Kelly’s question…I wanted to see if you might have an answer for me about sunscreen and how to apply it. Forever, I have been told that you apply your products first – eye cream, serums, moisturizer and then your sunscreen is the last step before your makeup. Yesterday, on another well respected blog, Dr. Schultz from Derm TV, suggested that your sunscreen should go on first so it is closest to the skin and can be effective. He suggests that you skip serums in the morning, as they aren’t likely to work as intended. He also suggested that you apply products from the thinnest to the heaviest. Protecting my skin from the sun is my primary concern and if I am not using the products correctly or making them ineffective, I want to know the right way!

The Left Brain’s response:

You raise some interesting questions and the truth is this question is one for which science hasn’t determined an answer. Good arguments could be made for both methods of application. Until there is a definitive study, there is no known “right” answer. But take heart, there is not really a “wrong” answer either.  Here is what the Brains conclude (with all due respect to the doctor) about these issues.

Sunscreen savvy

For physical blocking sunscreens (minerals) like Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide, it doesn’t matter. They’ll work just the same whether it’s put on first or last. In this case, we recommend putting it on after your moisturizer just so the sunscreen doesn’t inhibit the penetrating ability of the moisturizer (or other treatment).

Chemical sunscreens (e.g. Oxycinnamate) are a bit different because the raw materials in the formulas can have an impact on the final SPF rating. That means if you use apply it after your moisturizer, you may reduce the SPF efficacy. So, Zinc & Titanium on last, all other sunscreens on first. Of course, you could actually solve the entire problem by using a moisturizer that contains sunscreen.

Serum uncertainty

As for the question about the serums… again, the science hasn’t been done but there is a good rationale for using them at night rather than in the morning. Many of the active ingredients are UV sensitive so they will most likely be less effective if exposed to the sun. Wearing eye products at night prevents this problem.

What’s your face cream routine? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

Drop Addict asks…I read your post about being addicted to lip balm and I have a similar problem: I think I’m addicted to eye drops. My eyes constantly feel dry and I’m always putting drops in them. Is this bad for me?

The Right Brain Responds:
Dear Drop Addict, we’re not opthalmologists so we’re not qualified to give you any medical advice about your eyes (or any other part of your body for that matter.) But, since using eye drops to moisturize your eyes is kind of like using lotion to moisturize your skin, or conditioner to moisturize your hair – what the heck, let’s give it a shot.

Dry eye

It’s possible you have a condition called “Dry Eye.” If that’s the case, the answer isn’t putting drops in more often – it’s finding a drop that’s longer lasting. Plain saline drops have a very transitory moisturizing effect – they just don’t coat the eye very well. What you need are drops that contain ingredients known as hydrogels that increase the drops ability to stay on your eye.

Common hydrogel ingredients include Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Carboxy Methylcellulose, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Carbopol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, dextran, and hyaluronic acid. Look for drops with any of these ingredients and you should see some improvement.

And by the way, here’s a GREAT reference for all things related to eye moisturization.Learn amazing things about real tears, find out what’s in artificial tears, and see almost 30 different kinds of moisturizing eye drops. Just reading the list of soothing drops made our eyes tired and dry!

Finally, for a different kind of eye drop check out Eyegazms. (If for no other reason than the cool sounding name.)

Carol’s colorful question: Why can’t I use regular hair color on my eyebrows?  I’ve sprouted so many white eyebrow hairs that using brow products alone doesn’t cover them anymore. I see warnings against this.  Why?  If I’m careful, would it be ok?

The Left Brain’s eye opening response:

Carol, using permanent hair color on your eyebrows is very dangerous because it may cause an allergic reaction that could blind you.  Here are some key facts from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website:

Hair Dye Reactions

• “…some consumers have reported hair loss, burning, redness, and irritation from hair dyes. Allergic reactions to dyes include itching, swelling of the face, and even difficulty breathing.”
• “The patch test involves putting a dab of hair dye behind the ear or inside the elbow, leaving it there for two days, and looking for itching, burning, redness, or other reactions.”
• “The problem is that people can become sensitized–that is, develop an allergy–to these ingredients, they may do the patch test once, and then use the product for 10 years before having an allergic reaction… you’re supposed to do the patch test every time, even in salons.”

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Considering what could go wrong, I don’t think dying your eyebrows is really worth the risk.  And using organic hair color is no solution either.  Maybe you could find a temporary brow colors that doesn’t have the same potential for allergic reaction.

What do YOU think? Have you ever dyed your eyebrows? Leave a comment and share your experiences with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

Mid Brain muses:

The folks over at C&E News are reporting on a new technology for changing your eye color. Researchers at Ciba Vision and Bausch & Lomb have come up with a new way to change eye color that works much better than the current technology. While colored lenses have been around since the 1970’s, they haven’t worked well for making brown eyes look naturally blue.

But now by using nanotechnology (really really tiny particles) and inspiration from the wings of butterflies, even the darkest brown eyes can be made blue. And it won’t even require a breakup with your boyfriend. I’ve gotta tell you, it’s stories like these that makes this Beauty Brain proud to be a scientist.

What do YOU think? Would you wear a special pair of contacts to change your eye color?
What if you don’t wear glasses or contacts? Would you wear them just to change your eye color? Leave a comment and share your colorful thoughts with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

Diana dares to ask: Do cheap sunglasses provide the same amount of UV ray protection as more expensive sunglasses? Does it matter? I understand the FDA does not regulate this (not that I think they should…) but how can we tell if the shades we’re buying will protect our eyes or potentially harm them?

The Right Brain’s squinty replay:

This is a very important question Diane! Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can burn your skin AND the corneas and conjunctivas of your eyes. Plus, long-term UV exposure can lead to eye disease like cataracts (clouding of the lens) and macular degeneration (breakdown of the macula) Sunglasses that block this UV light are a great way to help protect your vision, but you don’t need to spend a bundle to do it.

Good guidelines

You’re right that the FDA doesn’t regulate sunglasses. But the American National Standards Institute has set some guidelines that can help you pick the right pair. They say that glasses should block UVB by 99% and UVA radiation by 95 percent. Here’s the important part – the glasses should indicate the level of protection they provide. If the glasses aren’t labeled with a specific UV claim then DON’T BUY THEM because it’s impossible to know how much protection they will provide. And don’t assume that “special” lenses block UV. Blue blockers, polycarbonate, and polarized lenses may block SOME UV light but without special coatings these lenses DO NOT meet the UV minimum blockage requirements. Make sure the glasses are clearly labeled with the type of protection the offer.

What to look for

Look for these voluntary industry labels that (hopefully) manufacturers are using:

• “Cosmetic” = 70% UV reduction
• “General purpose” = 95% UV reduction
• “Special purpose” = 99% UV reduction
• “UV-400″ and “UV absorption up to 400nm” = 99% to 100% UV reduction

Also, you should know that the UV protectant coating doesn’t have a color, so don’t be tricked into thinking that darker lenses provde better protection. Also, remember that the tint or color of the lens doesn’t matter.

Cost is not critical

UV labeling is what you should look for, not a high price tag. We quote the Glaucoma Research Institute

The good news is that sunglasses don’t have to be expensive to protect your eyes and they can often be found at the local drugstore. Unfortunately, a high price is not always a guarantee of high quality and protection. Part of the difficulty is that standards and labeling regarding UV protection are voluntary, not mandatory-and can be confusing.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Don’t be cheated by Chanel, fooled by Fendi, or duped by Donna Karin. Look for proper UV labeling and save some money!

What do YOU think? Do you buy expensive sunglasses because you think they work better? Leave a comment for the rest of Beauty Brains community.

References:
Mayo Clinic
Glaucoma Research Institut