Unless you’ve been living under a rock for a while now, you know just how damaging the sun’s rays can be. While a golden tan can look great, it’s really not worth risking the negative effects that can come from too much unprotected sun exposure – I’m talking things like wrinkles, brown spots (do we really want to add another 10 years onto our looks?) and, in worst case scenarios, skin cancer. Today I want to share with you some of my tips and fave sun defense products.
1. Protect your body. Slather some sunscreen on in the morning before heading out for the day and reapply as necessary throughout. Sweating and swimming can help take it off, so make sure your skin is always protected if you’re spending a day outside in the sun. Make sure to apply everywhere on your body (yep, the sun’s rays can get through fabric – the sheerer the more likely it will be to penetrate) – a good rule of thumb is to use about the equivalent of a shot glass full of sunscreen to cover yourself. And don’t forget to get your ears, tops of your feet and backs of your hands, which are commonly overlooked.
My picks: Vichy Capital Soleil Sheer Lotion SPF 45/60 Bare Skin Feel for Face and Body, Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
2. Protect your beautiful face. This really should go without saying – the skin on your face needs a lot of protection, especially if you want to keep up a youthful appearance and prevent premature aging. A product with SPF should be applied to your face every day of the year – even in the winter, even on a cloudy day – the sun’s UV rays will still shine down and can cause damage. And now that the summer is here and you’re constantly going to be hanging out in the sun, it’s more important than ever to protect your visage (including your lips). Try swapping out your regular moisturizer for one that contains SPF – it’s an easy switch to make, doesn’t add an extra step to your routine and ensures that you have an added level of defense every day. I really like my picks (below) because I find that they’re sheer, non-greasy, and go perfectly under my makeup. So please, protect your face – you’ll thank me one day!
My picks: SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50, SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50, Vichy Capital Soleil SPF 30 Lip Protection Stick, Avon Sun+ Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 40
3. Treat and repair. After spending time in the sun or – gasp – getting a burn (I know, we’ve all been there), it’s important to nourish and moisturize to help your skin get back in shape. Aloe vera, which is an ingredient in both of my picks, is really good for cooling and calming sunburned skin, and I really recommend applying a product with this in it to help you feel better and to speed up the healing process.
My picks: Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizer, Avon Sun+ Cooling After Sun Aloe Gel
So all I can say now is be good to your skin! Take care of it and it will help you out too. How do you like to protect?
