The good ol’ days of baking in the summer sun ’til we were red all over followed by nights of sticky aloe-covered skin are over, ladies! We’ve reached midlife, and with midlife comes boatloads of wisdom. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and you ladies know how passionate I am about my skincare so I wanted to shared a few tips with you as well as some of my favorite SPF products.
It’s never too early or too late in life to start protecting your skin from sun damage. Even after years of exposure, we can stop further damage of our skin by making sun protection a main priority.
Here’s a few simple tips provided by The Skin Cancer Foundation that you can follow to reduce your risk of skin cancer:
Don’t burn. This one’s important because the risk for melanoma doubles if you’ve had five or more sunburns at any point in life. Wild, huh?
Seek shade. Especially during 10am and 4pm, when the sun is strongest. Use the “shadow rule”. If your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun’s UV radiation is stronger; if it’s longer, UV radiation is less intense.
Cover up with clothing. Wear those broad-brimmed hats and sunglasses. Clothing can be your most effective form of protection against the sun. Make the most of woven and bright or dark-colored fabrics which offer the best defense. Choose long sleeves and pants whenever possible.
Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths. Indoor UV tanners are 74% more likely to develop melanoma, than those who have never tanned indoors.
Check your skin monthly. This applies to all of your skin – head to toe. These checks offer a great chance of detecting the early warning signs of skin cancer. If you notice any change in an existing mole or discover any new spots that don’t heal after a few weeks, it’s recommended that you see a physician immediately.
Get an annual skin exam. Did you ladies know this was a thing? It’s recommended that you see your physician at least once a year for a full-body skin exam.
Wear sunscreen. This rule applies year-round, not just in the summer, because the sun is always out no matter the season. Look for something with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Here are some of my favorite sunscreen lotions with links for purchase.
Supergoop! Zinc Screen Mineral Lotion SPF 40
This one’s a lightweight, non-nano zinc oxide lotion that provides daily UV ray protection and helps protect from blue light and pollution, too. It’s also full of clean ingredients like winter cherry, coconut fruit extract and blueberry extract, which I love!
Reclaim Botanical Radiant Recovery Day Cream SPF 15
This day cream is a botanically-based moisturizer whose formula helps protect your skin, increases hydration, improves the look of your skin’s elasticity, minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and helps promote the look of smoother, glowing, healthy-looking skin.
Ocean Potion Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
It doesn’t always have to be expensive to be good. This is a very affordable option and one of my trusted favorites for beach days! It’s enriched with Vitamins B, C & E, deep sea minerals, seaweed and algae extracts. It’s non-greasy, absorbs quickly and smells amazing.
Don’t take sun damage lightly, ladies. Dedicate just a couple of minutes to apply SPF every morning and keep that skin healthy and glowing, no matter what!
