Summer is essentially upon us (yes, it’s still a month off, technically, but it’s been “summer” in Florida for months now!) and you know what that means: long days at the beach, outdoor festivals, backyard barbeques and more! Basically, lots of fun in the sun!
Unfortunately, there’s nothing like a sunburn to put a big damper on all that summer fun… not to mention leaving behind some not-so-attractive tans lines!
You may be thinking, “well my moisturizer has SPF 15.” Unfortunately, there’s a little more to protecting your skin than that. Check out these four tips to help you avoid the risks of too much exposure to the sun!
- Makeup and moisturizers with sunscreen aren’t enough.
Think about it: when was the last time that you reapplied your makeup or moisturizer every two hours throughout the day? Probably never, right? According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), it works fine if you’re only walking to your car or going into the store, but if you’re going to be exposed to the sun for longer periods of time you need to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen. Also keep in mind that the makeup or moisturizer you apply early in the morning before work isn’t providing much protection by the time you go home from work at the end of the day, so it’s important to reapply before your commute home. (We recommend keeping a Colorescience Sunforgettable Sunscreen tucked into your purse or desk drawer since it makes it easy to reapply.)
- You need one ounce for your whole body.
According to the ASDS, research has shown people only use half as much sunscreen as they actually need, so be sure to lather it on! And don’t forget to apply lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher, as well!
- Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before you go outside.
We are all probably guilty of this one… and yet it’s so easy! It just means applying sunscreen before walking out the door to get in your car and apply to the beach. Applying 30 minutes before you are going to be exposed to the sun means your skin has an adequate amount of time to absorb the sunscreen and can provide sufficient protection against damage.
- It’s not a free pass to tan all day.
Don’t forget that there is nothing healthy about a tan, no matter how much you may like seeing yourself with one. Wearing sunscreen isn’t 100% so you WILL get a tan if you’re out in the sun all day with just sunscreen… and that beautiful tan is actually just damaged skin. If you want to protect your skin, it’s best to not only use sunscreen but to cover up with hats and find shade.