With area pools opening in the coming weeks, most of us are thinking about our bikini bodies — but are you thinking about how to protect the delicate skin under your swimsuit?
Besides wanting to look fit and chic in our swimsuits, we want our skin to stay naturally beautiful and burn-free — and that means finding healthier sunscreens that protect us head to toe.
Here’s what types of products and ingredients to look for and avoid when seeking out natural sunscreens for the summer (and year-round!).
Sunscreen Products to Avoid:
Sprays, Powders, SPFs Higher Than 50
Why:
- Spray and powder sunscreens increase your risk of inhaling toxic chemicals (ever wonder why the instructions say to apply in well-ventilated areas?).
- SPFs higher than 50 tend to give you a false sense of security about how long you can stay in the sun and may discourage you from reapplying.
Sunscreen Products to Choose:
Creams, Broad-spectrum Protection, Water-resistant for Beach, Pool and Exercise; SPF 30+ for Beach and Pool
Why:
- Creams eliminate the risk of inhaling potentially dangerous sunscreen ingredients.
- Broad-protection sunscreens keep your skin shaded from both UVA and UVB rays.
- Sunscreens that are water-resistant for beach, pool and exercise allow you to have a little more fun in the sun before having to reapply.
- SPF 30 means you can stay out in the sun and be protected 30 times longer than without any protection — but you will sweat and towel off, so you may be more aware of the fact you may need to reapply.
Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid:
- Oxybenzone
- Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)
- Insect Repellent
Why:
- Oxybenzone is linked to hormone disruption and potentially to cell damage that may actually lead to skin cancer, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and other toxicology experts.
- Retinyl Palmitate, or vitamin A, is a wonderful antioxidant in skin care products made for use indoors, but may increase the risk of skin cancer when used on sun-exposed skin.
- Insect repellent should be applied just once a day, not reapplied the way sunscreen should be, because it can cause skin irritation and other more serious skin concerns.
Sunscreen Ingredients to Choose:
- Zinc Oxide
- Titanium Dioxide
- Avobenzone
- Mexoryl SX
Why:
- Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are both natural mineral sunscreens that provide a physical barrier to the sun’s rays.
- Avobenzone and Mexoryl SX both provide sun protection with low skin penetration risk.
Now that you know some do’s and don’ts, it’s time to dig into a few sunscreen options.
You can find more sunscreen reviews in the archive and look forward to more this summer!
{Here’s the array of natural sunscreen options I took on set with me for “Better Kansas City.”}
Makeup with SPF
Just because it’s finally sunny outside doesn’t mean you should just now be pulling out the sunscreen.
Make a commitment to wear sun protection every day — it’s as easy as finding makeup that already includes SPF 30.
A Few Favorites
- Jane Iredale Glow Time BB Cream SPF 25
- Suntegrity “5 in 1″ Tinted Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen BB Cream
Face Sunscreen
You can choose separate face sunscreens if your skin is particularly sensitive or if your favorite makeup just doesn’t include SPF. I prefer SPF 30, but general recommendations call for at least SPF 15.
You can find face sunscreens anywhere in-between, and even ones that include matte finishes.
A Few Favorites
- MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield SPF 28 Coconut
- Consonant 100% Natural Matte Finish Sunscreen SPF 15
Hand Lotion with SPF
They say that your hands tend to give away your age no matter how beautiful and youthful the face.
The way to get around this sneaky giveaway is to regularly use hand creams that have SPF!
A Favorite (Do you have any other recommendations?)
Sunscreen Sticks
Sun sticks may seem a little frivolous at first, but these catch-all protection sticks are wonderful for spot-applying and reapplying to ears, noses, lips and other tricky spots.
They’re also pretty easy to find in a crowded beach bag or purse!
A Few Favorites
Body Sunscreen
Regardless of whether you’re lying around the pool or actually swimming and playing water volleyball, you need at least an SPF 30 for your body and you want it to be water-resistant.
A Few Favorites
What are your sun-care protection tips? Which sunscreens do you use? Tell me in the comments section!
