Thursday, February 21, 2008

SPF Rating.

When you’re looking for a mineral powder with sun protection, choose one that has an SPF rating on the label. If there is no SPF rating, the product has not been tested in an accredited laboratory. The FDA does not allow you to assume sun protection even though there may be titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in the formula. Much depends on the type, quantity and quality of minerals used and how they are blended.

All of our bases have an SPF 20 and have gone through the 20-subject testing required by the FDA. As you’ll have seen in my previous blog, an SPF rating only refers to the UVB ray; the ray that causes sunburn. It doesn’t indicate protection from the more damaging ray, UVA. However, we may be getting closer to the FDA approving the Japanese method for testing UVA protection. Then, we’ll have a symbol that we’ll be able to put on our labels and you will know to what degree your sunscreen helps protect you from UVA rays.

We’ve just brought out an all-over body powder called Powder-Me SPF which has an SPF 30. We also asked the lab to test for UVA under the Japanese method. We found that Powder-Me SPF was rated as “High.” So for now you will see this designation on our packaging: UVA/UVB Sunscreen, SPF 30.

Powder-Me SPF works as an all-over body protection for women, men and children. There are two colors. One is a translucent powder and the other gives the look of a golden tan. It was tested on one hundred women last summer to rave reviews. Let me know how you like it.

Of course, there’s always another side to every issue and this one has to do with vitamin D. The more we find out about this vitamin, the more important it appears to be. Since we get our largest does of vitamin D from the sun, is avoiding the sun good for us? But that’s the topic of another blog.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

There are plenty of ways to get vitamin D without exposing oneself to a known carcinogen (UV rays). Dietary supplements are the main way. Plus, anyone who suspects a deficiency of vitamin D can get a test done at the doctor's office. Have the doctor test for the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is a more bioactive form of the essential vitamin. All in all, the risk/benefit analysis would appear to suggest getting vitamin D through supplementation and giving skin the most thorough UVA and UVB protection possible.

Hooked On Beauty said...

I'm so excited to try powder-me! I agree, SPF ratings are confusing to people, some believe you add up the ratings on the products you're using and that's the sum of your protection.

Anonymous said...

Hi Jane

I love the powder me spf. I am a retailer and a long time lover and user of Jane Iredale (Over 10 years!)
I would love to see the spf in an in between color. The tanned looks a little orange, but I love the concept. The applicator is perfect! I gave it to my son for summer camp.

Also, I have always thought the packaging on the eye shadows and blushes for retail are not travel friendly. I wish you would change them to the tester unit containers, that way -if anything breaks it is contained, and the consumer retains the product and isn't so annoyed that all of their product is gone.

Thank you for making such a beautiful formulation!!

Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!