July 22, 2015
Summer Skin Savers
Tips and Tricks That Will Save Your Skin This Summer
We’re all guilty of it at one point or another. Staying in the sun too long. Not applying sunscreen. Or forgetting to reapply every few hours. Whatever our slip-up, the results are the same – painful sunburn, tender skin, dehydrated body and an increased risk of skin cancer – no to mention horrible damage that doesn’t present itself until we’re much older –SURPRISE! Ugh! Save your skin before, during and after sun exposure with our Seven Skin Saver Tips.- Be prepared. Just like the Girl Scout motto, it’s important to be prepared when heading out into the summer sun. Grab a big hat, always wear your sunglasses, cover up on the beach and sit under an umbrella for shade. The best defense against the sun is a good offense. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some sun (after all, we could all use some Vitamin D!) but it’s always best to practice sun.
- Know your sunscreen. Not all sunscreens are created equal. It is key to research, test and adjust accordingly. Research your sunscreen to ensure that it not only has an adequate SPF, but also contains agents to heal and hydrate your skin. Test your sunscreens before spending a full day in the sun using them. Though your day-to-day SPF routine might be on point (we’re sure you are using our Cell Renew SunVeil™ Complete OneTint™ Moisturizer for daily use!), it may not be the best for activities where you are in water or sweating profusely. Adjust your SPF routine and slather up according to what you are doing that day. And always opt for natural sunscreens. Look for Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide, which boast lower toxicity concerns according to The Environmental Working Group.
- Reapply. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you go out into the sun, and then reapply your sunscreen every two hours and/or immediately after swimming, toweling off or excessive sweating.
- Remember your lips. The delicate area around the lips is a common spot for skin cancer to appear. And a recent study found that 63% of sunscreen users don’t protect their lips! Make sure to wear a lip balm with an SPF 30 or higher, and definitely don’t wear lip-gloss without any SPF coverage. The more hydrated (yet unprotected) your lips are, the easier it is for the sun’s harmful UV rays to penetrate your lips.
- Hydrate (inside and out). Keep skin hydrated by drinking more water than you lose. For every pound of sweat you lose, that’s a pint of water that needs to be replenished. During the hot summer months, this is even more critical. Hydrate your skin from the outside as well by using a moisturizer that not only increases skin hydration, but also helps improve the skin’s moisture barrier and binds water to the skin as well, like our Cell Renew Moisture Complete.
- Have an overexposure plan in place. Sometimes we forget to have a good offense when we are in the sun having fun. That’s when having a key defense plan in place will save your skin! Prepare your home with after-sun essentials like ice packs, Aloe Vera gel, drinks with electrolytes and our Cell Renew EnviroExpose Repair and Restore Crème, which helps calm skin while improving its resistance to future environmental aggressors and stops free radical formation by 31% on contact.
- Check your skin monthly. Skin cancer can creep up on even the most sun-safe of people. Make sure to keep an eye on your moles every month. Here is an easy guide for self-checks from the American Cancer Society. And schedule an annual appointment with your doctor to have them check the harder to see places.