Summer is here! Crazy weather from 105 during the day inland to 65 and lower at night closer to the coast. We’ve got to be prepared for the sun beating down on us so here’s some safety tips, recipes and “just cool to know facts” in order to Soak It Up and enjoy the beautiful weather no matter where you are during summer months.
Your skin is one of the most important organs your body offers — and it’s extremely important to protect that natural protective barrier you’ve been provided with! Plus, keeping your skin safe from sun damage will help keep your skin from developing issues later — from excessive wrinkles to skin cancers. You want to keep your skin protected!
Natural Sunscreen Ingredients
Coconut Oil SPF 4-6, Raspberry Seed Oil SPF 25-50, Shea Butter SPF 4-6, Carrot Seed Oil SPF 35-40, Zinc Oxide SPF 2-20, Almond Oil SPF 5 ~ check out Botanical Beauty for see oils.
Pre-Made Natural Sunscreens
I also recommend pre-made sunscreen options for those who don’t have the time or desire to make a homemade version. The best brand I’ve found is Badger out of New Zealand and they have several great organic, non-nano versions:
- Badger Organic SPF 35
- Badger Organic Baby Sunscreen SPF 30
- Badger Organic Kids Sunscreen Tangerine and Vanilla SPF 30
- Badger Lavender Sunscreen SPF 30
Homemade Sunscreen Recipe
1/3 cup coconut oil, 1/4 cup almond oil, 2 TB raw shea butter, 1/4 cup beeswax pellets, 4 heaping TB zinc powder, 20-25 drops carrot seed oil
Wearing sunscreen is one of the healthiest things you can for your skin. A good sunscreen with broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection can keep you from getting burned, minimize the development of wrinkles, dark spots, and reduces your risk of skin cancer. But too many people still make common mistakes when it comes to sunscreen — slathering on too little, skipping vulnerable spots, using only makeup w/SPF — that can be costly for your skin.
Most common ways we may mess up with sunscreen :
Mistake #1: SPF still works if you use a little
In order to get the highest protection that your sunscreen advertises, and achieve that SPF number on the label, you need to apply a nice thick layer.
Mistake #2: Sunscreens are all the same
Sunscreen is divided into two broad categories: Physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens are thought to be superior by some dermatologists in a few ways. Unlike chemical sunscreens, which absorb the sun’s rays and can create free radicals, physical sunscreen protects skin by deflecting the radiation. Classic physical blocker sunscreens include ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and are a better choice for people with sensitive skin, as they tend to be less irritating than their chemical sunscreen counterparts.
Mistake #3: SPF lasts, so I can throw it on and go
This is a very common misunderstanding–and a dangerous one! The correct way to approach sunscreen is to: Apply early, re-apply appropriately and replace often. Many sunscreens require 15 minutes, some even 30 minutes, before they are fully absorbed into the skin. You have to REAPPLY sunscreen often to keep the benefits going. At most, sunscreen remains effective for two hours, but if you’re sweating, swimming, or rubbing, you’ll need to reapply even sooner. And finally, remember the shelf-life. Using expired sunscreen is a common reason for sunburn.
Mistake #4: I can mix SPF with anything
Sunscreen is super sensitive, delicate, and unstable. Mixing your sunscreen with lotions, creams, or other skincare products can dilute the active ingredients and reduce the SPF below what the labeling reflects. Makeup can be applied afterwards.
Mistake #5: I’m wearing SPF, now I’m safe!
I consider this the BIGGEST mistake people make. Sunscreen is best utilized as a SINGLE part of your sun-safety habits, along with other protective behaviors. Many people mistakenly assume sunscreen affords them the ability to sit endlessly in the sun. Sunscreen is not impenetrable, and its protection, although valuable, has limits. Efforts should always be made to seek shade, avoid sun during peak hours, and to wear protective clothing. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SAFE TAN. Every tan is a sign of damage to the skin. If you’re wearing sunscreen, and you’re still getting tan, you’re not being safe enough.
Great Tips for always protecting the temple we reside in!
- Eat the Right Foods
Consider loading your plate up with plant-based foods that will help protect and nourish your skin. The most comprehensive way to protect our skin is from the inside out. This means ingesting antioxidants that can help protect against harmful sun rays. Antioxidants work to counteract free radicals and oxidative damage from the sun, reversing the damage already done to our skin. And the best foods to obtain these phytonutrients from are our dear friends, plants. Phytonutrients provide plants protection from UV lights. By ingesting these plants, these compounds end up in our tissues, providing us with a lot of the sun protection benefits we need.” Now that’s awesome!
- Wear Hats
Hats are adorable all year round, but even more so in the scalding summer months when they can also double as a protective device from the sun! Whether you opt for a baseball cap or a wide-brimmed fashion-forward hat, style yourself with hats all summer long to protect your scalp (which is often overlooked but very often burned in the summer!) and, if the brim is long enough, your entire face, which is often most susceptible to burning!
3. Tote an Umbrella
Umbrellas are one of the best ways to keep you safe from the sun. Whether you’re taking a long stroll or sitting by the beach, keeping an umbrella on hand to throw open over you can be a lifesaver, always have one on hand in the summer to help protect you.
4. Drink Green Tea
Brew yourself some iced green tea all summer long. While this won’t prevent the onset of sun damage, loading up on green tea can have some awesome effects on the skin that can help prevent problems. Tea offers a complex arsenal of antioxidant compounds.
5. Slather on the Sunscreen (But Do it the Green Way)
Sunscreens are tricky. They do help protect the skin from sun damage, but they can also be hazardous to your health. As the Environmental Working Group explains: “Active ingredients in sunscreens come in two forms, mineral and chemical filters. Each uses a different mechanism for protecting skin and maintaining stability in sunlight. Each may pose hazards to human health.” If you’re going to opt for using sunscreens, choose a safer brand.
PETS LIKE TO SOAK IT UP TOO! ~ Keep them protected as well.
