Simple Tip: staying healthy with our sun protection

With warmer weather right around the corner, here's a simple guide on how to stay safe with your sunscreen choices...

Pick a good one:

• use broad-spectrum protection (both UVA and UVB protection)
• use water resistant sunscreens for the beach, pool, or exercising
• SPF 30 is about the highest sun protection you need (remember to re-apply when necessary) and ratings of 50 and higher aren’t much more effective than SPF 30

Watch the ingredients:
(remember the sponge-like qualities of our skin)

Avoid:

• oxybenzone
• vitamin A (retinyl palmitate)
• added insect repellents

Ingredients that work:

• zinc (best)
• titanium (best)
• avobenzone (second choice)

For more detailed information click here for the Environmental Working Group's complete sunscreen guide.

I tend to avoid using sunscreens altogether, but being that I'm the "whitest of white" I prevent getting sun-burned by: avoiding the sun's peak hours (the pool is less crowded after 2pm anyway), I sit in the shade, or I make good use of a sun umbrella. It may be a bit "old lady" to not lather my skin in oil and bake in the sun, but I think it will be worth it down the road!

Looking forward to summer,

-Katie