MAKE SUN PROTECTION A PART OF YOUR BEAUTY REGIME BEFORE STEPPING OUT OF THE HOUSE.

I have always been a fan of sunblock. That is why I make it a point to always, always, always, apply spf on my models regardless of whether we're shooting indoors or outdoors. I also loved how lip sunblocks felt on my lips so I always applied them on clients as well. I found that these products make a perfect base for a smooth canvas!

While reading the August '08 issue of FitnessRX, I read this article under Beauty & SpaRX:

Shiny Lips Inclrease Cancer Risk?

This is bad news for those of us who live and swear by shiny, glossy lip balms. These shiny lip balms and glosses may attract ultraviolet rays and increase the risk of skin cancer, warns a dermatologist at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. Dr. Christine Brown noted that protecting your lips from harmful sun rays is as important as using sunscreen to protect your skin. A recent study found that less than 25 percent of Americans use some form of lip protection. Lips are more susceptible than skin to aging from chronic sun damage and also more prone to developing serious cancers. These shine-inducing treatments only attract the sun's rays to lips. Women should only wear glossy lipsticks in the sun when they have a layer of sun protection underneath. Wear a lip sun block with an SPF of at least 30 if you plan to spend the day outdoors. (Yahoo News, April 26, 2008)

Don't worry about spf lip products about feeling thick and heavy. Cosmetic brands have already come up with lip treatments that have SPF. Lancôme has come up with a product that has SPF10. Since glosses wear off after a while, retouch with this base as often as you would with lip gloss, and you should be fine!

LE ROUGE ABSOLU BASE - Revitalizing Lip Treatment SPF 10 Sunscreen
An intensely and continuously moisturizing lip treatment with SPF 10 sunscreen in lipstick form that can be used anytime to combat the signs of aging. Colorless and finely pearly, use this soft and comfortable balm day or night, alone or under your favorite Le Rouge Absolu LipColour, to revitalize, protect and wrap your lips with satiny shine.