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Hello! summer! Every year it seems like I wait impatiently for warmer weather and then it sort of sneaks up on me; all of the sudden now we’re in the upper 90’s. I spend a lot of time outside with Dagny, in tank tops and shorts, and I’ll admit, sometimes I forget about sunscreen, especially if I think I’ll just be out for a few minutes.
I’m trying to be much more vigilant about sunscreen, and goodness knows I have a lot of it around:
I’ve been using Shiseido lotion on my face for years, and my Amore Pacific CC cream has SPF50 in it. When I go out to walk Dagny I try to spray a bit of this Supergoop oil, which I LOVE, on my shoulders, chest and back, but sometimes I forget. Because I’m trying to go more natural/chemical-free with all of my beauty products, I got a sample of this Raw Elements sunscreen in my Integrity Botanicals order last week. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m looking forward to using it on our Arkansas lake/mountain vacation in July.
When I go to the pool, I cover myself thoroughly in sunscreen and wear a sun hat (from Costco), but sadly, I don’t think much about sunscreen other than that. I know I should just get in the habit of applying sunscreen to my face, shoulders, neck, etc. when I get up in the morning (it’s still dark when I get up and take Dagny out first thing), but I’m hesitant to apply things to my skin unless I NEED them, you know? And anyway, by the time I go outside around noon again will the efficacy of the SPF already have worn off?
Anyway, I’m trying. And I’d like to wear a hat more often, but I’m wary. First, you really have to commit for the day if you put a hat on (I do, anyway), and second, I struggle with the look. I love my Janessa Leone wool hat, but I’m still not sure it’s “me”… I do love these summer Cuyana hats to pieces, especially that they’re made entirely by hand, and from natural straw in Ecuador, so I may order one of those to try.
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What do you think? Do you wear hats more often in the summer? out and about, or just at the pool, or for gardening? What are your sunscreen habits? any favorites?
I put sunscreen on my face, neck, chest & arms every day, all year long, after I shower in the morning.(I tend to wear sleeveless shirts & dresses most of the time – I don’t like short sleeves on me – with a cardigan in the office) On weekends when I’m outside gardening, I am trying to get better about putting sunscreen on my legs too, and am starting to wear a hat. My husband (who shaves his head to make it easier to apply sunscreen) has hats EVERYWHERE to make it easier to remember to use, so he’s pretty good (and my constant nagging has improved his sunscreen use too)
They look totally dorky BUT you can try a visor to shade your face (recommended by my dermatologist – anything is better than nothing if you’re worried about your hair)
I should wear a hat as the sun really lightens up my hair color, but ugh .. I don’t like hats .. lol.
Maybe I’ve never found the ‘right’ hat 😉
Monica
I’ve been thinking of getting a summer straw hat for additional sun protection, but sometimes I feel like people around here look at you funny for wearing a hat other than a baseball cap, as if you’re trying to hard. I’m probably misinterpreting that, but it’s made me self-conscious when I try a hat out. Also, don’t be like me and not use a lip balm or lip product with SPF to your routine – I was outside quite a bit this Sunday, and while I used SPF for my face and body (MyChelle makes my favorite coconut scented sunscreen, found at Whole Foods), I neglected my lips. I’m paying the price now – they feel sunburned and have gotten scaly (gross, sorry). Ironically, I use and love the Coola Liplux with SPF 30, but forgot about it and left at work on Friday :-(.
What type of sunscreen do you use daily? I have never found one that doesn’t make me feel greasy and/or smell like coconuts or something equally un-professional for the office.
I actually like the look of hats and own several. But on really hot, sunny days, they just seem to make me hotter and sweat more! Are there any hats out there that are cooling??
Super Goop! High SPF and lightweight, almost no smell. Or I use a facial moisturizer with an SPF of at least 30, like a loreal or aveeno.
Columbia has some in its Omni freeze technology – not sure if they work for hats but we like them for hiking shirts! http://www.columbia.com/technology-omnifreezezero/#prefn1=productClass&prefv1=Accessories
Seeing as I live in a country with the highest rates of skin cancer in the world (New Zealand – about 50 cases per 100,000 people), we’re all about the slip, slop, slap. Slip on a long sleeve shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat and sunglasses.
I wear sunscreen on my face all year around (in the form of a moisturiser with SPF). And, in summer, put a hat on when I head outside between 11am and 3pm. If I’m working outside, I ALWAYS sunscreen my legs, arms, EARS, chest and neck. And I’ll apply proper sunscreen to my face. Here, the risk is too high not to do these things.
Re: having to commit for the day if you put a hat on – dry shampoo is my friend!
Re: “cooling” hats. I’ve found straw to be really good. They’re my go-to unless I’m doing more physical work when I wear a baseball cap instead.
How about hats with built-in SPF? I always have one in my hat stash. Very effective. They are not like a Helen Kaminski (my fave), but for me they are a must when I’m in hot sun. Our head still needs UVA/UVB protection that regular hats just do not provide.
I suppose I should be more vigilant with sunscreen on my body, but I am not. As for my face, I use Elta, which is what my skincare peeps at The Piazza Center recommend. It’s got great coverage and doesn’t interfere with my regular moisturizer or makeup at all. Some of the sunscreens I tried would roll up when I put on my next layers, which sucked.
You might also consider sun protective clothing. Common now in swimwear but becoming more generally available. Coolibar is my favorite brand. It is not the most fashionable but way more effective than sunscreen in my experience. they make some bamboo fabrics that are pretty lightweight and much more comfortable than layers of sunscreen. I don’t particularly care about fashion if I have to be outside a lot in summer playing with son so I wear my hat etc. pretty much year round.
I actually bought the Cuyana Summer hat just last week. It’s very pretty! My measurements were apparently way off because it was very large, but I think I’ll exchange it. Hopefully the second time around I’ll get the sizing right.
I put sunscreen on all exposed areas (face, neck, chest, arms, tops of feet) every day after my morning shower. I don’t burn but I’m prone to sun spots, and I have visible signs of sun damage because I spent so much time outside (with no spf, of course) during my youth.
One thing I’ve learned is that not all sunscreens are created equal. I get the best protection from La Roche Posay (the lightweight liquid chemical formula, Spf 60). It’s also non-greasy.
Supergoop left permanent white stains on my handbags. Coppertone and Banana Boat make nice formulas with SPF 30 and little or no fragrance, but they don’t protect very well. Olay Pro-X makes my Double Wear Foundation look amazing; but I can tell it doesn’t protect as well as La Roche Posay.
As much as I’d like to use more natural or mineral formulas, they all clog my pores (even the matte, non-greasy ones). So I can’t use them on my face, and because they’re so white, I’m always afraid that they’ll stain my bags like the Supergoop did.
Sunscreen in moisturizer, always. And on my neck. I wish I had remembered sooner that hands show age, too. Too late! And I ALWAYS wear a gigantor hat on the beach (It’s gigantor because my head is a big ol’ melon. But it’s effective to protect my hair, face and neck.)
Here in Arizona, I wear a hat every day from April until Halloween and it’s made a huge difference in keeping my skin healthy. A few years ago, I decided to really commit to the hat-wearing (mostly because I hate sunscreen on my face), so I built up a small collection of styles and now I treat them as daily accessories. I grab one every time I walk out the door. My favorites are palm fiber hats from Tula Hats, which is based in Austin but partners with a hat-making village in Mexico. They’re sustainable and fair trade, the prices are great, and the weave is so tight that they’re UPF50 (assuming you get a brim wide enough to actually shade your face and neck). I’ve also found that lightweight chambray and linen shirts are excellent for throwing over tanks and dresses to keep the sun off my arms and shoulders without feeling too hot. Although since it’s 111 today, too hot is relative…
I hate sunscreen. Don’t even like it in my makeup, really, but in a tinted moisturizer I’ll sigh and do it anyway. For hats, by the pool or in a dress I will wear Helen Kaminski. On an exercise walk I go full dork and wear something from Solumbra. But I haven’t yet solved what to wear daily, and I’m thinking. I like the look of the Cuyanas, with the small brim.