Sunscreen

 

      Hi guys I hope that your summer has been going well. Right now I am currently in Colorado on vacation in the beautiful mountains with my family and friend from school. I can’t wait to get back home and swim in our pool which wasn’t open when I left. As teenagers we are outside a lot in the summer time. I love swimming in the pool and the occasional laying out for a tan. But protecting our skin is super important. Take it from me, I know it’s annoying when your mom makes you put on layers and layers of sunscreen but really, do you want skin cancer sun spots and wrinkles? Most teenagers think that if they wear sun screen that they won’t get a tan. And this is false. Though sunscreen does protect you from sunburns you can still get a tan through the sun screen. It protects you from skin cancer wrinkles and harmful rays. I’ve put together a few tips to help you buy sun screen this year.

Tip  1. Find a sunscreen with Broad Spectrum SPF

If the bottle says “Broad Spectrum” that means that it protects from both UVA rays and UVB rays. It’s a well-known fact that people with farer skin need more protection so getting higher SPF is a good idea. But, that doesn’t exclude the darker skinned, they still need protection maybe not from sunburn but they can still get wrinkles and skin cancer.

Tip  2. Reapply your sunscreen as directed on the bottle.

If you are going swimming you will want to look for a waterproof sweat proof sunscreen, but don’t be fooled. It will still need to be reapplied every 2 hours or so. No sunscreen is 100% waterproof. 

Tip  3. Put on sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure for the most effect.

To properly let the sunscreen set into your skin allow 30 minutes before sun exposure.

Tip  4. Don’t get anything under 15 SPF

Anything labeled under 15 SPF should have a warning on the back saying it might shield from sunburn but not skin cancer.

Tip   5. Don’t trust a sunscreen spray.

I would not suggest getting a sunscreen spray. Though these might seem like they save tons of time and are more effective they are not. It is very hard to spray exactly where you want and the wind can easily pick up the spray before it even hits your skin. Sticking to good old sunscreen lotion is the best option. If you really want to use sunscreen spray, spray it into your hand and then lather it on the skin.

 

After much research I found a great sport water resistant sunscreen for the more athletic people. It is from the brand Coppertone, and it is called the “Sport High Performance sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30”. This lotion is very water resistant and won’t run into your eyes and sting. The formula is great with a quickly drying technique. You can purchase it at most drugstores for around 8$.

 

 If you are looking for a great face sunscreen that won’t make your face break out, and isn’t a super thick consistency, I would recommend the Neutrogena “Sport Face Oil-Free Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 70”. This sunscreen is available at most drugstores for around $12. It’s an oil free product so it will not clog your pores.

 

For a less active day I would recommend the Sun Bum “Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion” It is a broad spectrum with a SPF of 30. It is said to be great for sensitive skin and has a great banana smell. It is also invisible after applying. You can purchase this for around $16 on amazon.

|| Extra Tip || If you are wanting a tanning oil I would suggest using virgin coconut oil on top of your sunscreen. The oil will attract the sun and the coconut itself will hydrate your skin and make it feel very soft. I would not suggest tanning oil unless it has a high SPF coverage. If you have fair skin I would highly suggest not using tanning oil.

note: look for the July issue of Splurge to see more of my Summer Skin Care tips and products.