Summer stock up: Shopping list for sun safety

6/19/2014

Whether you are going to the beach, on a tropical vacation or simply running errands, having a supply of sun safe products on hand is a must. Shopping for sun safe products is not hard; you just need to know what to look for and for that reason, we have created a sun safe shopping list just for you!

Shopping list for sun safety

Sunscreen – Obvious, right? But there are a lot of options out there – what sunscreen do you need? Your sunscreen choice should:

Be SPF 15 or higher for UVB protection
Contain at least one of the following for UVA protection: ecamsule, avobenzone, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, sulisobenzone, or zinc oxide
Be water resistant – legally, there is no such thing as waterproof.
Be a brand you like – the best sunscreen is one you will use!

Travel-size sunscreen – To be the most effective, sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, so save yourself the hassle of carrying around a heavy bottle all day by purchasing a travel size bottle for your purse or pocket.
Sunglasses – All sunglasses are not created equal. The sun can cause serious damage to your eyes and to properly protect them your sunglasses should:

Block 99-100% of UVA and UVB light
Guard against HEV light
Cover your eyes, eyelids, and surrounding areas - wraparounds with a close fit are ideal

UPF clothing - Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is a rating system used for apparel. It indicates how effectively fabrics shield skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays. UPF clothing can provide extra protection or save you from having to put sunscreen on under your clothes. Most sporting stores have UPF clothing options as well as websites like Coolibar.

Hat – Protect your scalp with a dark colored, or UPF, hat. Burns on your head are unhealthy and painful!

Buyer Beware

When shopping for sun safe products remember the following:

Make-up isn’t enough – While some powders and foundations claim to have SPF, this is not enough protection. You need to use sunscreen, too.
Self-tanners don’t protect – This is a common misconception, but the truth is that self-tanners do not protect you from UV rays.
Bigger is not always better – Anything SPF 70+ is overkill. These sunscreens do not offer a significant difference in protection and can contain preservatives that irritate skin.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Yes, it will cost you some money and time to stock up on sun safe products, but it is worth it. You will be protecting your health and your looks – both of which are expensive and time consuming to fix!