Your Summer 2011 Sun Survival Kit

Bathing suits, check. Cover-ups, check. Flip flops, check. Now that your summer wardrobe is in place, it’s time to stock up on sun protection to keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful.

Sunscreen

Although you’re using your SPF as part of your skincare routine each morning, you definitely need even stronger protection for days spent at the beach or by the pool. You need a higher SPF for prolonged exposure, and it’s imperative that you reapply after swimming, sweating or being in the sun for more than an hour. Pick up an advanced formulation like the new SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 or Aveeno Hydrosport.

Sun protective clothing

Consider this fact: A regular white t-shirt offers about SPF 5, which isn’t going to help you avoid sun damage caused by UV rays. Instead, pick up a few pieces of clothing with UPF 50 to give you maximum sun protection. I’m loving a new line called Mott 50, which offers super-cute dresses, t-shirts and cover-ups (there are offerings for men, too!) so you can look chic while practicing safe sun. You can also infuse sun protection into the clothing you already own with a product like SunGuard. Just mix a packet in when you do laundry and it infuses clothes with UPF 30.

Consider sun-protection gloves

You go to great lengths to minimize signs of aging on your face, so don’t let your hands reveal your true age. Our hands get more unprotected sun exposure than the rest of our bodies, and wearing gloves such as Bloxsun Sun Gloves can shield skin from the intermittent exposure we get (such as when driving) that leads to liver spots, prominent veins and crepey skin.

Other accessories

No summer sun protection arsenal is complete without a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. A big hat ensures that your face is shielded from the sun, and protects areas that we inevitably miss with sunscreen. And when it comes to sunglasses, look for a wrap-around style that protects the entire area around the eyes. These two accessories not only look fashionable, but also help prevent wrinkles and other signs of sun damage. Another effective (and chic!) sun-protection accessory is a scarf-but any old scarf won't do. Check out the Bloxsun Sun Scarf, which gives you extra coverage in a variety of ways. Drape it over your shoulders, lay it over your lap or wrap it around your neck any time you need to shield exposed skin.

What to do if you get burned

It happens to the best of us, and it’s my hope that the next time it happens to you, it will be the last. In the event that you get a sunburn, apply a lotion with aloe to soothe and hydrate the skin. (I like Burn Jel.) Then, drink green tea and take an antioxidant supplement (500 mg of vitamin C twice a day will do the trick) to help prevent free radical damage to your cells. You can also take ibuprofen every four hours to reduce discomfort and redness.

Follow these steps and both you and your skin can have a beautiful summer, and avoid the sun damage that can appear years from now!

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