Lakme Sunexpert Fairness Body Lotion Review

Hi Friends,

Advent of summers announces the need of a good sunscreen. We all want a product that could save us from the harsh summer sun. This season my quest for a good sunscreen for my body, ended at a product that not only fights sun but also promises to reveal fair and even skin tone. Today I am going to review Lakme Sunexpert Fairness Body Sunscreen Lotion.

I have picked up this product around 2 months ago and have been using it on my arms & feet regularly before stepping out in the sun. Generally I used to apply the same sunscreen on my body that I was using on my face as I never gave a thought about a separate product for body. I went to the store looking out for a body lotion and found Lakme Sunexpert Fairness Body Lotion on display with SPF 24 and PA ++ .The idea of a body lotion with SPF 24 and PA ++ appeared to be too promising. So I picked up the body lotion and here is the review.

Product:Body Lotion
Brand: Lakme
Variant: Lakme Sunexpert Fairness Body Lotion SPF 24 and PA ++ with Aloe Vera & Orange Flower

Price: Rs.225/-

Quantity: 200 ml

Skin Type: All skin types

Ingredients:

What the product claims:

Lakme Sunexpert Fairness Body Sunscreen Lotion SPF 24 and PA ++ is designed to provide broad spectrum UV protection while giving your skin the moisture it needs. While SPF 24 majorly blocks UVB rays that cause sun burns, PA++ provides protection from the harmful UVA rays that cause dark spots, premature ageing and skin darkening.

The daily moisturising Body sunscreen is formulated with Aloe Vera and Orange Flower

Extracts that fights sun tan and discolouration helping reveal fair and even skin tone.

My experience with the product:

I went to the store to buy a body lotion and bought this because it claims to be a body lotion with sunscreen. I also wanted a separate sunscreen for my arms and fetes. So this was really promising as it was serving two of my aims.

First Impression:

In Spencer this newly launched range was displayed separately in a shelf counter . Due to its all orange product’s looked really nice. As there are many variants it was good to study the label of all of these. But I was considering them as sunscreen and least expected a body lotion and when I did I was really happy.

• The colour of the bottle is yellow-orange, which is the norm for sunscreens but the bottle on the whole looks attractive.
• SPF 24 and PA ++ is the star attraction as it provides both UV and UVA protection.
• It is for Rs.225/- which is ok considering it’s a two-in-one product.

During Application:

• The bottle has flip open cap at the top. When you will try to take out some product you have to press the bottle a little because the consistency is thick. This traps air in the bottle and as a result suddenly you will have more than required quantity or nothing at all.

• The consistency is thick and sticky which is overwhelming when you are using it as a body lotion. It does not give a nourishing & soft feeling rather it feels like it is layering your skin.

• Even after being thick it has great absorbing power, it quickly gets into your skin.
• It does make skin shiny & sticky.
• I love its fragrance, which is not mild and not over the top – it’s just perfect for me.

Post Application:
• The shiny- sticky feeling last for at least an hour.
• Aggravates sweat.

Long Term Effects:
• Helps to protect the skin from sun damage. Reduces sun tanning considerably.
• The claim of the product that it helps reveal fairer and more even skin doesn’t hold true as I didn’t find that it was making my skin fair or reducing the tanning on already tanned areas.

Pros of Lakme Sunexpert Fairness Body Lotion:
• Provides UV and UVA protection.
• Works as a sunscreen and a body lotion.
• Helps to reduce sun tanning.
• Quick absorbing.
• Nice fragrance.
• Economical also because it delivers two benefits in one product i.e. body lotion and sunscreen.

Cons of Lakme Sunexpert Fairness Body Lotion:
• Contains Paraben- Propylparaben & Methylparaben.
• Is not great as a body lotion. Does not provide enough moisture to the skin.
• Gives a shiny and sticky feel almost like an invisible layer.
• Gets you more sweat after application.
• Does not reveal fair skin as claimed.

Rating
2.5/ 5

Recommendation:
Buy it if you want a sunscreen i.e. if you want sun protection not as a body lotion. If will not let you body become dark, but would also not make it fair. If you sweat too much or just hate the sticky feel: stay away from it.

Also Read:
Lakme SunExpert Sunscreen Cucumber Lemongrass SPF 24
Lakme Fairness Sunscreen Sun Expert Range Photos, Info
Olay Natural White Healthy Fairness Day Lotion
Fair and Handsome Skin Cream Review – Emami (for Men)
Lakme SunExpert Cucumber & Lemon Grass Fairness Sunscreen
Lakme SunExpert Anti Darkening Sunscreen

Sun is essential to us all living beings. Sun rays are an essential revitaliser, they help in the formation of vitamin D agreed, agreed, agreed to it all. But, over-exposure to sun rays can also lead to many problems and sun burn or tan is the most common. Though, face tan is considered beautiful in foreign countries yet in India fair skin scores over it. People do whatever they can to get rid of face tan as soon as possible.

Tips to get rid of face tan:

• Mix sesame seed oil, olive oil and almond oil in the ratio of 4:1:1. Apply it on your skin and let it stay for 20 minutes. Wash it off with warm water using gram flour or a mild soap. This is one of the most effective natural remedy to get rid of face tan.
• Mix cucumber paste with lemon juice and fuller’s earth. Apply it on your face for 15 minutes and then wash it off. It is an excellent anti-tan pack.
• Lettuce juice can be used in packs to remove sun tan.
• Apply raw potato juice on your face to remove the face tan.
• Mix together some gram flour and curd. Add few drops of fresh lemon juice. Apply it on the skin for 15 minutes and then wash it off. Use this pack regularly for few weeks to get rid of sun tan.

• Make a paste using turmeric with a little unboiled milk and lemon juice. Apply it on the skin, it will help in removing tan.
• Take 2 tablespoons vinegar and add 2 tablespoons of water in it. Mix well and dab on gently with cotton wool over sore areas. Leave it on for 10 minutes and wash off. This solution is an ideal cure for suntan.
• Take 2 tablespoons of honey and add to it the juice of one lime. Mix well apply over the sunburned or tanned skin areas.

• You can apply buttermilk on your skin twice daily, for about 20 minutes each time. This will cool the skin and help revitalize it.
• A mixture of tomato juice and curd can also be applied to the face or body. Tomatoes have several healing qualities, and curd has millions of good bacteria that help the skin glow.
• Mix together 5 tablespoons of rosewater and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Apply this mixture to the affected area before you go to bed. Wash it off the next morning. This helps to get rid of the tan.
• Make a paste of saffron powder or turmeric powder and lemon juice. Apply it on face and let it stay on your face for some time. Wash with normal water.
• Apply the juice of tomato with a little lemon juice. Wash it off after 20 minutes with cold water. This will help to remove the sun tan. Continue this treatment for at least 15 days.

What do you do to get rid of sun tan?

Image source: 1, 2, 3

Also read:
Does Sunscreen Prevent Tanning
Home Remedies for Blemishes
Eyes Sunburn: Causes and Precautions
Home Remedies for Sunburn
Jovees Anti Tan and Clarifying Herbal Face Pack
Lotus Herbals Anti Tan Sunblock SPF 30 PA
Fake Tan: How to Avoid Orange, Yellow and Green
Soleil Tan De Chanel – 617 Terre Halee
VLCC Fruits Anti Tan Pack
How to Remove Tattoo at Home
How to Remove Oil Stains from Clothes
Remove Blackheads: How to Remove a Blackhead on Skin
How to Remove Age Spots
How to Remove Waterproof Eye Makeup
How to Remove Artificial Nails

Somreeta Asks

I would like to ask you and the IMBB gang for some suggestion regarding sunscreen lotion (or gel as my skin is oily and pimple prone). I am leaving for Puri (beach) in four days and I plan to buy a sunscreen tomorrow along with other stuffs. I have tried out Aroma Magic, Lakme and Ayur before but they did not help. Also help me with other tips to prevent tanning on beach as far as possible because Prevention is better than cure!

TEN TIPS FOR A GLOWING SKIN FROM THE KITCHEN SHELF

SOURCE
Hi, I have been using these remedies since a very long time and it has worked for me.I believe that reforms start from the Kitchen.These are the cheap and best remedies.You don’t have to spend even a rupee on them as they’re easily available in your Kitchen shelf.

• Add black cumin powder to little olive oil and apply it on your face.Leave it for ten minutes and wash it.
• Add one teaspoon of honey ,one teaspoon of glycerine to two teaspoons of lemon juice and apply it on your face.Then wash it after sometime.Your skin will be bleached naturally and become fairer.


bee

• Make a paste of tomato pulp and honey apply it on your face two times a day.This will improve the complexion of your skin.
• Mix multanni matti ,sandalwood powder and rosewater and apply it.This face pack is excellent for an oily skin because it removes the excess oil from your skin and it tightens the pores as well.
• Mix sandalwood powder, lemon juice, cucumber paste,turmeric powder and lemon juice and apply it.This will remove the tan and brighten your face.

haldi

SOURCE
Make a face pack of :

1. 2tsp of besan
2. 1pinch of haldi powder
3. Few drops of lemon juice and little milk

• Leave it for 15 to 20 min and wash it.This is a moisturizer for a dry dull skin
• If you apply fresh butter on your face and neck everyday your face will become baby soft and supple.
• Everyday ,if you apply til oil mixed with turmeric powder to a girl child all over her body while taking bath,when she grows and attains puberty unwanted hair growth in face and body will be arrested and she will have a plain smooth skin.
• Apply Pure castor oil on your face and massage it.Keep it for 20 minutes and wash it.This will remove scars on your face and give a glowing effect.
• For an Oily skin,Apply a Mixture of curd,Haldi [turmeric] powder, sandalwood powder.This will remove excess oil from your face and will rejuvenate your skin.

I am waiting for your FEEDBACK.

SUNSCREENS DO PREVENT TANNING!! And there is a whole lot of science to prove it.

Based on my post on Sunscreens DON’T Prevent Tanning, I received this mail from the director of Lotus herbals a few days back:

UVA protection sunscreens/sunblocks DO prevent tanning !
Will appreciate if you quote from scientifically reliable sources on your blog. Tanning is caused by longer wavelength UVA rays and any sunscreen with UVA protection will PREVENT tanning of skin. (level of tanning depends on Fitzpatrick’s skin types, altitude, latitude and duration of sun exposure).
What your source refers to is SPF protection which is UVB. UVB rays are not known to cause majority of tanning but causes sunburn.
UVA causes – tanning, wrinkling and UV induced skin cancer
UVB causes – sunburn etc.
UVC doesn’t reach the earth’s surface (shortest wavelength).
All in-vivo as well as in-vitro studies confirm protection against UVA does protect human skin against tanning. If you want, we can send across scientific studies and research material.
Thanks.

Personally I was kind of offended because I did my research and I had no reason to believe a sunscreen maker blindly. On a better note I thought that if someone could correct me and could help me give a correct picture to my readers, it would be worth it. He sent me the research files along with the following mail

The most used UVA protection in vivo method is PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening) which is directly related to tanning of human skin upon radiation through a UV source. Find attached here with the docs illustrating on how it is done. We use these methodologies on tan protection formulations.

It is sometimes disappointing that some people highlight half-known scientific facts which puts the industry in bad light especially at times when the ozone layer is being depleted and skin cancer is rising, including in India. So its our duty in the industry to correct and forward the case of optimum sun protection as is done in the developed world. I hope you and your source go through these documents and forward our case for maximum sun protection including tan protection (as this is the primary reason for sun protection in India).

Following are the files from Chemistry Today, Official journal of European Union, and Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association that support that sunscreens do prevent tanning. It’s a lot of chemistry so if you don’t want to make en effort to go through all the stuff, I have highlighted the important points in RED for your convenience sake. (All images could be clicked and enlarged)

At last, I would like to thank Mr Nitin for bringing this up. I would have lived with incomplete knowledge all my life.

PLEASE READ THE UPDATED VERSION OF THIS POST HERE: http://makeupandbeauty.com/2010/03/i-was-wrong-and-i-admit-it/

I just read an excellent article on a  blog about Sun Tanning. Honestly, I couldn’t believe that our trusted sunscreens and sunblocks do not prevent us from getting tanned.

Personally, I have never had issues with tanning. I wear sunscreens to prevent myself from the harmful rays of the sun and the skin damage I could get. In fact, I have worn bronzers over my tanned skin without any issues of me looking dark. I used to love it and it was only then my love for bronzers started.

To cut the long story short, I also did a bit of research on the same topic and have come to the conclusion that “Sunscreen DOES NOT prevent skin tanning. ”

Read on!

How Does the Skin Tan in the Sun?
Tanning begins the moment you step out into the sun for most people. As UV rays penetrate the skin, it starts to break down DNA in the body. In order for the body to protect itself to prevent further damage to your body, it starts to produce melanin. The more melanin in your body, the darker the body becomes and the more protected you are from the sun. So someone who has spent a lot of time in the sun can stand out in the sun for longer periods of time without the risk of sunburn. A suntan needs to be gradual, so it is better to tan for only a little bit at a time and with the right sort of protection like using sunscreen.

What is Melanin in the Skin?
Melanin is produced to protect your skin from sun damage. The moment you are hit with UV rays, either from a tanning bed or from the sun, the body tries to protect itself from the rays by producing melanin. There is a type of cell in your body called melanocyte and this produces melanin, but it can only produce so much at a time. In some people it doesn’t produce melanin at all or very little of it. Those people have a sensitive skin type and shouldn’t stay out in the sun too long at all without moderate protection. Each person actually has about the same number of melanocyte cells in the body but only people above skin type I have melanocyte cells that produce more than enough melanin to create a tan in the body.

What about sunburns?
If you get sunburn, the sunburn itself is not actually ‘damage’ to your skin, though it does hurt. It is actually how the body reacts when exposed to too much sunlight and there has been too much damage to your skin, breaking down DNA. When sunlight hits the skin, it actually starts destroying DNA. To protect the skin, melanin is produced but it takes time to help produce enough melanin. If exposed too long the body becomes too damaged. This results in the body causing your sunburn. It is actually a process for the body to help prepare itself. The red part of your sunburn is actually blood filling up the capillaries in your skin. If you touch your sunburn, it will go white because you are essentially pushing out the blood. It will fill back in after a few seconds. The blood helps to bring in additional cells that will fight the damage done to your skin. Sunburns can be very painful, more harsh sunburns actually cause blisters to form on the skin. Sunburn should be prevented, which comes with proper education about sun protection, which can come in the form of a natural tan produced by the body.

Protect the Skin from Sunburn
To prevent sunburn, limit your exposure to the sun. Sunburn can happen to most skin types. The darker the skin, the longer it takes for the sunrays to damage the skin but it can still happen. This doesn’t mean you should avoid the sun; UV rays have more benefits than simply causing the body to tan. Instead, be aware of how long you are exposed for and wear sunscreen. Sunscreen helps to block out UVA and UVB rays in various lengths. Depending on the sunscreen you are wearing, it won’t prevent the body from tanning but it will help prevent sunburn if applied properly. For people with ultra sensitive skin, sun block is available. Unlike some sunscreens, sun block keeps the sun from reaching the skin at all. Sun block prevents any sort of ultraviolet light from penetrating the skin.

Will Clothes Protect Me from Sunlight?
In most cases yes, but do not rely on your clothes along to protect your body. With most modern styles, little is there in clothing to protect your skin. Popular clothing items, like t-shirts, actually have tiny holes in it. A thin enough material with a loose weave like a cotton t-shirt actually will only do so much to protect the skin. This is why even with a t-shirt on, over exposure to sunlight could cause your shoulders and back to become sunburn, if not the rest of your body. If you are wearing something light like a t-shirt outside, remember to wear sunscreen underneath your clothing as well.

How to Heal from Sunburn
If you have already damaged your skin, there is little you can do to stop the sunburn. Sunburn is your body’s naturally way of healing overexposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light. If you think your skin has been over exposed, keep out of the sunlight. You will be able to see sunburn within four hours of being exposed. It will completely develop in eight to 24 hours. You might not know if you have sunburn right off but it is better to be safe and get out of the sun if you can. Do not go back out into the sun if you have sunburn, even if you wear sunscreen. If the sunburn has blistered, see a doctor. Otherwise, to cool off sunburn, use Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera comes from a plant and you can find either the plant or gels or lotions at the store. Apply it to the skin and it will moisturize and help sooth the skin while your body does its job. For severe sunburns, you should see a doctor immediately.

Read the full article here : http://www.mastertanning.com/tips/25/tanning-process/

Another useful comment that I found on internet:

Sunblock completely prevents sun’s harmful rays from reaching your skin as long as you apply it often and well (and also how long you are out in the sun and how sunny it is). Sunscreen is different…it prevents some of the rays. So if you are buying something and you really want to avoid getting a tan, try Neutrogena 75 SPF sunblock. It works really well, and is only about 10$ for a spray bottle in like CVS or Walgreens. – Yana

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