with all skin tones for a matte uniform finish. Clean mineral formula, incredible texture, and no white cast. They help to prevent sunburn as well as damage to overexposed skin. So next time you get your gel manicure, don’t forget to bring your sunscreen along!
Learn more
Your Skin’s Glow-Up Guide to Niacinamide— the Leading Dermatologist approved Ingredient for Brighter Skin
Most of us by now have become skincare-savvy enough to know which label keywords to look for when in search of that ‘Holy Grail’ product for pore-perfecting and wrinkle smoothing. Ingredients like: Antioxidants; Retinol; Vitamin C; SPF (to-the-nth) are a few of the most commonly sought out beauty heroes. Still, there’s one remarkably lesser-known yet dermatologist-beloved ingredient that should be on everybody’s radar: Niacinamide. Read on to learn why this micronutrient-turned-topical gets the greenlight from board-certified dermatologists and enlightened skincare specialists alike. WHAT IT IS A multifaceted ingredient with extraordinary benefits, Niacinamide is garnering considerable acclaim in the skincare world as a multi-tasking powerhouse—and for good reason. This balancing, B3 vitamin is brimming with antioxidants and skin-brightening benefits to refine, protect and repair skin. WHAT THIS B-3 BABY CAN DO Boost anti-inflammatory properties. Addresses a slew of skin concerns from Acne to Eczema, calming irritation and reducing redness for a more even-looking skin-tone. Brighten. Increases cell turnover by naturally removing dead skin cells. This promotes an even tone by diminishing the appearance of dark spots and brightening your overall complexion. Bolster the lipid barrier. Locks in moisture and locks out environmental stressors, helping to neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals. Boost immunity. ‘Nuff said. Bonus: Niacinamide naturally offers photoprotective properties that both combat hyperpigmentation and bolster your sun-care regimen! HOW IT WORKS While the initial benefits of niacinamide begin within (as in, niacin you absorb and convert into niacinamide via your diet), this miraculous little micronutrient is actually far more potent (and effective) when used topically at a strength that falls somewhere between 2-10%. HOW TO REAP THE REWARDS MD Revitalizing Retinol. In tandem with retinol and vitamin C, this glow-up dream team doesn’t disappoint. While reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation, fine lines and pores, niacinamide here ensures even the most sensitive skin types can rest easy—by strengthening the dermal barrier to retain moisture and counteract the dehydrating effects of retinol. MD Restore Eye Gel. This skin-priming formula not only packs a powerful punch when attempting to flip the sands of time, but due to its blend of niacinamide, antioxidants and collagen-prompting peptides, also keeps working hard ‘round the clock, day-in and day-out. Gleam + Glow SPF 50. Radiates, hydrates, and protects: starring niacinamide + the usual suspects. BB Crème SPF 50. The stranded-on-a-desert-island must-have, this mineral-based BB cream wouldn’t be…without the anti-inflammatory magic of niacinamide. Daily Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 30. Perfects as it protects, this multi-tasking, niacinamide-rich moisturizer is lightweight yet powerful. GLOW-UP YOUR GAME
Learn more
How to Layer For Fall – SPF Edition
Fall is all about layering! Not only is it important to layer your clothing pieces to stay warm during this transitioning season, but it’s just as important to continue using SPF throughout the fall/winter season. We’re always asked if you can layer sunscreen and SPF products. The short answer is yes! Learn how to layer your SPF like a pro this Fall with these below tips: SPF under makeup: Worn alone or underneath foundation, the matte finish of our mineral formulations makes them great primers, like the Mineral Crème SPF 50 or Tinted Mineral Crème SPF 30. The texture smooths over skin providing a blurring, “Instagram filter” effect to the skin, and with a matte finish – your foundation will set beautifully on top. If mineral formulas aren’t your favorite, our Daily Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 30 keeps skin looking dewy and refreshed, while keeping makeup in place. SPF over makeup: Apply over makeup as a mattifying finishing touch or to make reapplication easy during the day. If you apply sunscreen in the morning, that’s a great first step to healthier skin; but even the most powerful sunscreen won’t last all day. You can reapply directly over foundation, bronzer, and blush – blend gently, and your makeup should stay in place. SPF lip layering: Our Tinted Lip Balm SPF 30 comes with a major plus… it’s pigmented hues! With a range of colors from bare to deep plum to the perfect red lip, its buildable coverage allows you to choose your color intensity for a finished look that you’ll fall in-love with! The more layers you swipe on, the more intense the color appears. Shop our full collection of sunscreen products to help you layer like a pro this fall here .
Learn more
3 Ways to Prevent Future Scary Skin
Wrinkles, dark spots and damage – oh my! When it comes to predicting what your future skin might look like, there can be quite a few spine-tingling “what ifs.” What if I didn’t wear enough sunscreen? What if I started using retinol too late? What if I didn’t moisturize enough? Fear not! While there’s no changing the past, it’s never too late to instill good skincare habits. When you commit to preventing damage and preserving skin health NOW, you can ensure not-so-scary skin later on. So how do you guarantee a brighter future for your skin? Follow these three essential steps on a daily basis. 1. Always, always, always wear sunscreen Whether it’s hot and sunny or dark and gloomy, sun protection is an everyday essential. Studies show that UV exposure seems to be responsible for 80% of visible facial aging. That means cumulative unprotected sun exposure can result in fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone and texture, loss of elasticity (aka, droopy, crepe-like skin) – all on top of the more severe risk for developing melanoma and other skin cancers. The easiest solution is to add SPF to your daily morning routine. It’s easy! Use a morning moisturizer with SPF, like our Daily Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 30. Packed with broad-spectrum protection, powerful antioxidants, caffeine and niacinamide, it not only protects against future damage but helps to repair any UV-induced damage already done. This time-released hydrator keep skin nourished all day and helps reinforce a strong skin barrier to lock out other environmental stressors that can prematurely age your skin. 2. Keep under eye baggage bright, tight and out of sight It doesn’t take much to rough up this delicate area of skin. From a couple nights of bad sleep to UV damage, nothing ages you faster than dark circles, fine lines and puffiness under your eyes. To ensure your eyes are always your brightest (and most youthful) feature, add a smoothing and soothing eye gel to your morning and evening skincare routines. Our Revitalizing Eye Gel is packed with a unique blend of 5 ultra-nourishing, collagen-signaling peptides, works around the clock to release moisture, and peps up skin with caffeine and niacinamide that help brighten, tighten, and smooth. Use in the A.M. to instantly wake up eyes. Plus, this gel-like emulsion serves as the perfect primer for a smooth, makeup-gripping surface. In the P.M., dab it on before hitting the sheets for ultra-nourishing, powerful ingredients that work overtime while you sleep. 3. Make retinol part of your nightly skincare routine The sooner you start to incorporate this essential into your routine the better! Considered the gold standard of anti-aging, retinol is a Vitamin A derivative that speeds up skin cell turnover rate and decreases collagen breakdown, resulting in a smoother texture, brighter tone, reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, and a youthful glow. AKA, if your skin is already showing signs of sun-damage, retinol can help reverse and erase! We’re sure you’ve probably heard that retinol can be harsh for first-time users. That’s why we made our Evening Retinol Serum with encapsulated and stabilized retinol. This allows it to move delicately and deeper into the skin first before it’s activated, so you don’t have to suffer the typical side effects of dryness, peeling and irritation. And don’t forget! UV rays are known to degrade the effectiveness of retinol. So make sure to follow two rules of thumb: Only use retinol as part of your evening skincare routine, and be super vigilant about wearing SPF during the day to maximize your results. While we can’t see the future, we can predict a brighter, healthier one for your skin if you treat it right, starting now!
Learn more
Why Retinol and SPF are an Essential Beauty Duo
When it comes to skincare, everyone is different. What your skin needs can vary greatly depending on your skin type, age, and environment. . But there are two products that come dermatologist-recommended as essentials in *everyone’s* skincare routine, no matter your skin type: retinol and sunscreen. By now, most of us understand the importance of daily sunscreen wear. It not only protects your skin from melanoma, but also from sun damage, which can prematurely age your skin (think: sun spots, fine lines, wrinkles). That’s also where retinol comes in! Considered the gold standard of anti-aging, retinol is a Vitamin A derivative that speeds up skin cell turnover rate and decreases collagen breakdown, resulting in a smoother texture, brighter tone, reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, and a youthful glow. If your skin is already showing signs of sun-damage, retinol can help reverse and erase! But in order for your skin to reap the full benefits of the age-defying powerhouse that is retinol, sun protection is a MUST! WHY NEED DAILY SPF WITH RETINOL USE USING SPF We all know UV rays are a force of nature – on top of damaging skin, they can fade curtains and couches, turn hair color brassy, and yes, even degrade retinol’s effectiveness. As such, it’s best to apply retinol as part of your nighttime routine so it can work its magic uninterrupted by light while you sleep. Follow with generous SPF throughout the day to not only continue to protect retinol’s effectiveness but to ensure you don’t reverse your results with more sun damage. Another reason why SPF is a must when using retinol? To protect your new layers of skin. As noted, retinol works by boosting your skin cell turnover rate. This causes your top layers of dead skin to shed more quickly, bringing newer, more delicate skin to the surface. When this happens, your new layer of skin essentially has an initiation by fire to UV exposure (rather than under the protection of dead skin cells). This makes them way more vulnerable to sun damage. For maximum protection, don’t use anything less than SPF 30 or SPF 50. The TL;DR version: The two rules of using retinol 1. Only apply at night 2. Wear generous amounts of sunscreen throughout the day Pro Tip: Traditional retinols too harsh for your skin? Try our MD Revitalize Retinol Serum, which was dermatologist-developed for even the most sensitive skin! Made with a gentler encapsulated retinol, it’s able to move its way deeper into the skin before it's activated to avoid the side effects of dryness, peeling, and irritation that you may get from traditional retinols. Plus, soothing ingredients, like chamomile, seaweed extract, caffeine, aloe and niacinamide, help calm the skin to prevent irritation. IS IT SAFE TO WEAR RETINOL IN THE SUMMER? Yes! Just make sure you only apply retinol at night and wear a generous amount of sunscreen throughout the day, reapplying whenever you’re in the sun. BEST DAILY SKINCARE ROUTINE WHEN USING RETINOL Because retinol can be irritating and requires lots of sun protection, you want to build a skincare routine that incorporates lots of soothing, calming and hydrating ingredients, plus multiple layers of SPF. Here’s our reco: Evening Skincare Routine Step 1: Wash Away One Step Cleanser This gentle but effective face wash clears away all impurities – even water-proof makeup and mineral SPF – plus hydrates + lightly exfoliates in a single step. Skin’s left super clean and more receptive to your skincare products. Step 2: MD Revitalize Retinol Serum Encapsulated retinol, plus calming, soothing ingredients, help smooth, tone and revitalize skin overnight for a more youthful, glowing complexion by morning. Morning Skincare Routine Step 1: Wash Away One Step Cleanser Cleanses away impurities, hydrates and lightly exfoliates in a single step for super clean skin that’s more receptive to the rest of your skincare products. Step 2: Daily Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 30 Your first layer of sun protection, this hydrator uses hyaluronic acid, ceramides, moisturizing oils and more to keep skin moisturized from AM to PM while also providing broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection. Step 3: Mineral Tinted Creme SPF 30 OR MD Mineral BB Creme SPF 50 Add a second layer of sun protection with either of our multitasking tinted formulas. Both serve as a makeup-gripping primer with age-defying benefits and powerful broad-spectrum protection. For light tinted coverage, use Mineral Tinted Creme. For a more medium tint, use MD Mineral BB Creme. SHOP RETINOL and SPF NOW.
Learn more
What is BB Crème?
What is BB Cream? Everything you need to know. BB Creams have been around for decades – since the 1960s to be exact. But despite its massive popularity in more recent years thanks to K-beauty, it remains an enigma to so many of us. What exactly is BB Cream? Who should use it? How is it different from tinted moisturizer? Can it replace my foundation? Great questions, we’d love to tell you! What is BB Cream? BB Cream has many different names – blemish balm, beauty balm, blemish base, etc. – which is actually very fitting considering its multitasking abilities. A BB Cream is meant to streamline your routine to serve as your moisturizer, makeup primer and foundation all in one. It also exists somewhere between skincare and makeup, providing just enough coverage as well as age-defying benefits and SPF. What are the benefits of BB Cream? Because BB Creams blur the line between skincare and makeup, it’s a multi-tasking time-saver. In addition to providing light coverage, they also infuse skin with a lot of your favorite skin-loving ingredients. Our Mineral MD BB Crème SPF 50 contains vitamins, antioxidants, squalane, caffeine, and niacinamide. So your skin doesn’t just look glowy and filtered when wearing it, but improves overtime for plumper, smoother, brighter, more youthful-looking skin. Is BB Cream better than foundation? How much coverage you want is a personal choice. BB Creams tend to provide a light to medium coverage while foundations tend to be fuller coverage. BB Creams are also much airier and allow the skin to breathe more. If you’re acne-prone, have sensitive skin or a skin condition, you might be better off with a BB Cream. BB Cream vs Tinted Moisturizer vs Tinted SPF While tinted moisturizers and tinted SPFs also provide multitasking benefits, they still tend to stay in their own lane. For example, tinted moisturizers are essentially your favorite moisturizer with a hint of tint thrown in. The same goes for a tinted SPF. But they still exist as two separate steps. If you're really looking to streamline your routine, a BB Cream with SPF will give you all the benefits of a tinted moisturizer and tinted SPF with a bit more coverage. What is the best BB Cream? As with all skin-related products, there are an endless amount of BB Creams to choose from. Our favorite is, of course, our own MD Mineral BB Crème SPF 50! Dermatologist-developed with clean, safe, effective ingredients, its whipped, 100% mineral formula glides on super light and airy for a beautiful matte, even-toned finish. Available in three shades – light, medium, dark – so all skin tones can benefit! Vitamin C helps brighten Natural antioxidants – green tea, cranberry + pomegranate extracts – fight off free radicals Squalane hydrates and smooths Niacinamide + caffeine minimize discoloration and redness Naturally-derived eco-cert zinc oxide provides safe, clean, 100% mineral protection What’s the difference between MD Mineral BB Crème and Mineral Tinted Crème? The main difference between these two MDSolarSciences best sellers is that one is a BB Cream and one is a tinted SPF. Our Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 provides both sheer coverage and 100% mineral SPF 30 in a creamy, lightweight application. Our MD BB Crème SPF 50 has a more velvety texture, provides more tinted coverage, plus additional benefits that minimize discoloration and even skin tone. Either way you can’t go wrong, but if you’re looking for more tinted coverage, our BB Crème is your best bet!
Learn more
