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Is 1 4 tsp Enough Sunscreen for Your Face

Hopefully, you guys have all made your dermatologists proud motherfuckers by wearing adequate amounts of sunscreen all winter long, and this post is just a helpful reminder. For the rest (and presumably the majority) of you, go buy some more sunscreen! 


If you followed my sunscreen series at all last summer, you probably remember that sunscreen cant be applied all willy nilly! The amount of sunscreen you use is essential if youre aiming to get the advertised SPF. In particular, you need to apply sunscreen at an area density of 2 milligrams per centimeter squared. This translates to a lot of sunscreen-- 0.04oz/1.13g for a face alone. I also calculated out my body area and found that I needed about 1.063oz to protect my whole body. (If youre larger than I am, you would need more.)

Sadly, area density isnt converted to volume without more specific info about your sun goop. Still, 1.063oz had a really convenient volume approximation: its about the same as a shotglass of sunscreen. If you are applying a shotglass worth of sunscreen, youre probably in the approximate range of SPF protection that youre aiming for. Unhelpfully, 1.13g does not have such a convenient volume rule of thumb.

...or so you might think.



All over the internet machine, there is a specific recommendation: use 1/4 tsp of sunscreen to cover your face. Although its oft repeated, I couldnt find an original source for how this was calculated, so I decided to do some fact checking with my handy dandy scale.

The sunscreen Im using for this test is the Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Broad Spectrum SPF 60+ Sunscreen. It was not picked for any particular reason; its simply the sunscreen I am using at the moment. I mention it, though, because theres a little fuzziness here, since not every sunscreen is going to have the exact same density. If you are using a sunscreen that is dramatically more or less dense than my sunscreen, my investigation might not be fully applicable.

First, I measured a perfect, flattened out teaspoon, the way I might measure if I were baking a cake. I got... 0.995g. Whomp whomp whomp... remember, we were hoping for 1.13g. In other words, close, but no cigar. Were at 88% of the mass we were hoping for.

Next, I tried out a heaping quarter teaspoon, the way I might measure when the waffle recipe says, "1 tbsp sugar" and Im like, fuck you recipe, I like my waffles sweet. I got a much happier 1.481g, more than the desired 1.13g!

So, whats the verdict? If you already have a quarter teaspoon beside your vanity reserved for sunscreen measurement purposes, choose a heaping teaspoon over a flattened out, perfectly measured, quarter teaspoon, which will probably be too little sunscreen. (And if you have a teaspoon beside your vanity for sunscreen measurement purposes, I know you care.) If you want to purchase a measurement spoon for sunscreen, though, Id go with a 1/3 tsp, which will put you in the "slightly too much"/"better safe than sorry" sunscreen category. [(4)(0.995)=(3)X, X=1.326g, so 1/3 tsp should be closer to 1.326g.]

For those of you who are slightly less precise, Id just give your measuring spoons a quick glance and squeeze out a blobby approximation. (Which is what I do.)

Available link for download

Is your approach to application security based in reality

I know I say this a lot here - Ive been so busy writing that Ive been remiss in posting my actual content. So...Ive got some content on web and mobile application security and penetration testing this time around.

You see, there are so many researchers, theories, and academic approaches to web and mobile security that its simply overwhelming. Much of it doesnt apply to what businesses really need to be addressing anyway. Taking the 80/20 approach, what do you really need to focus on thats going to provide the highest payoffs?

Well, in the spirit of my book Hacking For Dummies (be sure to check out the new 4th edition), here are some tips Ive written for my friends at TechTarget and Acunetix on some important web and mobile application security issues you need to be tuned in to beyond all the noise thats out there:

Don’t Let Problems Stop You From Carrying Out Web Application Testing  (before Too Scared to Scan was cool ;-)

Mobile app software: Avoid the perpetual cycle of insecurity

Hybrid security: Beyond pen testing and static analysis

Mac Malware Underscores Why You Can’t Ignore Web Security Threats

Do You Scan with Network Security Controls Enabled or Disabled?

Take Care in Handling the Results of Your Web Application Testing

Much more to come on web and mobile security testing...Its what I love doing and Ive learned a tremendous amount while doing it over the past decade.

In the meantime, check out my website for links to all of my other information security-related content.


Cheers!

Available link for download

Join me along with ISACA and TechTarget today to learn about how to advance your infosec career!

Im happy to announce that Ill be joining ISACA and TechTarget for their annual online security seminar - a day-long learning event for IT and information security professionals.  My session this afternoon, which starts at 3:30pm ET, will be I Can Do versus I Have Done...Certification, Experience, and the Information Security Career Path.


You can register by clicking the image or via this link:
http://www.bitpipe.com/data/document.do?res_id=1469026420_560  

I hope to "see" you there!

Available link for download

Is Your Local Chairlift a Death Trap

Is Your Local Chairlift a Death Trap?
Our nations lifts are at the breaking point. We spent months researching past accidents and aging infrastructure — and found that its time to act in order to avoid catastrophic failure.
via Digg http://ift.tt/2duskbp

Available link for download

Julian Assange masks for Mardi Gras and YOUR action

Heres some oversized Julian "masks" for the Sydney based Support Assange & WikiLeaks Coalitions Mardi Gras float. Theyll be used alongside oversized Bradley Manning masks in a coreographed display!


You can make an effective visual statement with the masks especially with a group of people - the bigger the better of course. Coordinated movements or dance by the wearers would be certain to further enhance the impact.

For Mardi Gras, the masks will be professionally printed on corflute. The masks are also designed to be printed at A3 size, then glued to card and cut. The faces can then be attached to sticks to be held as in the example below. Of course you could cut eye holes in the masks, find other novel ways to attach or wear them or produce even larger images for extra effect.

Download Bradley Manning masks

The dashed line around the face gives the mask more definition and the cut-out imagery gives it a DIY feel... "you could easily be Bradley/Julian..." Its inspired by the masks used in the play, The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning.

Youll find more in this poster series here

Available link for download

Is Your Work Worth Money

Ive been sent a proposition and have been pulling my hair out for a couple of days deciding what to do. A friend directed me to your website and I knew youd be the right person to ask!


I am a professional illustrator, although currently unpublished. Ive sent in portfolios to publishers and had reasonably positive feedback so far - many of my submissions have been kept on record for future use. However, Ive recently been contacted directly by someone looking for an artist to illustrate their poetry (its fun and quirky in style and I believe I could compliment it well with my art). Im not quite sure whether they intend to self-publish or submit the "final work" to an actual publishing house...either way, though, Ive read time and time again that author/illustrator duos will NOT be accepted by publishers, regardless. Is this always the case? Even if the art is of a very high quality? Im feeling a little out of my depth as this situation is all new to me and Im not aware of the standard expectations of the illustrator either through a publishing house or in a self-publishing situation. Any information you can enlighten me with would be very, very welcome!!

If its going to be self-published, sure, go for it. Be sure you get paid in advance.

If its for submission to a publisher, DONT DO IT. Publishers want to choose the illustrator.

Yes, if the art is of very high quality, the publisher may accept something already illustrated.  THATS NOT YOU.  Im talking about Jerry Pinkney or Kadir Nelson or Marla Frazee or somebody whose art is exemplary and in high demand.

I dont mean to be unkind.  The fact that your samples have been put on file means they are better than the average art submission, and you may have a wonderful career ahead of you.  It does not mean, however, that your art is of very high quality.  You are an unproven artist in a competitive field.  Do everything you can to project professionalism-- including not giving your art away.  And thats what you would be doing if someone convinced you to illustrate their manuscript on spec.  Chances are high that it would be wasted effort.

Available link for download