Now that summer is here, you’re probably spending a lot more time outdoors. For me, it took years to learn the importance of wearing sunscreen. I remember being at the beach with friends when I was younger, slathering on tanning oil and spending the entire day in the sun without giving it a second thought.
In my 30s, I made sure to always cover my son with sunscreen””but I rarely used it myself. But as the years went by, I started worrying about skin cancer and wrinkles. Since then, I am vigilant about using sunscreen, and I know that it is possible to get a healthy summer glow, without burning my skin.
One of the best things you can do is to apply a moisturizer with sunscreen to your face every morning, whether you’re just headed out to run a few errands or you plan to spend more time outdoors. I like Beauty Without Cruelty ® Vitamin C Facial Moisturizer SPF 12 Sunscreen. It’s light and goes on well under makeup.
I keep a variety of sunscreens on hand for my family to use, depending on our activities for the day. If we’re going to the beach, swimming or playing sports, we use Blue Lizard ® Sport Australian Sunscreen. It’s SPF 30 and water resistant, lasting up to 4 hours, even in water.
I also like to carry a spray sunscreen with me, because it’s the easiest way to reapply sunscreen””especially when you’ve got kids who don’t like to sit still long enough for lotion to be applied. All Terrain AquaSport Spray provides both UVA and UVB protection, and it’s good for sensitive skin, free of oxybenzone and parabens.
Lastly, I keep a lip sunscreen, such as Badger ® SPF 15 Lip Balm, and a sunscreen stick, such as Surf-Vival Organic SPF 30 Face Stick, handy for quick applications. They’re small and convenient, so you can just throw them in your bag and they’ll always be available.
It’s never too late to start protecting your skin! And teaching your children good sun safety habits at an early age will help keep them safe for years to come.
Southern States Championships top contender Melissa Transou, a figure competitor, wife and mother, blogs about the unique sports nutrition needs of female athletes exclusively for Vitacost.com.