Stay Protected: Expert Sunscreen Tips for a Healthy Summer

By Patricia Farris, M.D.
Board-Certified Dermatologist
Clinical Associate Professor, Tulane University School of Medicine

Summer is just around the corner, making it the perfect time to revisit your sunscreen routine. Everyone should use sunscreen to protect their skin. The sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin cancer, wrinkles, brown spots, uneven skin tone and premature aging. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. UV rays are harmful every day, regardless of the weather, and dangerous for everyone, no matter your age or skin tone. Here are some answers to questions patients often ask me:

 How do I protect myself from the sun?

  • Avoid direct exposure to sunlight between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun is strongest.
  • Wear sun-protective clothing outdoors, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, UV-protecting sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Apply sunscreen to exposed skin.

What kind of sunscreen should I use?

You should use a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays, has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and is water resistant.

Are sunscreens safe? 

The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) regulates sunscreens as over-the-counter drugs with stringent safety assessments, ensuring consumers they are safe and effective. The FDA has approved all sunscreen ingredients currently on the market in the U.S. and strongly advocates using broad-spectrum sunscreens to prevent sunburn and reduce skin cancer risk.  

Sunscreens have been used safely and effectively for decades. With skin cancer affecting more than 3 million Americans annually and melanoma killing nearly 20 Americans a day, I cannot overstate the important role these products play in preventing skin cancer. Using sunscreen as part of your daily routine is vital for everyone’s health.

How should I use sunscreen?

  • Apply enough sunscreen to cover all skin not covered by clothing—most adults need about 1 ounce, enough to fill a shot glass.
  • Don’t forget to apply it to the tops of your feet, your neck, your ears and the top of your head.
  • Apply sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors.
  • To protect your lips, use a lip balm or lipstick with an SPF of 30 or higher.
  • Reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours or after swimming or sweating, according to the directions on the bottle.

Enjoy your time outdoors this summer—at the beach, in the backyard or wherever you go to have fun. But don’t forget sunscreen as part of your overall health and wellness routine.

Don't Fry Friday

 

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Reflections on Winning the Madam C.J. Walker Award: A Journey of Leadership and Diversity in the Cosmetics and Personal Care Industry

By Michelle Wang Goodridge
U.S. President of Brand Growth, Kenvue

PCPC’s Madam C.J. Walker Award carries deep meaning within our industry as it honors the progress we’ve collectively made in championing diversity, equity and inclusion. I was incredibly proud to be one of the two recipients of this year’s award, and couldn’t be more humbled to receive an accolade that holds the name of not only a successful, self-made entrepreneur, but someone who persevered and created a legacy that inspires others to bring their full selves to their work.  

Every year during Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage month I remind myself that as a Chinese American I have an opportunity to share the cultures and values passed down to me, not just with my family, but with my colleagues each and every day. I am grateful to those who have encouraged me to be myself, share my unique perspective, and more importantly, build teams that bring people of different backgrounds together to foster inclusion and deliver solutions that advance the well-being of all people.

In my current role, I see our highly engaged teams working to make a difference by driving inclusive, equitable solutions and initiatives that have a positive impact on all: campaigns like Aveeno’s #SkinVisibility, which works to address the underdiagnosis, care and treatment of eczema on Black skin; Band-Aid® Brand’s Our Tone; and Listerine’s Whoa Collection, which fights to increase diversity in dentistry.

As leaders, especially women of color, it is essential to continue to find ways to make a difference. My mantras, shown below, were built from the amazing leaders who I have had the opportunity to collaborate with over the course of my career:

  • Embrace Your Unique Perspective: Your experiences as a woman of color bring a valuable and unique perspective to the table. Embrace it and leverage it to drive innovation and positive change within your organization.
  • Be Fearless in Pursuing Your Goals: Don’t let fear or self-doubt hold you back from pursuing your goals and aspirations. Believe in yourself, your abilities, and your potential to make a meaningful impact in your organization and industry.
  • Advocate for Diversity and Inclusion: Be a vocal advocate for change and actively work towards creating a more inclusive workplace culture.
  • Build a Strong Support Network: Surround yourself with mentors, sponsors, and allies who can provide guidance, support, and advocacy throughout your career journey. Seek out opportunities to connect with other women of color in your industry and learn from their experiences.
  • Pay It Forward: As you progress in your career, remember to pay it forward by mentoring and supporting the next generation of women of color leaders. Share your experiences, insights, and lessons learned to empower and inspire others to succeed.

I’m hopeful that these mantras will continue to be passed along and celebrated so that, together, we’ll continue to work towards the vision of a more diverse, inclusive and equitable future for generations to come.

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Personal Care Products Council Announces L’Oréal’s David Greenberg as New Board Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Tesia Williams (202) 297-1232 williamst@personalcarecouncil.org
Stefanie Harrington (202) 615-6558 harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org

Personal Care Products Council Announces L’Oréal’s David Greenberg as New Board Chair

WASHINGTON—The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) announced today the election of David Greenberg as its new board chair, effective May 1, 2024. Greenberg, who has served as the CEO of L’Oréal USA and president of the North America Zone since his appointment in February 2022, brings a wealth of experience from his 30-year career in the beauty and personal care industry, marked by numerous achievements and transformative strategies.

“David is a visionary industry leader whose profound understanding of the beauty landscape and his commitment to innovation has driven substantial growth in every role he has held,” said PCPC President & CEO Tom Myers. “His transformative strategies, coupled with a strong focus on consumer-centricity and people development, have been instrumental in his leadership at L’Oréal USA. We are thrilled that in his new Board role he will help us continue to navigate the evolving market dynamics and advocate for the beauty and personal care sector.”

Greenberg has spent more than 30 years at L’Oréal in leadership roles across markets, divisions, brands and functions, including leading the L’Oréal Mexico Consumer Products Division, driving internal transformation as the senior vice president for human resources for L’Oréal USA, and, prior to becoming CEO of the largest subsidiary of the L’Oréal Groupe, leading and driving a major acceleration and business model transformation of the Professional Products Division in U.S. and Canada.  

“I am honored to serve as the board chair for the Personal Care Products Council, an organization that plays a vital role in the advocacy and progression of the beauty and personal care industry,” said Greenberg. “I look forward to working alongside other industry leaders to further foster a landscape of innovation, safety and trust that meets the diverse needs of our consumers worldwide.”

Greenberg’s appointment marks a significant milestone in PCPC’s history, following his long-time vice chairmanship role on the Board of Directors that championed the historical passage of the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, and will now shift to promoting the essential role beauty plays in society as a whole. Under his leadership, PCPC will increase its advocacy efforts to promote science-based public policies and promote the industry’s commitment to innovative and sustainable cosmetics and personal care products, further enhancing consumer trust in the safety and quality of the products they use and rely on every day.

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Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the US beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

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Statement by Personal Care Products Council on This Year’s EWG Sunscreen Guide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Tesia Williams (202) 297-1232 williamst@personalcarecouncil.org
Stefanie Harrington (202) 615-6558 harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org

Statement by Personal Care Products Council on This Year’s EWG Sunscreen Guide

WASHINGTON—“The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and our member companies remain firmly committed to ensuring that Americans have access to a wide variety of safe and effective sunscreen products. We continue to work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide additional safety data on several ultraviolet (UV) filters in order to ensure consumer confidence in the safety and effectiveness of these critical products.

“Unfortunately, once again, the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) sunscreen guide misleads consumers into assuming sunscreen products are unsafe, thereby jeopardizing public health. Sunscreen is a crucial and well-recognized tool in the fight against skin cancer. Our goal is to help consumers make informed decisions and continue to use sunscreens as an important part of their daily health routine.

“For these reasons, we remain concerned that the Sunscreen Innovation Act, which was signed into law in 2014, has not lived up to its promise to increase the speed of approvals for new active sunscreen ingredients. The FDA has not approved new UV filters since 1999. Additionally, globally approved filters used in Europe and other regions are not available in the U.S., greatly limiting options for American consumers.

“For more information about cosmetics and personal care products and their ingredients, please visit www.cosmeticsinfo.org.”

# # #

Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

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