#sun-protection

#TNF and its sun-protective hiking clothing for SS26

NIVEA Sun Protect SPF 50 sunscreen lotion is best sunscreen body lotion with non-oily and water resistant. Now no need to wait for 20 minutes before stepping out in the sun! Best sun protection lotion from Nivea.

However cloudy and crumby the weather might be, you should still be wearing UV protection every day in the summer - and especially when you head off to warmer climes for your holidays

But slathering suncream on your face is a horrible hassle, right? Well not any more. Facial suncreams are now extremely sophisticated and can deliver an array of skin-saving and moisturising properties without clogging pores or getting sticky.

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Clinique Super City Block, SPF40

Perfect for urban dwellers, as well as high SPF this cream also delivers antioxidants to battle city pollution, and it gives a lovely matt coverage with a tiny that’s a perfect summer base.

Clinique.co.uk, £18.99

Dr Andrew Weil For Origins Mega-Defense, SPF45

This is a lovely, light protector that goes over your regular moisturiser and absorbs quickly. It’s untinted and doesn’t feel sticky or heavy. Ideal for all skin types it provided protection without clogging pores for our testers. A little goes a long way and it also combats pollution and skin irritants. Highly recommended.

Origins.co.uk, £39

Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Face Suncare Cream, SPF50

This no-nonsense, high-factor cream is ideal for those wanting unfussy protection with a boost of moisturiser. It’s light and absorbs fast with no residue or white marks.

Boots, £5

Vichy Ideal Soleil Mattifying Face Fluid Dry Touch, SPF30 & BB Cream, SPF50

This pair of products are absolute winners. The mattifying fluid (left) is perfect sun protection for oily skins, doing the opposite to many suncreams - actually leaving you less shiny!

And if you’re after a touch of colour, the BB cream is a higher factor and delivers an even matt complexion.

Vichy.co.uk, from £15.50

Nivea Sun Anti-Age Face Sun Cream, SPF30

Light and easily absorbed, this is waterproof so ideal for outdoor activities and children. It also starts to work immediately (which not all suncreams do!). It leaves the skin soft and supple - a great all-rounder at this price.

Boots, £8.50

Korres Yoghurt Face Sunscreen, SPF30

This product smells as delicious as it sounds. It’s lovely and light, giving completely invisible protection and is designed to boost the moisture in the skin’s top layer. One of our faves.

ASOS, £16.50

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid, SPF50

This is the best we came across for sensitive skin. It’s what it says on the tin - ultra light - and absorbs super fast. It also worked well against sun-related redness and heat rash, delivering high level protection without being heavy.

La Roche-Posay, £16.50

Ultrasun Face SPF50+

This is great for active sun-worshippers. It’s slightly thicker than some of the others but rubs in well and leaves the skin soft and without residue. Plus we found it to be sweat-proof and gentle on sensitive skins.

This one also has a two year shelf life, so good for those who don’t use much in one summer.

Marks & Spencer, £24

Soleil Bronzer BB Cream, SPF50

This BB cream can replace tinted moisturiser or foundation, with a natural colour and mattifying texture. Not for very light skins - but ideal if you already have a bit of summer colour. It rubs in smoothly and gives a lovely glow.

(Illustration: Anna Sudit) 

The days spent at the beach without continuously lathering up (or spraying) your bod in sunscreen are over — at least, they better be! The importance of wearing SPF to protect ourselves from harmful rays, and keep wrinkles and premature aging at bay, has been drilled into our brains (‘cause it’s true!). 

Related: This Is How Much Porn Women Your Age REALLY Watch But, as it so often happens with healthy habits, once you adopt one, you find out ways you can be doing it even better. You may see what we’re getting at here: You need to wear sunscreen a whole lot more often than you probably do — every day, in fact.

Related: Here’s Exactly When You Should Drink Coffee For The Most Energy Those rays have devious ways of getting to your skin when you’d never expect it, even covered up! (Yes, even indoors.) Read on to discover all the sneaky ways the sun may be getting to your skin.

(Illustration: Anna Sudit)

At Work You’re indoors all day at the computer (probably wishing you were feeling the sun outside), so you’re certainly not leaving the office with a tan. But, what you can’t see can hurt you — especially if you’re next to a window. 

Related: This Is What Being Drunk Does To Your Body You see, the sun gives off two types of rays: UVA and UVB. Rebecca Baxt, MD, a New York City dermatologist, explains that UVB rays are the ones responsible for giving the skin a tan or sunburn. They are strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., less severe in the winter, and do not penetrate through glass. UVA rays are a whole different story. “They are responsible for changing the DNA in the skin, causing premature skin aging and skin cancer,” explains Dr. Baxt. “UVA rays are approximately the same strength from summer to winter and can penetrate through windows. Simply put, these are the true damaging rays.”

Related: The Unusual Health Ritual This Supermodel Swears By

(Illustration: Anna Sudit)

On A Cloudy Day Don’t be fooled by cloud cover — you can get just as roasted on a foggy day as one with obvious sun. Probably, even more so, since you are less likely to put on SPF. “If you are working, playing, or swimming outside on a cloudy day, do not forget that sunscreen,” warns Dr. Baxt. “The clouds can give you a sense of security, but you can still be burned on a day with no visible sun.” Plus, those UVA rays we were just talking about can not only go through glass, but cloud coverage, too. 

Related: Learning To Masturbate Can Be Seriously Awkward

(Illustration: Anna Sudit)

On A Plane Unless they’re treated with special solar filters, those damaging UVA rays can also sneak through airplane windows, says David Colbert, MD. They may be small, but at 20,000 feet you are a lot closer to the sun, thus getting a much higher dose. So, if you opt for the window seat for your next flight, apply a layer of sunscreen before you take off just to be safe. 

Related: You’re So Vein, You Probably Think This Article Is About You

(Illustration: Anna Sudit)

In Your Car Even more so than on a plane, it’s important to be cautious in the car. Many of us drive with our arms rested out the window, and even if not, those rays are still getting in there. “There are many cases each year of people who get melanoma on their left forearm because they rested it in the sun,” says Dr. Baxt. “This is an even bigger concern for those who drive frequently.” So, next time you’re stuck in traffic, take that downtime to lather on a little SPF. 

Related: Are Catholic Charities Denying Care To The Most Vulnerable Girls?

(Illustration: Anna Sudit)

Through Your Clothes Even if you’re the one who always throws a beach cover-up over your bathing suit, the sun may still be getting to your skin if you’re not properly protected. The SPF of clothing varies from about a 4 with looser knit fabric to about a 12. We’re not suggesting you wear denim to the beach, but you can create more protection if you choose vivid colors. Who doesn’t love a bright caftan poolside, anyway? 

(Illustration: Anna Sudit)

In The Water If you’re in the direct sun, Dr. Baxt recommends reapplying your sunscreen every two hours. But, if you’re jumping in the ocean waves or dipping in and out of a pool, you need to reapply every hour — even if you’re using waterproof sunscreen. If you’re on water — you know, boats, jet skis, paddle boards — be aware that you’re getting reflected light from its surface. For you surfers, always wear a rash guard. They protect you from irritation and from the sun. 

(Illustration: Anna Sudit)

Through Your Sunscreen “You may think that you are protecting your skin by slathering on that sunscreen, but you need to take a few precautions to make sure you get the protection you need,” says Dr. Baxt. “Only a sunscreen labeled ‘broad-spectrum’ protects you from both UVA and UVB rays.” The SPF factor makes a difference, too. You might opt for 15 thinking you still want to get a tan, but with that you will absorb more UVB rays. “A sunscreen with an SPF of 50 protects you from 98% of the UVB rays, while one with an SPF of 15 only blocks 93% of those same rays,” explains Dr. Baxt. 

(Illustration: Anna Sudit)

On Your Scalp You’ve got the right SPF, you’re applying it often enough, but are you getting it on all the right places? Melanoma is often found on the scalp, so be sure to put a little sunscreen onto the line of your part. Plus, a sunburn on your head is no fun. 

By Megan Cahn

Your food not only dictates how your skin looks, but also how it can be protected from the sun.

What you eat determines how firm, radiant and ageless your skin is. The types of foods you choose influence your body’s ability to make collagen and elastin, dictate how hydrated your skin cells will be, and can even inhibit enzymes that cause wrinkles. Eat the wrong foods and you’ll end up with lined, pigmented and sagging skin. Eat the right foods and you’ll have clear, luminous and soft skin.

Certain foods can also enhance your skin’s natural sun protection, boosting it’s ability to ward off the damages of UV exposure. On my last beach vacation, I inadvertently applied moisturizer instead of sunscreen, and after spending seven hours in the sun sans-suncreen, I only ended up with a pink face which disappeared after 12 hours. Had I not been eating these sun-protecting foods, I would have done significantly more damage to my skin. Of course, you should never forget to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen as well!

Related: The 7 Sunscreen Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes

Plants use antioxidants to protect against sun damage, so when you eat more plants, you eat their antioxidants, and they work similarly within your body. So the more plants you eat, the more natural sun protection your skin will have.

For maximum enhanced sun protection, eat these five foods on a regular basis.

1. Heirloom tomatoes are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which has been shown to reduce UV-induced free radicals by 40 to 50 percent. Lycopene is better absorbed with fat, so drizzle your tomatoes with olive oil. You need to eat about a cup to get the sun-protecting benefit. Heirloom tomatoes have more lycopene than conventional tomatoes.

2. Pomegranate seeds contain polyphenols that help protect the skin from both UVA and UVB free radicals. They can enhance the sun protection factor of sunscreen by up to 25% and also inhibit hyperpigmentation. Snack on the seeds or toss them into a watercress salad. Pomegranate juice is also an easy way to get the antioxidants, but without the seeds, there’s no fiber so the juice converts too quickly to sugar leading to glycation, which contributes to aging of the skin.

3. Watermelon is another great source of lycopene. You need about three cups for it to be effective. Eat watermelon as a delicious summer snack with fresh mint and a squeeze of lime.

Related: The Perfect Libido-Boosting Date Night Recipe

4. Bell peppers contain the antioxidant capsiate, which decreases UVB-induced skin damage and inhibits inflammation from sun exposure. Toss raw bell peppers into a spinach salad. You need a whole bell pepper for it to be effective.

5. Wild salmon is rich in omega-3 fats which inhibit inflammation from UVB rays by up to 52 percent. They also block the release of UV-induced enzymes which eat away at collagen, causing increased wrinkles and sagging. Enjoy the wild salmon as ceviche or poached over micro-greens.

If you want to go all out and eat a sun protecting meal, eat poached wild salmon with a tomato and bell pepper salad drizzled in olive oil, followed by a watermelon and pomegranate salad tossed in fresh lime juice. Enjoy!

WORDS: DANA JAMES, MS, CNS, CDN

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Hands. Feet. Back of the ears. Yes, you’ve got these high-risk burn sites covered. But even if you have a master’s in sunscreening, you’re still missing a spot. Fewer than 10 percent of people realize it’s critical to safeguard their eyes. “That whole area is vulnerable to UV rays,” says Anne Sumers, M.D., of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “We’re seeing more cases of eye sunburn, more people with damage to the whites of the eyes, and more cancers in and around the eye.” The statistics are alarming.

Seriously alarming. The American Cancer Society predicts 2,580 new cases of ocular cancer this year, most of them deadly melanomas that some research links to hefty sun exposure. And 24 million people—more than 60 percent of them women—will end up with sight-stealing conditions like cataracts, which can be fueled by the UV damage you’re getting now.

But here’s the bright side: There’s plenty you can do to buffer your eyes from short-and long-term ailments. Your vision protection plan starts with knowing what you’re up against—then learning to help block rays like a champ.

RELATED: Check Out the Shades All the Cool Kids (Ahem, Us) Are Wearing This Summer

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Light Blights At less than one square inch each, your eyes take up a tiny amount of real estate—yet they help steer your every move. They can also take a solar-powered beating in the form of…

• Pinguecula. There’s no fix for these permanent yellowish deposits on the whites of the eyes. People who spend lots of time at high altitudes or on the open water, where sun tends to be strongest, are at greater risk for the harmless (if cosmetically undesirable) patches.

• Photokeratitis. A.k.a. a scorched cornea, a.k.a. sunburn. Your eyeball’s outer layer soaks up 99 percent of UV rays and can burn in as little as an hour of unprotected exposure. You won’t feel it in real time, but hours later, signs can range from irritation or dryness to intense redness, swelling, pain, or even temporary blindness. Mild cases clear up on their own, but you’ll need to see an M.D. for symptoms that last longer than 24 hours.

• Cataracts. Sun isn’t solely to blame for these lens growths, but it can sure speed them up. Consistent UV damage could spell the difference between cloudy vision in your forties versus sixties.

• Macular degeneration. Prolonged sun exposure can exacerbate the retina injuries that cause this condition, which can lead to blindness.

• Cancer. Too much sun time can up your risk for not only ocular melanoma but also malignancies around the eyes. In fact, up to 10 percent of all skin cancers occur on the eyelids. Warding them off in the first place is key, since such cancers can burrow deep into the eye socket—even the brain.

RELATED: Where on Your Body You’re More Prone to Getting Skin Cancer

(Photo: Shutterstock)

See No Evil Deep breath. Your chances of dealing with any of these conditions plummet if you follow a few simple rules.

• Wear sunglasses. Rain or shine. Pick pairs with UV 400 or 100 percent UV blocking on the label. (Ignore specs that tout a UVC rating; the atmosphere absorbs C rays before they can infiltrate your eyes.) Lens color and darkness are purely style choices, and “polarized” is an anti-glare perk, not a health must. Don’t skip shades just because your contact lenses have UV protection; those guard only a small portion of your eyes, says Ivan Schwab, M.D., a professor of ophthalmology at UC Davis.

• Add a hat. A three-inch brim can help block damaging UV rays from your eye area.

• Watch the clock. Sunlight is most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., whether you’re in town (rays can reflect off pavement) or at the beach (ditto with sand and water).

• Check your meds. Certain antibiotics and birth-control pills can make your eyes very sensitive to sun, prompting them to burn in less time at lower levels of exposure. If you take these meds, talk to your doc to see if they put you at risk, and double your commitment to the first three steps to stay safe.

RELATED: This Is the Best Sunscreen to Use for Outdoor Running

For more on how to protect your eyes from sun damage, pick up the July/August issue of Women’s Health, available on newsstands now.

More from Women’s Health:

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How to Check Yourself for Skin Cancer

The Trick to Reapplying Sunscreen Over Makeup