Best Sun Care Practices to Protect Your Skin During the Day // Guest Post

We’ve all heard about the dangers of excessive sun exposure. Sunburn is the most obvious effect, but too much sun exposure over the long term can also lead to other skin problems, including wrinkles, dark spots, freckles, benign tumors, and even melanoma.

The most effective way to keep your skin safe from the sun is to limit yourself from going outdoors. However, you cannot avoid this if your job or favorite activities involve going out on a daily basis. This is why it is important to protect yourself the next time you go outdoors. In this article, you’ll learn about essential skincare tips that will help you safeguard your skin from the sun’s harmful rays no matter the time of the year.

Keep yourself hydrated

Water intake offsets fluid loss or dehydration. When your skin is dehydrated, it compensates for water loss by producing more oil. If you have experienced having dry and oily skin at the same time, you might know that this poor skin condition leads to irritation and acne.

If you’ll be exposing yourself to the sun or you’ll be exercising for at least one hour, make sure to take enough fluids to prevent getting dehydrated. Consume a sports drink (which contains electrolytes) in addition to water. However, avoid consuming alcohol and caffeine as they have a diuretic effect on your body.

Apply a sunscreen product with higher SPF

A basic way to safeguard your skin is to apply sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends an SPF of at least 15. This blocks 93% of UVB rays. An SPF of 30 blocks up to 97% of radiation. Going for a higher SPF should theoretically provide you with more protection.

When it comes to a sunscreen that offers a high SPF, the Missha All-Around Safe Block Essence Sun Milk is an all-time favorite among many Korean beauty enthusiasts. As an all-around sun cream, it provides a protection of SPF 50, in addition to offering a protection grade of PA+++, the highest in the Japanese sunscreen rating system. The high SPF and PA ratings represent high levels of protection against UVB and UVA rays, respectively, which is good considering  ultraviolet rays are responsible for sunburns, skin aging, and skin cancer. What women love about this Missha sunscreen is that it's lightweight and quickly dries over the skin.

Wear bigger sunglasses

Protect the skin around your eyes by wearing bigger shades. If you are concerned about the style of your sunglasses, here’s a trick: Choose an angular frame if your face is round, but if you have a square-shaped face, pick a rounder frame.

While deciding on your style, don’t forget to prioritize eye protection too. Avoid sunglasses that do not provide UV protection. Polarized sunglasses are perfect for outdoor use since they reduce glare, prevent light reflections from affecting your vision, and help you see objects clearer.

Put on a wide-brimmed hat

Wide-brimmed hats offer shade to areas of your body where you usually forget to apply sunscreen on. Moreover, these hats provide enhanced sun protection on top of the one provided by your sunscreen.

Adults are advised to use hats with a brim that measures at least 7.5 cm. However, if you’re planning to spend the day at the beach for hours, pick one with an oversized brim. Most of all, make sure that you feel cool and comfortable under your hat.

Limit your time under the sun when it is at its most intense

As much as possible, limit your sun exposure from 10 am to 3 pm. It is during these times when the sun is highest in the sky. The longer you expose yourself, the more UV rays you’re going to get exposed to.

If you need to go out, always seek shade. Carry an umbrella with you and apply sunscreen to help combat these damaging rays. Remember that if you live near the equator, you’ll experience more daylight time. Beaches also tend to be hotter since water reflects the sun’s rays.

Eat more cantaloupes

The summer heat can take a toll on your skin. Give your complexion a healthy summer glow by loading up on melons. Among the different melon types, cantaloupes are the best. They’re not only high in water content, they also supply more than one hundred percent of your daily needs for vitamin A or retinol.

Vitamin A is popular for its skin-enhancing benefits. It moisturizes your skin as it is an essential requirement to produce sebum. Moreover, it contains antioxidant properties to reduce the signs of skin aging. You can eat cantaloupes on their own or use them as the main ingredient in your smoothie.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants

Tightly woven protective clothing keeps the sun's harmful rays away from your skin. When compared to t-shirts and shorts, long-sleeved shirts and pants provide better coverage, and thus, better protection. They get even better if they are made of fabrics that are designed to provide ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), which block UV rays much like sunscreens do.

Now, you can enjoy a beautiful complexion from head to toe with these seven sun care practices. Rather than deal with the hassle of irritated, sunburned skin later on, make sure that your skin is protected even before you step out of the door.