Soak Up the Sun, Not the Damage: Your Complete Summer Sunscreen Guide
As we settle into summer, it’s easy to get caught up in soaking up the sun’s rays and enjoying the hot weather we’ve been waiting for! The feel of the warmth on our skin and the beautiful glowing tan can seem like an exotic trip without even having to leave home. But in the midst of this folly comes a bit of reality. That voice inside your head may be saying something like, “Be mindful of the amount of sun rays you’re soaking up!”
It’s true, some amount of UV rays can be beneficial. We get Vitamin D from the sun’s rays, and that can affect our moods in a positive way. But the amount of time you can spend in the sun safely can vary from person to person, depending on the intensity of the sun and how sensitive you are to it. Learning a few sun safety tips can help.
Sun protection, in the form of sunscreen, is something that everyone needs on some level, whether indoors or out, and whether it’s cloudy or sunny. Protecting your skin from sunburn, skin cancer, premature aging, and wrinkles is your best defense for appearance and good health. So it might be helpful to learn a bit more about how and why to use sunscreen.
The History of Sun Protection
As it turns out, people have been trying to protect their skin for quite a long time! Throughout history, sunscreen has played a part in shielding harmful UV rays. We don’t know exactly how much people knew about sun safety tips in ancient times, but we do know they used homemade concoctions to prevent sunburn and skin damage.
A thick layer of rice bran paste was popular as a natural sunscreen because it absorbs UV rays so well. It’s still used in some mineral sunscreens today for sun protection but sunscreen has evolved over the years, thank goodness, so we don’t have to walk around slathered in rice bran paste anymore!
Covering skin with clothing, utilizing silk umbrellas, and finding shade were all good ideas that were used in the past too…and they’re still good ideas today. For more sun safety tips and sun protection today, let's take a look at what the modern world has to say about it.
Why Sunscreen is Important
Ancient civilizations might have known that the sun could cause burning, aging, and overall discomfort but today, we know why. When too much sun causes damage to the DNA in skin cells, they are unable to function as they’re supposed to. This can lead to things like skin cancer and premature aging. Burning skin is an obvious sign of skin damage, and everyone knows it just plain hurts to have a sunburn, but even tanning is a sign of skin damage and should be avoided. If you really want that tanned look, you might consider using fake tanning products.
Even then, read the labels and use natural products as much as possible.
Using sunscreen with SPF is one of the best sun safety tips to keep your skin safe from harmful UV rays. But what does SPF even mean?
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) plays a role in how much sun protection you need to apply. The SPF number indicates how much protection you get. For example, an SPF 30 protects skin thirty times longer than if you were not wearing any sunscreen at all. In turn, SPF 50 protects skin fifty times longer. Another way to look at it is how much UV light is filtered. SPF 30 blocks 96.7% of UV rays. SPF 50 blocks up to 98%.
Ingredients to Avoid
One of the best ways to choose a good summer sunscreen is by reading the labels and educating yourself about safe sunscreen ingredients. Not all ingredients are good for you, or the environment.
Some chemical sunscreen ingredients have been on the naughty list for quite some time and are worth avoiding. These include:
Avobenzone
Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
When you see these chemicals in the ingredients lists, it might be best to look for a more natural sunscreen product.
Ingredients like these can be harmful to the environment, as well as irritating to your skin. Using water safe sunscreens can help protect your skin when you swim and keep marine life safe too!
Also, be mindful of the local laws if you’re traveling to new places where certain sunscreen ingredients may be banned completely.
Safe Sunscreen Options
Using natural sunscreen options like hats, UV blocking sunglasses, and clothing can be helpful in addition to sunscreen lotions. UPF 50 clothing can block 98% of the sun's rays. Just keep in mind that as clothing gets older and washed frequently, they might not be as effective as they were when you first got them, so don’t count on UPF clothing alone.
Mineral sunscreens that include Zinc Oxide, or Titanium Dioxide are considered physical barriers, as opposed to chemical types. They may be safer options when choosing a sunscreen without dangerous ingredients.
When to Apply
Remember to use sunscreen year round in most environments, even indoors when near windows.
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends, “A water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for any extended outdoor activity. Regardless of the SPF, though, it’s important to apply one ounce (two tablespoons) 30 minutes before going outside and reapply it every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.”
After-Sun Care
Finally, after-care for sun exposure completes your skincare routine and helps to keep yourself safe and healthy. Aloe, or skincare products with aloe, are both great options to soothe sun kissed skin.
First, wash off any sunscreen with a cool shower. Avoid hot water that can strip away skin's natural oils. Use a gentle soap and don’t “scrub” your skin. Pat dry, and then MOISTURIZE!
Rehydrate and renourish with a natural moisturizing lotion, like the ones here at Sage Stone Botanicals. Using natural lotions with oils that absorb easily into your skin can help ease the stress your skin has experienced from sun exposure.
Also, drink plenty of water. Your skin receives moisture from the inside too!
Enjoying your time in the sun is both exhilarating and relaxing, and who doesn’t love that feeling of outdoors in the summertime? By putting to good use a few sun safety tips, using sunscreen, and practicing after-sun care, you can have fun in the sun and be safe at the same time.
