6 Surprising Sun Protection Hacks for Summer
By now you’re well aware of the golden rule of skin care: Stay protected from the sun. You’ve stocked your beach bag with SPF, learned to reapply like it’s your job, and found the most stylish hat to shade your frame. But as of late, crafty new ways to shield harmful UV rays have come to light. We tapped top experts to reveal the stealthy new methods to boost your sun protection repertoire.
1. Forget lotions. “Try a powder sunscreen — I like Colorescience Sunforgettable Loose Mineral Sunscreen Brush ($64) — for reapplication throughout the day. It sits on top of makeup so it won’t disturb your look, and it eliminates shine. It’s easy to have on hand, so reapplying SPF is not a hassle.” — Dendy Engelman, dermatologic surgeon at Manhattan Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery
2. Rework your office space. “Many people don’t realize that sitting at work or in your office near a window is also exposing your skin to harmful UV rays. The simple fix is to move your desk away from the window or use blackout curtains.” — Patricia McGuire, esthetician at SKIN MATRx Integrated Beauty Solutions (Photo via Getty)
3. Double up on topical antioxidants. “I add topical and oral antioxidants to my skin care in extra high doses in the summer. Both have been shown to increase the innate SPF of the skin.”— Ava Shamban, Beverly Hills dermatologist and founder of SKINxFIVE (Photo via Brit + Co)
4. Throw some shade. “Always wear sunglasses with UV protection. Your eyes are fragile and vulnerable. Plus, those sunny rays will make your eye squint, which will most definitely lead to expression lines and crows feet.” — Sonya Dakar, founder of Sonya Dakar Skin Clinic (Photo via Getty)
5. Wax on. “Keep the eye area protected by using a wax-based SPF stick like MDSolarSciences Mineral Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 40 UVA-UVB Sunscreen ($18). It stays put and you don’t have to worry about sunscreen getting in your eyes while you sweat.” — S. Manjula Jegasothy, dermatologist, CEO and founder of Miami Skin Institute
6. Eat your way to healthy skin. “Everyone knows that UV rays from the sun can do damage to the skin, but new studies are showing that other wavelengths of light, including infrared and visible light, can also do damage. Your best protection is to add antioxidants to your diet — sip on iced green tea and snack on brightly colored fruits like berries. There are new oral supplements emerging that can also help keep your antioxidant levels high enough to protect your skin. My favorite is called Heliocare ($24), made from a fern plan extract. Take one half an hour before heading outdoors.” — Whitney Bowe, New York-based dermatologist
What unusual practice keeps you sun safe? Tell us @Britandco.
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