#UVB

[shrivingtoad]

These little meatballs are looking beautiful tonight.🐸

Top photo is nelly skulking around in the dark, bottom photo is phlegm, enjoying the UVB it seems 🥰

[hogteeth]

Mostly a note to myself because I'll lose any note I make I can't search up online: today I changed out all the UVB tubes :)

[saying-odd-shit]

don’t care didn’t ask plus you think uvb is going to make your leopard gecko go blind

[homeofhousechickens]

Look into reptile uvb, still expensive but good quality. I like Arcadia brand

They are also pretty expensive lately. I was looking at the local stores and the bulbs were selling for $30-60. I ended up buying some avain sun bulbs online that were on sale for $17 but their listed price was $27. I definitely don't remember even the cheapest reptile uvb bulbs being this expensive before. I wonder if reptile owners has noticed the prices raising as well?

[egvyume]

Protector solar facial de Ringana: todo lo que necesitas saber sobre sus ingredientes

Bienvenid@ de nuevo a mi (nuestro) blog🌸 Me gusta el sol, y en el momento que empieza a hacer menos frío salgo a mi “terracita” a darle la bienvenida. Pero claro, el sol de ahora no es el mismo de febrero (aunque algunos días me ha llevado la contraria), y en el momento que el sol es más intensito (y quiero seguir estando en la terraza), y ya he absorvido mi dosis de vitamina D, toca usar…

[hazeltailofficial]

HALLOWEEN FLASHBACK

Urban Decay XX Vintage Vice Lipstick in UV-B

hazeltail on youtube / hazeltailofficial on tiktok / hazeltailofficial on ig / @hazeltailofficial

[is-the-snake-video-cute]

hi! i tried to search for the answer on your blog, but it seems to be set to dashboard view only? that makes searching for tags, or doing any searches at all, really hard because dashboard view hides posts or shows them out of order

anyway, do day geckos need UVB? i tried searching online but got a lot of results for leopard and crested geckos instead

I don't have it set to dashboard view only (at least not intentionally and not that I can find any way to fix, let me know if there is a fix please!), I think tumblr's search function might just be exceptionally broken. Other blogs work the same way for me. If you click on a tag, it'll show you everything in that tag in the right order. If anyone knows a fix, though, please do let me know! I think it's a tumblr problem but if I can do anything about it I will.

Anyway, yes, day geckos do need UVB! It's safe to bet that every lizard will need you to provide UVB.

[sidobelei]

Steps in a skincare routine (+ tips)

Here are the usual steps (more details below):

Cleansing (essential)

Toner

Exfoliant/Exfoliator

Essence and Serum

Moisturizer (essential)

Sunscreen (essential)

Important tips are at the bottom of the post. (This is an extremely lengthy post with more to come.)

There are no product recommendations in this post.

Def. Cleansing/Cleanser:

Cleansing is washing your face with face soap. There's a different type of soap for your face probably because the skin on your face is more sensitive to things. Some cleansers also have ingredients to help you combat your skin concerns.

There are two types of cleansers: oil cleansers and water-based cleansers. If you use an oil cleanser, make sure to use a water-based cleanser afterward to wash off any remaining dirt/oil on your face (also because after an oil cleanser, your face might still feel oily). If you aren't using an oil cleanser, you can just use the water-based cleanser by itself. People usually use oil cleansers and double cleanse to remove makeup properly or to remove excess oil if you're skin is more on the oily side.

[Def. Double cleansing is using an oil cleanser and a water-based and a water-based cleanser as explained above.]

+ Gently rub in the cleanser for ~1 minute before rinsing it off so it can have its full effect. (1 minute for each cleanser.)

Def. Toner:

Toners are used as the final cleansing step (is what the internet says). They hydrate your face too. To be honest, i would just use a toner as an essence (step 4). Toners are optional and I do not do this step myself (if you want to use a toner just to cleanse your face, i honestly find it unnecessary).

Most people use it by pouring some of the product onto a cotton pad and swiping all over the face with it. Personally, i find it wasteful so i would recommend this instead:

+ Pour a bit of the toner into the palm of your hand and gently rub your two hands together to spread the product all over your hands and then tap the product onto your face.

The above tip applies to more watery toners. The application depends on the viscosity of the toner and the way it comes out of its container.

+ If it's in a spray bottle, just spray it onto your face and tap it in with your hands to make sure the product is spread all over your face.

+ If the toner is thicker and won't drip everywhere like water, just apply a few drops on your face and spread it with your hands. This could also work if the toner is in a bottle with an eyedropper. (For example, the bottles used for many of The Ordinary's products - not for their toner though.)

Def. Exfoliant/Exfoliator/Exfoliating/AHA/BHA:

Exfoliant or exfoliator - it's the same thing, they are synonyms.

Exfoliators help remove dead skin and dirt. The main reasons why you might want to use exfoliator: acne, changes in the color of your skin (like hyperpigmentation).

There are two categories: AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHA (beta hydroxy acids). AHA seems to be better for skin color changes (hyperpigmentation) and BHA seems to be better for acne because of its antibacterial properties. (As a rule of thumb,)DO NOT USE BHA/AHA AND BHA/AHA AT THE SAME TIME. (You can use some at the same time depending on the situation. Look up what ingredients can't be mixed with the one you're inquiring about.) Here's an excerpt from my salicylic acid post about it:

"It should be fine if you use salicylic acid (BHA) for example in the morning and then use other BHAs or AHAs products at night because you washed your face before using the products, but i personally wouldn’t take the risk."

Some examples of AHAs:

Glycolic acid

Lactic acid

Mandelic acid

Some examples of BHAs:

Salicylic acid

Benzoyl peroxide

If you are unsure if your ingredient is a BHA or an AHA, just look it up. (Like "Is x BHA or AHA".) If an ingredient has "acid" in its name, it does not automatically mean it is a BHA or an AHA (as you'll see in the next step). Ingredients that have similar effects as BHAs or AHAs aren't all necessarily BHAs or AHAs, so you can use them together with BHAs or AHAs (ex. niacinamide, alpha arbutin, vitamin C).

+ The way you apply exfoliators may vary depending on the type. Look at the instructions on your bottle to proceed accordingly or you could end up overusing the product and damaging your skin.

+ For harsher exfoliants like salicylic acid (BHA), i prefer to do spot treatment. I would put a drop or a small amount of the product and apply it to the concerned areas. As a general rule of thumb, i would suggest doing spot treatment for exfoliants (especially BHAs).

+ Some exfoliants make your skin more sensitive to UV rays from the sun so make sure to apply sunscreen during the day (it also helps with the effectiveness of the exfoliant).

Scrubs are also a type of exfoliant, but i will not be talking about them since i have never used them on my face. Maybe i'll research it another time.

[Def. Scrubs (for your skin, not what health workers wear) are exfoliators with granules that you wash off like cleansers.]

Def. Essence and Serum

Essences and serums have the same effect: hydration and/or moisturization.

[Def. Hydration: Hydrating ingredients attracts water to the outermost layer of the skin. (Even if you use a bunch of hydrating serums and essences, drinking lots of water every day will help a lot with skin hydration (go drink water right now). You should be drinking 2L of water every day (i don't but do as i say, not as i do).)]

[Def. Moisturization: Moisturizing ingredients act as lubricants and lock in moisture and hydration. This is why we call cream/lotion* 'moisturizer'. Products advertised as 'moisturizing' often have moisturizing and hydrating properties.]

*The term 'lotion' on Japanese products refers to serums or essences, not moisturizers. It could also refer to lube but we're talking about skincare here.

To my understanding, the difference between serums and essences is their viscosity/thickness. Essences are less viscous/thinner and serums are more viscous/thicker. More on the order of application at the bottom in the tips.

+ If the product is watery, you can rub it in your hands before tapping it into your face.

+ If it is thicker, you can just put a few drops on your face directly and spread it.

Honestly, you can also put it in your hand first if you prefer doing it that way. I just prefer putting it on my face directly if the packaging allows me to do so because i want to use the least amount of product possible with it still being able to cover my whole face. (I usually use two drops. Tips about this are at the bottom.)

Def. Moisturizer:

Moisturizers are creams or lotions. As mentioned above, moisturizers are used to lock in hydration and moisture. Some moisturizers are thicker/heavier and some are lighter/thinner. It depends on your skin type and your preference.

If you have dryer skin, i would suggest thicker moisturizers because they feel more moisturizing and like they keep the moisture in better. If you have oilier skin (oiI), i would suggest lighter moisturizers so they feel less heavy because if it's thicker, it might feel like another uncomfortable layer of oil on your face. If you have combination skin, it is better to use a lighter moisturizer on oilier areas and a thicker moisturizer on dryer/not oily areas. This is just my opinion on the texture of moisturizers.

Def. Sunscreen

Sunscreens are also a crucial step in your routine. It protects your skin from sun damage - preventing sun spots and slowing down skin aging. UV rays can also worsen your hyperpigmentation - sunscreen can prevent that. Some products also work better with sun protection as mentioned in the exfoliant step.

Higher SPF levels mean that the sun protection lasts longer.

[Def. SPF is Sun Protection Factor.]

The highest is SPF 100, but you can just use SPF 50 (sometimes there are +++ besides the 50, meaning it is more than SPF 50 duh). SPF 100 sunscreens aren't easily accessible because the FDA (Food & Drug Administration of the US) deems some of the UVB filters (ingredients) generally not regarded as safe or effective. There isn't much difference between the two anyways;

SPF 100 blocks 99% of UVB rays

SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays

SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays

SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays

Most Asian sunscreens have SPF 50+, so i recommend looking at stores or websites that carry Asian beauty products for them. I also prefer using them because they are way less expensive than ones from Western brands and have a better texture than the Western drugstore sunscreens for a similar price. You also have more choices to fit your skin type better.

[Def. UV stands for ultraviolet (rays). They come from the sun.]

[Def. UVA stands for Ultraviolet A. It's a type of UV ray that has a longer wavelength and is associated with skin aging. UVA rays make up 95% of the UV rays that reach the ground - that reach your exposed skin.]

[Def. UVB stands for Ultraviolet B. It's a type of UV ray that has a shorter wavelength and is associated with skin burning. UVB rays make up 5% of the UV rays that reach the ground - that reach your exposed skin.]

The SPF number also tells you the amount the time it protects you before you need to reapply. For example, if your skin burns in 1 minute, SPF 50 can protect you for 50 minutes (this is just an example, i don't think most of us get sunburned in one minute).

The more melanin you have (what provides pigmentation to your hair, eyes, and skin), the more ultraviolet protection you have - the longer your skin doesn't burn without sunscreen. That is why people with light eyes, hair, and skin get sunburnt more easily and people with darker hair, eyes, and skin get sunburnt less easily.

Reapplication time: every 2 hours (every time you get out of the water if you're swimming outdoors).

Sunscreens can come in cream, stick, and powder form. The latter two are better used as reapplication though. Even with the label indicating SPF 50, sun sticks and powder don't have the full SPF 50 protection in one layer. You need to apply an uncomfortable amount of layers of the product to get to SPF 50. At that point, i would just wash my hands and apply the regular sunscreen.

[Def. PA stands for Protection Grade of UVA. These ratings measure a product's ability to block UVA rays. You can find PA ratings on sunscreens, makeup, and skincare products. The number of '+' beside 'PA' indicates the amount of UVA protection;

PA+ | Some UVA protection

PA++ | Moderate UVA protection

PA+++ | High UVA protection

PA++++ | Extremely high UVA protection.]

Basically, if you're looking to prevent sunburns, look for a high SPF (50). If you're looking to slow down skin aging, look for a high PA (++++). You can easily find these ratings on Asian sunscreens.

Important tips (these aren't suggestions unless i say so):

Make sure to wash your hands properly with soap for 20 seconds, making sure to clean your nails and your finger slits before applying anything to your face. Even before cleansing. Maybe you're breaking out because you're touching your hands with filthy musty hands.

[Def. Breaking out in pimples] Am i overdoing the definitions...?

Do patch tests. You never know if your skin would react badly to a certain ingredient. For a more accurate result, you should do the patch test on your face. Patch testing is crucial for people with sensitive skin.

[Def. A patch test is pretty self-explanatory; testing on a patch of skin (not your whole face).]

Order of application of your products: the essential steps are in the order i wrote at the beginning of this post (cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen). All the other steps are sandwiched between the cleanser and the moisturizer. If you aren't sure of the order of your exfoliators and/or of your serums and essence, just go from thin to thick - lower viscosity to higher viscosity. This is the reason why the steps in a skincare routine are as they are. Toners are generally thinner than exfoliators, exfoliators are generally thinner than serums, and essences are generally thinner than serums. If you noticed, this means you can use essences before exfoliators. That is why i said i would use toners as essences since they are essentially the same in texture and use (in my opinion). Regarding these middle steps, i do not think it is necessary to follow the toner, exfoliator, essence, serum order.

Using a little product for a big surface: the trick is to dot your product in every area of your face before spreading it. If you just put your product in one area of your face and spread it from there, the first areas will already absorb most of the product before it reaches the rest of your face.

I first put 2 drops of the serum/essence on my finger or my face (it depends on the packaging - whatever's easier) and then tap it around my face with one finger: two dots of product (still from the same 2 drops) on each of my cheeks, one or two on my forehead, and one on my chin. Then i spread it and tap the product in, making sure my whole face is covered. (This can go for any other product that you use all over your face.) Obviously you can need more or less to cover your face because we don't all have the same face size, so adjust as needed.

Rubbing or tapping? Should you rub in your product or tap it in? I tap it in. I mentioned above that i spread the product before tapping it in, but you can also tap it in without doing that. I just find it more time efficient to spread it first. When i say spreading, i don't mean it as rubbing. I spread the product lightly with my finger without tugging at my skin, letting my finger slide across my face with the product. I don't do this with all products (like a thick moisturizer), but most of the time i do.

If you're afraid of wrinkles, i suggest tapping in your product like i explained above. I just prefer tapping because it feel nicer and fancier. Also because i'm Asian like Cho Chang from Harry Potter (what a meaningful and beautiful name - J.K. Rowling is truly great at being a bigot).

I will add more tips if i think of more.

[starlight-reptiles]

My Reptile Lighting paper is almost finished! A bit more peer review and editing and I'll be sharing it here! Get excited!

It's pretty long, but it covers as many topics as I could think of (and ones that I didn't), and it has images and citations to other peer reviewed studies and videos.

I tried to make it both scientifically accurate and understandable for beginners. I'm still waiting on feedback from beginners, so I'll be making updates in that department too.

Look forward to it!

[lukewarmblogs]

Can sunscreen be safely used during pregnancy?

As any expectant mother knows, taking care of yourself during pregnancy is a top priority. From monitoring your diet to getting regular exercise, there are many things you can do to promote a healthy pregnancy. One question that often arises, however, is whether it is safe to use sunscreen during pregnancy. In this blog, we will explore this topic in detail and answer the question: can the use of sunscreen be considered safe during pregnancy? 

The short answer is that using sunscreen while pregnant is safe. In fact, medical experts strongly advise against it. Pregnant Women should use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and protective gear to shield themselves from the sun's harmful rays. This is due to the fact that being pregnant might make your skin more sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can cause skin damage, early ageing, and even skin cancer. 

Yet, some pregnant women can worry about the safety of sunscreen due to the presence of certain ingredients. For instance, the popular sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone has been proven to mimic oestrogen in the body and may cause hormonal imbalances. Retinyl palmitate, another component, is a form of vitamin A that, when consumed in high concentrations, has been associated to birth abnormalities. So, if you are worried about these components, what should you do? 

It is essential to note that the risks associated with these ingredients are generally considered to be low. In fact, many experts believe that the benefits of using sunscreen far outweigh any possible risks. Pregnant women who used sunscreen regularly had a lower risk of developing melasma, a condition characterized by dark patches on the skin. 

If you are still concerned about the safety of sunscreen during pregnancy, there are some tips you can take to minimize any potential risks. You can choose a sunscreen that does not contain oxybenzone or retinyl palmitate. Look for sunscreens that use physical blockers such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide instead. These ingredients work by sitting on top of the skin and reflecting UV rays away from the body, rather than being absorbed into the skin. 

Another option is to use a mineral-based sunscreen. These sunscreens are made with natural ingredients such as zinc oxide and are less likely to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Some mineral-based sunscreens are also formulated to be water-resistant, which can be a plus if you plan to spend time in the water or sweat a lot. 

Lukewarm Sunscreen is a mineral sunscreen that functions by dispersing UV radiation, shielding against both shorter and longer UVA rays. Zinc oxide in Lukewarm Sunscreen is primarily used as a barrier against skin-damaging irritants and UV radiation, it may also have some potential benefits for correcting dark spots or melasma. 

When choosing a sunscreen, it is also important to pay attention to the SPF rating. An SPF of at least 30 is advised by the American Academy of Dermatology, as this will block 97% of UVB rays. However, higher SPF ratings do not necessarily offer much more protection, so there is no need to go overboard with a super-high SPF. 

In addition to using sunscreen, there are other steps you can take to protect yourself from the sun during pregnancy. You can wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face and neck, and wear long-sleeved shirts and pants made of lightweight, breathable fabrics. You can also stay indoors during the hottest time of the day (usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.). 

By choosing a sunscreen with physical blockers or mineral-based ingredients, using an SPF of at least 30, and taking other steps to protect yourself from the sun, you can safely enjoy time. The use of Lukewarm mineral sunscreen can be considered safe during pregnancy! 

[whats-in-a-sentence]

The UV portion of the radiation that is emitted by the Sun is down as the solid line in Fig. 3.3. (...) Ozone is the species responsible for intercepting these UV photons but, as shown in Fig. 3.3, it has a relatively small absorption cross-section in the UV-B wavelength range and almost no ability to absorb UV-A radiation. (...) As we have seen, ozone absorbs radiation with wavelengths between 200 and 315 nm (Fig. 3.3) with maximum absorbance near 255 nm. (...) If the curve for ozone in Fig. 3.3 was extrapolated to 1123 nm, it would be seen that the absorption cross-section is very small at that wavelength.

"Environmental Chemistry: A Global Perspective", 4e - Gary W. VanLoon & Stephen J. Duffy

[shrivingtoad]

Meet phlegm, one of our 2 adult female marsupial frogs.

Shes enjoying a calcium dusted cricket!

(One of many shes a chonker)

[nillan-naturo]

Exposition au soleil : santé et naturopathie

Es-tu de ceux qui se tartinent de crème solaire tous les jours et fuient le soleil comme la peste, ou fais-tu partie de ces gens qui lézardent au soleil dès qu’un rayon pointe le bout de son nez ? Dans un cas, comme dans l’autre, tu pourrais bien nuire à ta santé sans le savoir. Il existe pléthore d’études qui démontrent les méfaits du soleil sur la santé. Cependant, il y en a tout autant qui…

[saying-odd-shit]

reasons i generally don't mention UVB when explaining care to a new leopard gecko keeper: in vet med ive had to beg too many people to stop feeding their dog a diet of strict fast food to have faith that the majority of reptile keepers even remotely are interested in learning the ins and outs of the electromagnetic spectrum

[theretinacentre123]

Choose sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays to protect your eyes fully. 🕶️☀️