Summer is on the horizon and with the hotter months come different challenges for your skin. UVA and UVB rays are harmful any time of the year, but our extended exposure to them in the summer months is what makes them more dangerous come June and July. Days at the beach, the ballfield and poolside will age the skin faster and cause potentially harmful damage that can be prevented with a little planning and a few smart choices.
Keep Your Lips Sealed: It’s the last thing we think about when heading outdoors, but this tender area takes a lot of heat. Use a rich lip balm with an SPF 15 or higher to keep them soft and smooth and don’t forget to reapply when you’re outside.
Protect Your Scalp: The sensitive skin along your hairline can still get burned even if you have longer hair. While it’s harder for the scalp to absorb creams, more sun protecting sprays are on the market now than ever before. Grab one that has an SPF 30 or higher. Some hair products even offer UVA/UVB protection now to shield not just your scalp, but your color too. When all else fails, grab a wide-brimmed hat. Baseball hats are fine for covering your scalp, but a wide-brim hat will shade your ears, neck, and face as well, providing well-rounded coverage.
Put Your Best Face Forward: Between day moisturizers, foundations and straight sunscreen, there are an abundance of choices to keep your face looking younger, and healthier, and still soak up the longer days of summer. Start with a moisturizer that has an SPF 15 or higher and follow up with your normal skincare routine. If you’re a fan of foundation, but are afraid your face might melt off in the blistering summer sun, opt for a tinted moisturizer with an SPF 30 or higher.
Feed Your Skin: Beyond using sunscreen during the day and moisturizing at night, the right diet will help combat the drying effects of the sun. Cantaloupe is rich in antioxidants and delivers a unique hydration to the skin. Watermelon is another great choice that will also help cool you down at that summer picnic. Got some fresh strawberries on hand? Take a large strawberry, cut it in half and poke at the flesh to wake the juices, then swipe it across your face in small circles. Leave it on for approximately two minutes, then rinse off. This will brighten sun and age spots over time.
And most importantly, don’t forget to drink your water! Dehydration is one of the leading causes of dry, dull looking skin. Drinking a minimum of eight to ten glasses of water a day will help your skin retain its elasticity which is vital in fighting wrinkles.
