Sun Protection That Works: Sabina Wizemann on the Science of Smarter Skincare

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

☀️ Your sunscreen might say SPF 50—but what does that really mean? Chemist and Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann has answers. From UVA myths to white cast truths, she breaks it all down—science, no fluff

🌞Is your sunscreen actually doing what it promises?
Many of us apply it daily—some of us still forget—but few of us truly understand what’s in that bottle. Especially those of us 50 and older, who’ve spent decades under the sun. That’s where Sabina Wizemann comes in.

Sabina is the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She’s a trained chemist with over 16 years in the personal care and pharmaceutical industries, and she’s tested hundreds of sunscreens to determine which ones really work—for all skin types, tones, and ages.

In this week’s episode of The Not Old Better Show: Good, Better, Best: Good Housekeeping Interview Series, Sabina gives us the clear, science-backed truth behind the SPF labels. Chemical vs. mineral? White cast worries? UVA vs. UVB? Sabina breaks it all down in a way that’s engaging, entertaining, and easy to understand—even if you haven’t touched a chemistry book since high school.

She also shares how her lab evaluates sunscreens—not just for performance but for how they feel, absorb, and wear on real skin. That’s the kind of research that makes a difference when you’re choosing a product you’ll wear every day.

And yes, she gives her top picks.

🎧 Whether you’re outdoors daily, or just looking to make smarter skin health choices—especially as we age—this is one conversation you’ll want to hear: https://apple.co/3FAbebT

#SkincareScience #SunscreenFacts #HealthyAging #BeautyLab #SunSafety #NotOldBetter #GoodHousekeeping #50PlusLiving