Safe Sun Exposure

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Tomorrow is June 1st, so if there’s a time to think about your sun exposure, it’s now. I remember being told to avoid the sun in my teens and 20s—you’ll thank me later, they said. Well, later is now. I would give myself a B in avoiding the sun. I’ve always tried to cover my face, but I also went through a phase where I was convinced that a tan was a natural barrier.

The paradox of sun exposure is real (and confusing). On one hand, the sun is life. We need the sun for vitamin D synthesis (which plays a role in everything from our mood to our bone health), it helps regulate our circadian rhythm, boosts serotonin, can enhance cognitive function, regulate hormones, improve immune health, increase your metabolism, and more. Wow, name a drug that can do that. Too much sun exposure, however, can cause damage, from some innocuous yet still unwelcome wrinkles and age spots to skin cancer. Here are some ways I’m practicing safe sun exposure for me and my family now that I know better.

TIPS FOR SAFE SUN EXPOSURE
Timing of Day:
UV rays are generally strongest between 10 am and 4 pm, so if you’re out in the sun in the morning or later in the afternoon, you’re likely okay without sunscreen. This is a good time to benefit from all the sun's magic.

Sunscreen:
During peak hours or in areas with a high UV index, you should be wearing sunscreen. Most sunscreens (especially the ones that smell the best) are full of nasty ingredients so it’s good to be particular. I wear sunscreen daily on my face (my go-to’s are LINNÉ Botanicals and Kari Gran). For outdoor activities, my favorites are Think Sport, Necessaire, and Attitude. And for kids, I like Babo, Attitude, and Badger.

Make sure to apply your sunscreen correctly! That means 15-30 minutes before going outdoors and reapplying every two hours. You may need to reapply more often if you’re swimming or sweating.

Protective clothing (aka fash-sun):
Unsurprisingly my favorite part of this. A good hat goes a long way. I love a baseball cap, but try this Amazon find for maximum protection. I’ve also got my eye on this chic (washable and packable!) cotton wide-brim hat.

If you’re spending a lot of time at the beach or the pool, get a long-sleeved bathing suit (I have this one and love it) or a rash guard (this one from JCrew is on sale). I got Ozzie & Freya some cute kids suits with lots of coverage from Minnow (this one, gahhh).

Getting that tan on:
You can get that sun-kissed glow year-round without baking in the sun or going to the tanning salon (do they even exist anymore?). I like Beauty by Earth self-tanning drops—you just mix them in with your moisturizer. Makeup can also do the trick—two of my favorite clean brands just launched new products: Summertone Bronzing Gel from Goop and Dew Bronze from Saie.

Load up on antioxidants:
Oh yes, there’s a food tie in here too. UV exposure can lead to increased production of free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage cells, like those in the skin. Antioxidants (vitamins C, E, A, and B3, as well as CoQ10 and polyphenols found in plants) neutralize these free radicals, which reduces their harmful effects. To increase your antioxidant load, eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables in different varieties and colors. You can also consider a vitamin C supplement, like LivOn Labs’ lypo-spheric vitamin C.

Speaking of Vitamin C, I recently learned it can protect the skin and hair from chlorine exposure from the pool. This pool spray contains sodium ascorbate (a form of vitamin C) and you just spray it all over you before you get into the pool. I immediately purchased it for Ozzie’s weekly swim lesson along with this vitamin C bath powder from the same brand.

Lastly, this is your reminder to book you annual dermatologist appointment and get those moles checked. I’m writing this as a reminder to myself as well. ;)