Becausewesurf and Ocean Girl Project want to give a big mahalo to water woman/surfer girl Laola Lake!

Meet our official skin care expert for surf and summer 2010, Laola (bio below). She welcomes any questions about safe sunblock, skin care, or any other related topic. She is going to choose a skin care question every month that she feels deserves the most attention and reward that person with a tube of organic sunblock or some other nice skin care product.

Aloha to all my ocean ohana,

I was born and raised in Hawaii to parents who both surfed. They naturally introduced me and my three brothers to ocean sports at a very young age. I’ve spent the last several decades exposed to sun and salt water and know firsthand the ravages of what such exposure can mean to your health. Whereas we once had a thicker ozone protection( I use to be able to play in the ocean for hours without any protection) I can no longer go out into the sun for an extended length of time without sun protection without getting badly burned. My mother eventually became a facialist (esthetician as you’ll see it often referred to) and I eventually followed in her footsteps. I’ve practiced in the field for over 20 years. My clients range from professional athletes (football, boxing, sumo, volleyball etc) to movie stars, malihini and kamaaina. While most women are concerned about what the sun does to prematurely age the skin, my concern is the effect that uv can have on your dna. There is also deep concern about the damage that many sunscreens can cause. This information may seem controversial at this point in time. Remember that many years ago the surgeon general published a statement that told people not to worry about smoking being hazardous to your health. You can take the information that is available to you and make your own decision. I have found that it’s usually better to take the “better be safe than sorry” when it comes to health and wellness. The following link to the Environmental Working Group’s recently published information on 2010 sunscreen report is very informative.

I welcome any questions about safe sunblock, skin care, or other related topic please send emails to: laolalake@yahoo.com.

Every month I will choose a question that I feel deserves the most attention and reward that person with a tube of organic sunblock or some other nice skin care product.

Hope to meet you on or off the water someday.

Until then….aloha….and be safe. Laola