It's my SPF moisturizer's fault?

[korina981]

I was talking to a Clarins SA who said that suncreen actually helps people keep their tans longer and that it isn't a way to prevent tanning (which i used to think). Now I always wear my SPF moisturizer even at night when i sleep... it's just what i always wear. But I have noticed that ever since i started using SPF moisturizer (3 years ago) my skin has gotten way tanner. I don't like that because my face is always way darker than my arms, legs, etc. I'm not sure what to do. I know I shouldn't cut off the SPF but I really hate my face skin tone being so much more tan than the rest of me.

 

[patsluv]

I don't like moisturizers with SPF cuz I think they are not as sun protective as a stand alone sunblock. I guess the reason your face is more tanned than the rest of you is because the SPF moisturizer you are using is not strong enough to protect against the sun, and so the tan. If I were you I would not use it any more and get a good stand alone sunblock. I use Neutrogena Dry Touch SPF 55 and like it a lot.

 

[Liz]

whoa. i've never heard of that...

 

[Leony]

Interesting, I've never heard of that either.

 

[blackmettalic]

You should try using a spf body moisturizer with a gradual glow formula to even out your skin. There is a recent thread about it.

 

[korina981]

I went to the Clarins website and it said soemthing similar.

Quote:
An SPF helps protect against sunburn, and does not "stop" the tanning process. On the contrary, by using sun protection, you‘ll achieve a more radiant, longer-lasting tan. However, a high SPF does not mean you can necessarily spend more time in the sun, especially when the sun‘s rays are particularly intense (between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m.).

 

[Kelly]

Very interesting. I've always wondered why my face and neck area get darker, when I wear a moisturizer or foundation with SPF. In the past I didn't want an SPF, because I thought my face and neck would be white and the rest of me....tan. But as time goes by.....my skintone on my face seems to be getting darker....is it just age? When I was younger I was pretty fair skinned (teenager, early 20's). Now I'd say I'm light-medium. Or maybe it's just a coincidence, but it happens in the winter too. Mind boggling I tell ya!

VERY interesting! Things that make you go "hmmmmmmm".....

 

[beautynista]

so its better to use a sunblock?? is it only moisturizrs with SPf that do that...are you sure thats not a myth?

 

[mabelwan]

A friend of mine has the same problem as you. She is fair before trying any SPF moisturizer and sunblock product, but her face turned tanner and she's very upset about that.

 

[Kelly]

Originally Posted by mabelwan A friend of mine has the same problem as you. She is fair before trying any SPF moisturizer and sunblock product, but her face turned tanner and she's very upset about that. Yea, how weird is that. If I want a tan, I'll NOT wear SPF, but if I want to stay fair, I'm using an SPF for a reason (not to meantion health reasons).....kinda frustrates me too. But hopefully by wearing the SPF, I'm getting the protection from the bad rays, if I get tan but keep out the bad....then fine. But I thought it was suppose to help from getting tan as well???? I don't know.

 

[Little_Lisa]

Mmhmm, very interesting.

 

[korina981]

Originally Posted by mabelwan A friend of mine has the same problem as you. She is fair before trying any SPF moisturizer and sunblock product, but her face turned tanner and she's very upset about that. that's my case exactly. like people that haven't seen me in a few years are like wow, you got tan; because I only started using it a few years ago. Before I never used an SPF moisturizer.
I don't wanna get a body tan to even things out. I just want my face's natural coloring back. I liked it before, lol. I'm wondering if the effects are permanant though

 

[Becka]

I think its common for the face and neck to be darker than the rest of the body coz its open to the elements more, spf on the face or not. if there's spf in the MU I really don't think its enough to stop most of the sun. I think the only way to lighten up the face and neck is to wear a hat and stay away from outdoors for a while.

 

[Jennifer]

oh, wow. i've never heard of that.

 

[jessica9]

i agree that a lot of moisturizers with spf in them don't protect as well as regular sunblock, but i think the reason why is because you need to apply a lot for adequate protection. if you just apply it like a normal moisturizer (rubbing between your palms and patting on your face) you are not going to get much protection. i use aveeno's positively radiant moisturizer with spf 30. i use two pumps for my forehead, two pumps for each cheek and rub the rest into my nose and chin. i look like a white ghost when i do this, but since it has avobenzone, it COMPLETELY absorbs! it's crazy! i don't know...i just don't think the Clarins thing makes sense to me. uvb rays are the ones that give you a tan, and uva rays are just the real photoaging rays. a good sunscreen should block both, and i know clarins tends to use titanium dioxide, which blocks uvb rays too. but that is so weird...i have never heard that before...

 

[eightthirty]

I can see that happening, but for some reason my face and neck are always lighter. Perhaps you should consider a hat?