Customer Q & A: Rhonda Allison EZinc VS Daytime Defense

As most of my long-time Beauty Mates know, I am a huge fan of all things Rhonda Allison. So when a customer reached out to me with some questions about Rhonda Allison, I saw an opportunity to share that knowledge with those of you who were wondering the same thing. SPF protection is something that I deem essential, and two of Rhonda's most popular SPF protecting products are her EZinc Protection Cream and her Broad Spectrum Daytime Defense. The difference between the two? One is FDA-approved as a sunscreen, while the other is not. Want to know why? Check out my Q & A with Debbie below!

Choosing Your Rhonda Allison Sun Protection

Q: What is the main difference as to why I should use the SPF 18 (EZinc) rather than the SPF 30 (Daytime Defense)?

A: In short, the higher SPF product offers more protection from the sun, and needs to be applied less. An SPF rating of 18 means that 93% of the UV rays will be blocked, whereas an SPF rating of 30 means that 97% of UV rays are blocked. The EZinc is ideal for younger, more oily-prone skin and has a light matte finish. The Daytime Defense is often utilized for dryer, older skin and has a heavier feel to it.

Q: I noticed that the EZinc Protection Cream says it protects against UVB and not UVA. Can you explain that?

A: The sunlight that reaches us is made up of two types of harmful fays: long wave ultraviolet A (UVA) and short wave ultraviolet B (UVB). Basically, UVA rays age us and UVB rays burn us. Overexposure to either of these can damage our skin, which is why it is important to choose products that protect you from both. It is important to note that the EZinc is not FDA approved as a sunscreen, so we are not allowed to boast UVA and UVB protection for this particular product. We have to list and describe things without saying anything that would mislead it to be a "sunscreen".

Q: Would it be better to keep on using the SPF 18 or SPF 30?

A: I always recommend SPF 30!

Q: Which do you prefer, Rhona Allison's sun protection creams or the Suntegrity SPF 30?

A: Fabulous question! I like the ingredients in the Suntegrity SPF 30, and do currently enjoy using it. That being said, it is most important to find a product that works for your skin, since everyone will react to every product differently.

Final Q: As you say, the EZinc is not approved by the FDA as a sunscreen. Isn’t zinc oxide a sunscreen?

Final A: The EZinc formula as a whole has not been approved through the process by the FDA, but it does use FDA approved ingredients. So, we cannot say it is a sunscreen, but we do know what the ingredients offer. That's why we say it protects with SPF 18 level protection, but do not call it is 'broad spectrum sunscreen'.

Remember, SPF 18 blocks 93% of UV rays whereas an SPF 30 blocks 97%. So the actual block difference is minimal. The EZinc offers some antioxidant support that directly attacks free radicals that are caused by sun exposure.

The Daily Defense formula has been inspected and processed through the FDA's stringent and costly approval process. They have a very lengthy process for testing and approval of the formulas, packaging, shelf life, etc.