The SPF has noting to do with the amount of time to re-apply. Instead, SPF ratings reveal how effectively they shield your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays come in two main types, UVA and UVB, each penetrating the skin differently. SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, specifically denotes protection against UVB rays, which are known for causing sunburn and skin damage.

Here's the breakdown: SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 ups the protection to around 97%. Moving higher, SPF 50 reaches approximately 98%, and SPF 100 offers about 99% protection against UVB. Beyond SPF 30, the incremental increase in protection becomes minimal.

It's crucial to note that SPF ratings are determined under controlled conditions in labs, where a specific amount of sunscreen is evenly applied and exposed to a standardized light source. In real-world scenarios, variables like sun intensity and how much sunscreen is applied make exact protection levels harder to predict.

In general, SPF 30 is often considered sufficient for daily use, offering robust protection against UVB rays when applied correctly. Pick a brand you trust and get used to how it works and its protection. Application of a SPF 30 every couple of hours is the current advice for someone staying out in full sun.

Quote from: Maid Marion on June 28, 2024, 03:15:36 PMThey did it!  They fixed the roof in just one day!  The skylight rotted the boards so it cost an extra $2000 but I'm OK with that.  I had them take out the skylight so it won't happen again.  Lot of work done on the house in just one week!

Marion

$2k sounds an awful lot of money to take out a skylight on a roof they already were repairing.. how did they not see the rot before when they quoted you for the job?.. did you take 3 quotes and pick the middle one? that is always a rule you should do if spending amounts of money on your property.. there are many people who will gladly take someone who is bragging about their wealth and inflate the prices whilst stroking their ego's..  Just be careful if you hire them again for any other work and always get those other quotes.. Keep safe ..

QuoteYou do you and I do me!

Well, sure. You have no interest in looking like an old and creaky gal like me. I get that.

What we have in common is gardening, but I don't grow roses.

Yes, it was expensive because I picked someone who normally does business for the wealthy who live in the West Hartford area.  I wanted a quality job done quickly with minimal hassle.  Pick 2!

Having the chimney done was just like dating,in which we had a bunch of chats to learn about each other and whether or not it was worthwhile to persue a long term relationship. Smart people all have their issues.  Sometimes those issues make an at arms length relationship better as you only need to put up with them for a short time.  He really wanted to work for me because I was willing to trust his judgement on what would look good.  Rarely does he have the opportunity to do that.

Sure, I could save money by finding someone cheaper do the job, but most the time you get what you pay for.  Less experienced workers, less management expertise, or cheaper materials.  As someone who works with their hands and can do all sorts of stuff, I can tell the difference.  Sitting inside the house I could hear the cadence of roofers who knew what they were doing.  He was amazed at how much I learned by observing. If I'm going to learn new stuff why not learn from the best?  More tricks to add to my mental toolkit!  Most folks wouldn't have clue.  As I said before, you do you and I do me.

I have Pacific Islander olive skin that tans beautifully. Not only that, but I prefer to stay in the shade, minimizing my exposure to the sun.  I was pulling crabgrass at 6AM this morning!
I have expensive Neutrogena SPF 55/60 in the car for emergencies but have decided that most of the time SPF 15 is appropriate for me when I'm outside.  SPF 30 if I'm going to be outside in the sun.

Getting a light tan while wearing a variety of feminine tops; sleeveless polo, spaghetti strap, crop top, is yet another way of gendering yourself as female.  Tan lines are a concern for CDs who can't have clues about dressing.

More practical than no tan, as it is easy to miss a spot that creates a tan spot that lingers on and on.

Preach it, Sister!

I have been wearing my sandals most days lately. Now my feet have tan lines. 

Feminizing yourself is a lot more than HRT and surgery. 
Important milestones to be sure, but not the entire package! 

There is a concept in birding known as "general impression" in which an experienced birder while know the identification of a bird is correct because there are a number of supporting clues that all point to a particular bird, even though none there is insufficient certainty that any of the clues by themselves are accurate.  The bird may be too far off in the distance to see any marking, but one can be sure the bird is a woodpecker by the way it flies;  woodpeckers literally fall off trees to catch any tasty insects before their meal hits the ground!  The acceleration due to gravity is extremely consistent!

If you can't do surgery or HRT due to health reasons you may be able to learn enough social clues to present reliably as female.  There are women actors like Awkwafina who have husky deep voices yet are unmistakably female.  Learning to walk in heels may help you acquire a more feminine gait. 
Similarly, lounging around in a dress with no underwear may help you sit down in a more feminine manner.  Or maybe not.  Put a mirror next to the web surfing computer and watch yourself sit! 
Sometimes, just the effort of doing something can be helpful to one's attitude toward life.

Marion

I never had to adopt a feminine gait nor learn to sit like a woman. I always moved like other girls/women and was chided for it a few times. Moving into the female role meant I was now safe to literally move as I had throughout my childhood and young adulthood. You know that chair challenge that only women can do? I could always do that easy-peasy.

Quote from: Maid Marion on July 04, 2024, 05:20:16 AMLearning to walk in heels may help you acquire a more feminine gait. 
Similarly, lounging around in a dress with no underwear may help you sit down in a more feminine manner.  Or maybe not.  Put a mirror next to the web surfing computer and watch yourself sit! 

Ahh - I see you are wanting to pretend to be a woman.. you see, I am a woman and so, I just be me. Much like I tell anyone who finds themselves dealing with GD.. but as you like to say - you do you and I will do me..

Stereotypes are not the norm.

I found it extremely uncomfortable to be in the uncanny valley between male and female.
People's gender calculators would get locked up and not be able to compute my gender.

I decided to celebrate my birthday by having  a lobster roll at a sit down restaurant.
I think the server appreciated  that my presentation left no doubt as to my choice of gender.
Her job is tough enough as it is!

I remember how hard it was finding guy clothes when I had a 27 inch waist.  I could find some 28 inch pants on eBay.
Now my waistline is four or five inches thinner and I doubt men's clothes has gotten any smaller!

There is the mindset of wearing custom made clothing.  That is what Couture really means but surprisingly few people actually know that.
I'm not ready to go there.

Marion

In my case, the issue is telling folks what pronouns they should use without having to tell them what pronouns they should use!

These people aren't friends and family.  They are random people I meet while out and about.  On the other hand, I'm sure the server knows who I am as I've been there often enough over the years.  I suppose that is why some girls move away for a fresh start rather than transitioning in place.

First off, happy birthday!

Secondly, a lobster roll is YUMMY.

Thirdly, transitioning in place is challenging and it sounds like you've met that considerable challenge and without surgery or HRT.

Lastly, happy birthday again!

Thank you Old and Creaky!

Being able to transition in place says as much about the acceptance of the community as the girl doing the transitioning.  I've investing a lot of time and money to create an excellent living space for myself.  In many societies a peaceful private back yard garden like mine would be a sure sign of being wealthy.
It wouldn't be a transition in place if I couldn't go out at eat at my favorite restaurants.

You're welcome, MM. FWIW, my cyberpals call me O&C. Feel free to do the same.

As a fellow gardener, I know your garden, which I've enjoyed through your photos, came from your creativity and grit rather than wealth. Of course, one can always purchase a garden hiring a designer and workers, but then it's never quite your garden.

When I started working on my garden, my general contractor said that other tradesmen had inquired about who I'd hired to do my garden.

"It's all the homeowner," he explained.

I felt good because they had assumed professionals were building it. Three years later, it's finally coming into its own, as my trees and bushes have gotten their roots under them and can focus on growing above groun, which they are. The garden is about an acre and I also own four acres of woods around the cleared area where I garden.

I was edging my lawn yesterday at sunset and spotted a cross dresser off in the distance headed my way!
Maybe 2% chance it was a GG who had no idea what would be appropriate for wearing during a heat wave in Connecticut. I put away my black boots months ago!  I had plenty of time to clear the sidewalk and say hi as she went past me.  I routinely say hi to all the folks who pass by as I'm working in my front yard.  I saw no reason to make an exception for her.

The local grocery store sells freshly made baguettes. They are too big  for me to eat in one day so  I tried freezing half of it.  Yesterday I made french toast with two day old bread.  That was much better.

QuoteI routinely say hi to all the folks who pass by as I'm working in my front yard.

Mighty neighborly of you!

Yes, a big part of presenting female is confidence interacting with random people so I get a lot of practice doing exactly that!

Marion

Confidence is key, MM.

A stronge trait typically associated with females is the ability to read the room and tell and empathic story.

When I was at the golf course noticed that two of us had identical binoculars.  It was no accident.
The other binoculars came from a father who owned four of them and was given to someone to watch the Traveler's Championship.  I felt it was entirely appropriate for me to interrupt and give my take on why his father ended up with four quality of the same make and model!  I thought he was at the age in which men want to understand their parents and this was an opportunity to help him out with a short concise story of how that came to be!