RéVive Skincare, Renessence Haircare and Bays Beauty Boutique founder Dr. Gregory Bays Brown fields your questions and shares his thoughts regarding the state of skincare, haircare and beauty in our ‘Ask Dr. Brown’ blog series. Our latest installment is all about the importance of summer skincare protection.

As a doctor and skincare specialist you’re a huge advocate for using sunscreen products year-round, and particularly in the summer. Tell us more.

I have always said the most important anti-aging product that anyone can use is sunscreen. A sunscreen, and/or products that contain sunscreen, staves off the aging process and most importantly decreases your risk of developing deadly skin cancer. Sunlight is the main source of UV (ultraviolet) rays, which can cause skin cancer, and is strongest in spring and summer, thus the particular importance for sunscreen now. Using sunscreen daily, even when it’s cloudy or raining, simultaneously improves skin quality and dramatically decreases the risk of skin cancer.

Besides sunburn, what are other damaging aspects of exposure to the sun?

A multitude of conditions, which will prematurely age you: dark spots, wrinkling, and sagging skin, to name just a few. Extensive sun exposure reduces elasticity in the skin, which results in the lines and crepiness that are visible everywhere from your face to your hands. Using a sunscreen and products that contain SPFs will help lessen these aging effects.

What is an SPF?

SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measure of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays, the kind of radiation that causes sunburn, damages skin, and can contribute to skin cancer. If your skin would normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, applying an SPF 15 sunscreen would allow you to stay in the sun without burning for approximately 150 minutes (a factor of 15 times longer). For the best protection, one should us a minimum SPF sunscreen of 15.

Tell us more about your RéVive products that contain SPFs, and what they do.

• Soleil Superiéur SPF 50 is ideal for extended sun exposure and is a luxurious, lightweight sunscreen that’s ultra transparent, and provides superb in-sun protection, as it simultaneously repairs visible signs of aging.
• Moisturizing Renewal Cream SPF 15 is our newest product and is a powerful moisturizer that helps protect skin, while encouraging skin cell renewal to reveal healthier, more luminous skin.
• Sensitif Cellular Repair Cream SPF 30, is one of our bestselling day creams and increases skin cell renewal to help repair visible signs of aging, while calming and soothing the skin.
• Sensitif Oil Free Lotion SPF 15 is a gentle oil-free lotion that helps repair visible signs of aging, controls excess oil and balances the troublesome t-zone.
• Perfectif Even Skin Tone Cream SPF 30 helps erase the appearance of past damage, including dark spots, and brings smooth, even-toned skin to light.
• Intensité Crème Lustre Day SPF 30 is an intensive firming moisturizer designed to help increase elasticity while reducing the appearance of sagging skin.
• Fermitif Neck Renewal Cream SPF 15 is a luxurious rose-scented formula designed to give the neck and décolletage – areas that are a dead giveaway to the effects of aging – a smooth, taut, firm appearance.

Have a skincare and/or beauty question for Dr. Brown? Please email specialist@baysboutique.com and we’ll post his answers in an upcoming blog installment.