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What is LifeGuard Sunscreen?
LifeGuard is a unique, alcohol based sunscreen
product. When applied it is odorless, greaseless, and highly resistant
to water and sweat.
How is LifeGuard different
from other sunscreens on the market?
LifeGuard is unique because of its alcohol base. This alcohol
base acts as the delivery system for the actual sunscreening compound.
Also, LifeGuard contains no lotions, oils, gels, grease, fragrances,
or perfumes, and is hypo-allergenic.
Won't LifeGuard's alcohol
base dry my skin?
Not with normal use. The alcohol is actually
on your skin only for a few seconds before it evaporates, leaving
the actual sunscreening compound behind in the upper layers of
your skin.
What is the SPF (Sun Protection
Factor) of LifeGuard?
LifeGuard is SPF 15 in the current rating
scheme.
Is LifeGuard available in
a higher SPF?
No, and with good reason. Most people don't
realize it but an SPF 15 sunscreen actually absorbs or reflects
up to 98% of the harmful UV radiation you encounter; an
SPF 30 sunscreen absorbs or reflects about 98.7%, so even
doubling the SPF number does not mean double the protection!
This gross misunderstanding of the SPF system and what the numbers
represent is one of the factors that lead the FDA to throw out
the entire system.
What will LifeGuard Sunscreen's
new protection rating be?
Probably in the Maximum or possibly Moderate class. Though
the new rating won't appear on the labels until more are printed,
which likely won't be for some time considering our stockpile
of those beautiful holographic labels from the last print run.
On some of your older advertising
material it says that LifeGuard is "Waterproof and Greaseless,"
but the FDA says the word "Waterproof" is misleading. Just
how "highly water resistant" is LifeGuard sunscreen?
According to the new monograph the FDA doesn't recognize any
product to be "waterproof," period. It should be noted however
that the actual sunscreening compound in LifeGuard is insoluble
in water. The key is that the upper layers of your skin on which
LifeGuard sits are not insoluble in water. So if while wearing
LifeGuard you were to sit in a hot-tub for an hour then get out
and towel off vigorously, you would be exfoliating, removing many
old skin cells very quickly, and the LifeGuard on those old cells
would come off with them. You would need to reapply LifeGuard
to protect the newly uncovered skin. After normal swimming
or perspiration most people do not need to reapply LifeGuard.
Does "highly sweat resistant"
mean the same thing?
Yes. The actual sunscreening compound in LifeGuard
will not sweat out of your skin, but during exercise a person
might repeatedly rub their brow or other area due to sweating.
This rubbing action can remove some skin cells and thus remove
the LifeGuard on those cells, just as vigorously toweling off
might do. If you are an active outdoor athlete or worker you should
reapply LifeGuard after 80 minutes of continued sweating just
to be safe.
If LifeGuard Sunscreen is
Greaseless does that mean I don' t have to worry about it getting
all over my golfclubs, tennis racquet, etc.?
LifeGuard is perfect for all kinds of outdoor athletes because
it doesn't get oily or greasy when you're outside trying to enjoy
your game. It won't get messy, and it won't adversly effect your
gear. You can put LifeGuard on even before you leave the house,
because once it dries it won't get on your clothes or car upholstery
either!
How long will LifeGuard
last?
When used as directed LifeGuard can last all
day with just one application. If you are swimming a lot, sweating
heavily, or involved in other strenuous activity which might cause
LifeGuard to be rubbed off, we strongly recommend that you reapply
after 80 minutes of continued activity to ensure adequate protection.
Do I apply LifeGuard just
as I would any other sunscreen?
Not exactly. Most other sunscreens require
that you rub them in, but LifeGuard will penetrate the upper layer
of your skin (the stratum corneum) after just spreading it once
evenly and allowing it to dry. Rubbing LifeGuard may actually
result in uneven protection. Once LifeGuard has dried you can
reapply immediately if you think an area may need additional protection,
and if you're using LifeGuard for the first time we recommend
that you apply it twice on most areas. LifeGuard has a consistency
like water, so it is very easy to miss areas of your body when
applying (and get burned in the places you've missed) if you're
not used to using LifeGuard. Also, care must be taken around the
face and eyes, because of LifeGuard's alcohol delivery base. We
recommend using a cottonball, make-up pad, or disposable LifeGuard
Sunscreen Towelette to apply LifeGuard to your face, and to give
extra care not to get too close to your eyes.
Is it true that I should
use LifeGuard every day, and is it safe?
It is not only true that you should use a sunscreen every
day, it is important that you always try to prevent excessive
UV exposure. Multiple studies have shown that the UV radiation
that you absorb on a day-to-day basis (called incidental
exposure) is the most prevalent and damaging exposure
you will receive throughout your entire life! Ultra-Violet radiation
damage is cumulative and you get most of it through short outdoor
activities such as walking out to get the mail or just going out
to your car. LifeGuard Sunscreen is safe to use every day, and
doing so will help you to protect yourself from this cumulative
UV damage. For more information about the effects of sun damage
on your skin please visit our Information page, or our Links page for some other
sources of information.
What are the potential risks
of UV radiation exposure?
Short term:
Sunburns and ruined vacations.
Long term: The increased severity of fine lines and wrinkles,
age spots, and other aging-related skin problems. Also, skin cancers,
including Melanoma.
Most of these harmful effects are caused by UVB, the most dangerous
form of UV radiation that penetrates our atmosphere. UVA is the
UV radiation that gives you a tan, but keep in mind that the full
effects of UVA are still not known, and some scientists believe
that it may be somewhat harmful as well. This is one of the primary
concerns about tanning beds, because they produce more UVA than
what a person is normally exposed to.
Will LifeGuard still allow
me to tan?
Yes, LifeGuard will still allow you to tan
some because it does allow some, but not all, UVA to come through.
Keep in mind: because no one is fully aware of the effects of
UVA on the skin most scientists and dermatologists will tell you
that there is no such thing as a completely safe tan! But using
LifeGuard will help to make the time you do spend in the sun that
much safer.
Are there other benefits
of using LifeGuard for older men and women?
Definitely! Those who have thinning hair can put it on their
scalps without making their hair oily or greasy, and women can
put it on before they put on their make-up. Because LifeGuard
is Greaseless and odorless it doesn' t interfere with the make-up
in any way, and you can still be protected from the sun. And protecting
yourself from further UV radiation exposure with LifeGuard may
help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Well what about make-up
that has sunscreen in it? Will LifeGuard stop it from working
or vice-versa?
No. There should be no problem at all in using
any type of make-up with LifeGuard, as long as it isn't alcohol
based (other than a few astringents, none are). The alcohol in
another product might redissolve the sunscreening compound in
LifeGuard after it is in your skin, leaving that area unprotected.
If I'm using make-up with
sunscreen in it do I need to use LifeGuard too?
Yes. The sunscreen in most make-up is not very strong and
may not provide you with adequate protection. Besides, most people
don' t regularly put make-up on the tops of their ears and hands
or the backs of their necks, and these areas get a lot of sun
exposure every day.
I was using LifeGuard when
I went out to the beach today and my shoulders are red! Is this
a sunburn!?!?
Probably not. If your skin feels a little
warm but does not sting then you probably don't have a sunburn.
Exposure to UVA radiation can cause vasodilation (expansion) of
the capillaries in your skin, giving your skin a reddish hue.
The scientific term for this is erythema (literally: red skin).
The effect is much the same as when you blush, though one is caused
by the sun and the other by a hormonal reaction. Though your skin
may feel warm this is only a temporary effect.
I know Lifeguard has no
fragrances but what if I want to add some?
It's easy - Just add one or two drops of an
essential oil of your choice. (O course, you want to be sure you
are not allergic to th essential oil before you add it.) Previous
customers have preferred cirrus over floral scents, but it's a
matter of personal preference.
What sizes and types of
LifeGuard are available?
Currently we offer LifeGuard Sunscreen in
8oz. Bottles and single use disposable towelettes. The bottles
can be bought individually or in cases of 12. Towelettes are available
in boxes of 24, with the largest single container holding 288
(12 boxes of 24).
How can I get some LifeGuard
Sunscreen?
Your local drug store may carry LifeGuard.
If not you can buy direct from us online here at the LifeGuard
Online Store.
I'm a retailer. Can I get
some LifeGuard Sunscreen to carry in my store?
Absolutely. Just go to our Dealers page for more information
How long has LifeGuard Sunscreen
been around?
LifeGuard was invented in 1981 and has been
on sale as "LifeGuard" since June of 1983 using this logo:
LifeGuard logo, June 1983
A few years later we began to use a newer logo and Lifeguard
was known as "LifeGuard Sun Barrier" for a time. It was around
this time that we also introduced Lifeguard Towelettes using the
same basic logo. These first LifeGuard Towelettes were carried
in Operation Desert Storm by some of our Armed Forces.
LifeGuard Sun Barrier logo, September 1990
Finally, in March of 1997 we started using our current "centered"
logo on our holographic labels for the Lifeguard 8oz. Bottles.
The same logo is on our LifeGuard Sunscreen Towelettes, which
are now carried by some elite U.S. Special Forces units.
LifeGuard Sunscreen 8oz.Bottle with holographic label,
and a box of Towelettes.
These logos, names and images are registered trademarks of Quest
Products, Inc. All rights are reserved.
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