Tips for Surviving the Summer Sun!

[MsP]

One of my "try to do better" items this year is sun protection. I'm not sure the skin-type I have because while I *can* burn (and have), after I get a reasonable base exposure I don't burn with moderate exposure. I do however get quite a dark tan by summers end and freckles. During the winter I am a pale yellow-toned skin. As a twenty-something I'm reaaaaaally trying to save my skin.

I've discovered that my skin is quite sensitive to chemical sunscreens...and I've been using high zinc sunscreens and been doing much better. I always hated using daily suncreen because it burned. I am loving Devita Solar and BurnOut Sensitive skin for my face... Coppertone has some good zinc-based body sunscreens I'd like to try out soon. Anyone have body sunscreen recs? I'm not really up for payig $25 for a tiny tube that would cover like one leg.

I'm now hunting for hats... I am pretty good about wearing hats to the beach or out at some sporting event. I am NOT good at wearing a hat when I'm "dressed up" but still outdoors. I've picked up two Eric Javits hats-- a fedora and a shorter brim sun hat but I feel so odd wearing a hat. Anyone have a designer or style to look into? I kind of question the benefit of wearing these shorter brim hats because I still get quite a bit of sun. Buuuut... some reduction is better than none? right?c

And what about long sleeve linen shirts for the summertime? and longish sleeve shirts for daytime running? My forearms are currently many shades darker than my face because of this. And when IN the pool... swim shirts? I am yet to find sunscreens that really survive heavy water.

My friends think I'm nutso for caring.

 

[mary poppins]

Good for you for caring. It's important not just for aesthetic reasons, but for health. I take pride in being paler than most during the summer.

For daily face, I use a moisturizer with sunscreen. However, if I'm going to be out for a day in the sun, I use Anthelios by LaRoche Posay (available at drugstores). For body, I'm not too picky. I just use any SPF 30 lotion product.

coolibar.com is great for uv protection hats and clothes.

 

[kenny]

Perhaps seek out sheer light colored 100% cotton clothing that is loose, billowy and covers your arms and legs.

Hats with wide brims are cool, as are huge Jackie-O sunglasses, polarized of course.

Oh, and just avoid being in the sun unnecessarily, but don't go all Howard Hughes about it.

 

[mrs jam]

Hi MissPrudential, I swear by Colorscience's "Sunforgettable" mineral powder sunblock. I powder my face and neck with it everyday, and I haven't gotten burned or tanned in the last two years, even during a trip to Maui. It comes in SPF 30 and 50, and I have found the 30 is enough protection for me. I hate greasy sunblocks on my face, so the powder form is a godsend to me! I even use it at night because I love how it feels on my skin. I buy the loose powder for fair skin that is in the little jar. It also comes in a pre-filled brush tube, but I don't like how firm the brush is or how hard I have to press it to get the powder to come out.

As far as hats go, I find that basic outfits make them feel more "wearable" rather than a fussy get-up. I think a fedora looks really sharp with jeans and a tee. I love Target when I want to experiment with different styles of hats. Most there are just $14.99, and when I find a type of hat there that I end up wearing a lot, then I'm not afraid to spend a little extra moolah on a bit nicer brand. On days when I don't want to wear a hat for the whole day, I carry a smoosh-able hat that fits into my bag. I'll pull it out to wear whenever I have to be in the sun, like when I'm walking in a parking lot from my car to a store. When I'm inside, I just smush it back inside my bag.

I wish I had a recommendation for long-sleeved shirts. I usually run in the early morning or evening just so I can avoid the sun. I've lived in Houston for about four years now, but I don't think I'll ever feel acclimated to the heat or the intense sun.

ETA good for you about being conscientious about your sun exposure! I wish I had been more careful when I was in my 20s. I think I did most of my damage back then. I cringe now when I think of how many hours I spent "laying out" and frying myself silly.

 

[ksinger]

Go out and google "sunblock clothing". I've not started my search seriously yet, but my husband sails, and he has some sunblock clothing that breathes well yet has a sunblock factor of 50, that is marketed to sailors, and I've seen it at sporting goods stores, so I know it is being produced.

Linen won't cut it, honestly. It's better than nothing but not nearly good enough.

Not suggesting this for you, but MY strategy mostly consists of crawling under a rock mid-May and not crawling back out until September.

But then I'm a redhead.

http://www.coolibar.com/womensunprotectiveclothing.html

http://www.rei.com/category/1/q/Sun+Protection+Clothing?s_kwcid=TC|13029|sun%20block%20clothing||S|e|13642808045&cm_mmc=ps_google_OW-_-Category%20-%20Apparel_TOF-_-Apparel_General_Sun_Protection-_-sun%20block%20clothing&gclid=CKD08bTVmLACFaUZQgod5Rx52A

http://www.solartex.com/

 

[vc10um]

I have a couple suggestions from REI that kept me from burning to bits on our honeymoon in Belize. They were great to wear because they're light and airy, but they're UPF 50!

http://www.rei.com/product/794710/rei-sahara-shirt-womens
http://www.rei.com/product/807981/rei-oxt-fleet-hoodie-womens (I actually wore this one into this ocean for our second day of snorkeling and it dried incredibly quickly and was extremely comfortable.)

REI is my new go-to for clothing...it's incredibly well-constructed, and they have an AMAZING return policy. They're having a huge sale right now (and I think I'm about to stock up on a few of these items) so it's definitely worth a look!

 

[monarch64]

I am careful with my sun exposure now but I don't avoid it altogether. I own 4 sun hats, some of which are ridiculously huge (remember Kim Cattrall's gigantic straw hat in SATC the movie 2?) so if I'm sitting out on a boat or something my shoulders, neck, and back are covered as well as my face. The ones I have are made by Scala (can be found in department stores) and Prana.

The REI shirts are nice. I'm not a big fan of REI but won't go into it here. Patagonia and Ex Officio are other brands from whom you can buy direct that offer clothing that is made to specifically block the sun. You can definitely find long sleeved running shirts (The North Face actually makes some awesome ones using something called Minerale technology) but also consider only running before prime sun hours like early mornings or evenings.

Oh, and Icebreaker makes some awesome wool running pieces. Here's a long sleeved one:

http://us.icebreaker.com/LS-Rush-Crewe/IB5B94,en,pd.html

Merino wool is awesome for so many reasons.

 

[StacylikesSparkles]

Go out and google "sunblock clothing". I've not started my search seriously yet, but my husband sails, and he has some sunblock clothing that breathes well yet has a sunblock factor of 50, that is marketed to sailors, and I've seen it at sporting goods stores, so I know it is being produced.

Linen won't cut it, honestly. It's better than nothing but not nearly good enough.

Not suggesting this for you, but MY strategy mostly consists of crawling under a rock mid-May and not crawling back out until September.

But then I'm a redhead.

http://www.coolibar.com/womensunprotectiveclothing.html

http://www.rei.com/category/1/q/Sun+Protection+Clothing?s_kwcid=TC|13029|sun%20block%20clothing||S|e|13642808045&cm_mmc=ps_google_OW-_-Category%20-%20Apparel_TOF-_-Apparel_General_Sun_Protection-_-sun%20block%20clothing&gclid=CKD08bTVmLACFaUZQgod5Rx52A

http://www.solartex.com/

Being a redhead myself, I deinitely try to stay out of the sun as much as possible. When I'm at the beach, I'm under an umbrella with spf 70 on. If outside, I try to sit in the shade. I easily burn and the best way to avoid that is to stay out of direct sunlight as much as posible.

The good thing about staying out of the sun and away from tanning, I'm 29 (will be 30 in December) and constantly get told how young I look. I LOVE that feeling! I can already see a difference in my face in regards to lines and wrinkles in comparison to my friends who worship the sun and are the same age or younger. It isn't healthy or attractive to look aged well before your time!