|
Frequently Asked Questions about our sunblocks and sunscreens:
What is the difference in your products/brands?
What makes your product better than "brand x"?
How do they feel?
Which SPF should I buy?
What's the deal with all the new FDA labeling laws?
How much difference is there between 30 and 44?
Q. What is the
difference in your products/brands?
A. Nothing: We are the premier supplier of sports sunblocks in the U.S. and
several other countries. The purpose in having several brands is simply to be
able to offer sports-specific products to retailers focusing on selected sports.
Q. What
makes your product better than "brand x"?
A. Two things: first, in function: for 10 years, since Fall, 1991, AMA labs in
New York has conducted the industry's official 8 hour waterproof tests. Using
female human test personnel, we applied product, then performed SPF test. AMA
then put the ladies into whirlpools with warm water and jets on (both warmer
water temperatures and friction are more aggressive in trying to remove
sunscreens than still, cool water). They were in and out of the water 16 times
in the first few tests, then test was revised by the testing facility to 12
times (feeling was that it was essentially not possible in a normal day to get
into and out of water 16 times, even for a professional athlete or life guard),
in for 30 minutes, out for 10. At end of test, another SPF test we performed and
100% of the test personnel rated 100%--meaning that the product had absolutely
no washoff. It is physically not possible to perform any better. Second: norm
would have been to see a diminishing performance in the sunscreen and our
product had zero. Further, though, and also exceptional---every person in the
test rated exactly the same SPF at end of test. Norm would have been to see a
variance. Summary: these products, applied once, yielded full label claim
protection all day long in and out of water on every test subject, with several
skin types, with ZERO WASHOFF.
Q. How do they feel?
A. Great! They are far superior to the usual drug store brands and even better
than many of the extremely expensive cosmetics counter brands. Water based and
oil free, women can even apply make-up over them. The products were selected for
use over all others by Stephen Spielberg's people, Universal Studios, and Morgan
Creek Production, in producing Jurassic Park, Flintstones, Wyatt Earp, Ace
Ventura, Flipper and a host of other movies and TV shows. Many Hollywood stars
won't film outdoors without them, and we have numerous times been called by
various Stars' aides to overnight product to a set, all over the world.
Q. Which SPF should I
buy?
A. A very broad question. It would take a book to give you a full answer.
Generally, buy higher SPF than you think you need. With all the increased risk
of skin cancer, not to mention just the sun damage, wrinkling, collapse of
collagen, etc. our opinion is that you need more protection than you used to.
Many people still want to get some "color" when they go out. Fine, order SPF
#15. Note we don't make anything lower---not because it won't sell, but because
you just simply shouldn't use it. SPF #15 will give you a nice tan over a few
days and the general educated information now is that if you're going to "get
color" you're better off getting it slower, using an SPF #15 or 30. (Yes, you
still get a little color with a 30). Now-we'll try to give you something you can
use in real life: If the goal is fully protection, then always use our SPF #44
for anything-short periods out, any water exposure, any athletic workout,
training, competition, etc.-always. Put it on before you leave the house or
hotel room, allowing it to "set" some before you get out. Most people fail to
realize that you can actually get a clinical burn just walking to the beach,
setting up the umbrella, towels, cooler, putting screen on the kids, and by the
time you get to yourself, even though you cannot see it, you're burned.
Fair-skinned people will burn clinically in 4-6 minutes! If the goal is to get
some color: First, if you're very fair, blonde/blue-eyed, skin cancer in the
past, etc. forget it. You MIGHT get a little color, but the risk just isn't
worth it. If you just HAVE to, then use SPF 15 for any exposure under 90
minutes, and 30+ or 44 for longer than 90 minute exposures. If you're medium to
darker skinned, you can get away with SPF #15, getting color all the while, for
longer periods, up to 2-4 hours. If you're going to be out all day, play it safe
and use #30+ or 44.
Q. What's the deal with
all the new FDA labeling laws?
A. Great subject and there's a lot of press on this. First, the laws are going
to be the first significant update of the Monograph since 1978. They were first
set to go into effect May, 2001, but that date has now been backed up to January
1, 2003. We all expect that date to stand. The new labeling law is 57 pages just
on the subject of labeling sunscreens, and can be viewed fully on the FDA's web
site. Summary is this: there will no longer be allowable use of any SPF claim
above 30+ (for the record, we'll be taking our #44 formulation and putting it
into the #30+ tubes beginning January 1, 2002, so we will be in compliance fully
one year ahead of deadline). The words Waterproof, Sunblock and "8 Hours" will
no longer be allowed. They will be replaced with "Very water resistant",
sunscreen, and 80 minutes. The general feeling within the industry is that all
the big makers of sunblock will actually reduce amounts of actives in their
products--- "why make #44 when we an only claim 30? It is, after all, less
expensive to make 30." Our company, supplying solely to sports related retailers
and consumers, feels the absolute best protection is needed, regardless of
allowable label claims, so we'll continue making the #44 and put it into a 30+
tube. The "8 Hour" claim will disappear and the words "original formula" will
replace it.
Q. How much difference
is there between 30 and 44?
A. None with our product. The SPF 44 formula is filled into both the 44 and 30+
tubes. The reason we make both labels is twofold: Some countries allow 44 and
some only 30; and some people want "the most protection" where some have been
told anything over 30 is really only 30. So they specifically look for 30. See
FDA label laws just above here. If you're fair, cancer or surgery survivor, or
an outdoor professional, the extra protection is valuable. For the rest of you,
unless you're out several hours at a time, maybe not. After 1-1-03, the question
is moot.
|
