Obsessed with Sun Protection: Application Mishaps

I am obsessed with sun protection. Obsessed. I will write about it until it’s boring. Probably it’s already boring. But it’s so important for both health and beauty that it must be said until it’s boring. Since it’s summer and we’re in the sun, it’s time for hats, sunglasses,  sunscreen and even protective clothing. In India one summer, I made friends with someone local who kindly offered to show me around New Delhi. It was over 100 degrees so I came out in shorts and a sleeveless shirt. He looked at me nervously and asked if was going to change. I told it was too hot but he continued to look at me, shaking his head and then insisted that I cover up. I should have known, but I rushed there for work and didn’t read the books ahead of time to know that there are specific ideas of modesty not followed the same as in our culture. He told me I had to cover my arms and legs. When I pointed out that the women in traditional dress had the sides of their stomach showing he looked at me and waited for me to change (why I was questioning him I don't know. Maybe it was the heat).

So out I came in jeans and something over my sleeveless shirt and off we went. What I learned was that my clothing protected me from the sun, and also, that people in India cover up in light cotton for actual reasons beyond modesty. Covering up in cotton clothing keeps sweat from evaporating and the skin cooler.

Since then I now cover up with that in mind. While I’m still not sure about it keeping me cooler, I do know it provides some protection.

And while I like to write posts to scare everyone about the dangers of the sun, I recently came across an interesting article that talks about the next level – not properly applying sun protection. When I read this I realized for someone so obsessed with sun protection, I fall short in the area of actually using it.

Here are the “10 Most Common Sunscreen Slip-ups” – the article feeds my obsession, but in a good way. I hope it helps you stay properly protected all summer long.

Skin Care Tips via 2-Year-Old Lucy

You know how a kid can make you see something in a different way? Or make you realize what you say and do and whether it matters or not?

When Lucy first learned to walk, she’d toddle into the bathroom and curiously watch me apply makeup each morning. When she learned to talk, she started saying, “My turn!” As her vocabulary expanded, “My turn!” became more specific:

“Lotion!”

“Lipstick!

“I Want That!” (“I Want That!” is a big one.)

Clinique Moisturizer

So every morning when I apply moisturizer, Lucy gets some too. Not because a 2-year old needs a Clinique moisturizer. It’s partly to manage the situation and partly because she always resists my attempts to put sunscreen on her face. By applying a moisturizer with an SPF I can ensure she always has some protection to start the day. And now when we’re out, I say “Lotion!” so she will sit still long enough for me to properly apply sunscreen.

The Skin Care Tips

1. Avoid applying a face moisturizer to the eye area (or in her case, in eyes). Use an eye cream because it’s made for the fragile skin around eyes and addresses other needs you may have, such as puffiness or dark circles.

Eve Echo Hand Sanitizer Corrected

Dr. Brommer

2. Since hands need to be washed often, use a moisturizing hand soap. I love Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Liquid Soap. The writing on the bottle sounds a little crazy, but the product is really good. When a child uses it to wash, make sure hands are well rinsed because the peppermint can sting eyes that get rubbed with peppermint!  And keep a moisturizing hand sanitizer, such as Eve Echo’s, in your purse for when soap and water is not available and you’re out and about.

Mango Butter

3. Don’t use a body or hand cream on your face. Lucy once saw me putting lotion on my legs. She asked for some and then proceeded to rub it on her face. How would she know? It all looks the same to her. But if you have any kind of skin concern – especially things such as breakout – moisturizer not made for the face can clog pores. Don't put it on your face, but I love The Body Shop's Mango Butterfor the body.

Neutrogena Baby

4. Use a sunscreen every day."It only takes one severe sunburn to potentially double your child's chances of getting melanoma later in life," says Andrea Cambio, MD, FAAD, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist.” Please read this detailed Wed MD article on the importance of sunscreen for children.

A big thank you to Lucy, for making me think more about the importance of proper skin care!

Going to the Beach Essentials

I recently visited Carmel By-the-Sea, so as you might expect, I went to the sea. The beach is soft white sand surrounded by cypress trees and a sky so blue it’s like a painting. But, in case you didn’t know – as I didn’t – a Carmel summer is colder than a Carmel winter.

As I always say, it’s much easier to remember sun protection when you’re hot and the sun’s beating down on you. So not only did I keep intending to put on sunscreen (but not doing it), I also didn’t think about how water reflects the sun, increasing your chances of being getting sun damage. (As a city girl, I forgot even the obvious, such as how sand sticks in your hair, between your toes, in your shoes, everywhere.) Eventually I did come to my senses and began using my oft-mentioned Neutrogena sunscreen. Then it occurred to me that they must make a gentler baby formula I should get for Lucy. Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Faces is so ultra-gentle that not only did I use it on Lucy but on my own face every day at the beach.

So if you’re like me and don’t go to the beach often, here’s a checklist to get you started:

Beach Essentials

• Sunscreen, of course – Remember to reapply if you go in the water.
• A Sun Hat and UV Protective clothing - In the picture above, Lucy is in her cousin's UV clothes...and although everyone walking by told me what a "cute little boy" I have, she was protected!
• UV protection sunglasses
• Lots of water to stay hydrated.
• Several towels, even if you don’t go in the water. For example, I had a wet dog come by and shake all his sandy wet fur on me (twice).
• Rubber flip-flops, so sand is easy to rinse off. If you must remain chic at the beach, DVF and Tory Burch both make rubber flip-flops. Or just get those inexpensive ones from the drugstores they have anywhere there is a beach. One day I wore my leather slip-ons because I thought I’d just slip them off when I got to the beach. Now I’m wondering if I will ever get sand out of them.

If you’re a beach-goer you might be laughing at my naiveté, but this city dweller would have liked to have this list so maybe there’s another one like me who will too.

4 Tips for Hot, Melt-y Makeup Days

Since it is roasting hot in NYC and I feel like I’m frying on the sidewalk, I started thinking more about what to do when it’s so hot.

1. Use Sun Protection. ALWAYS. Unlike a hazy day that makes it easy to forget, the sun beating down on you should help you remember. Sun protection goes way beyond beauty – but if it’s beauty that motivates you, remind yourself once more that 90% of aging comes from environmental/sun damage. I’ll keep writing about this until you are sick of it. My favorite, favorite is still Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock. It’s waterproof, lightweight and really keeps you protected. Lucy's wearing it in the picture above.

2. Fake Your Tan. If you want to tan, do a sunless tanner. If you’ve never used one, I know the fear is turning orange; but these days, brands have considered this and you’ll not turn orange. Just don’t forget to wash your hands after applying to avoid fake tan palms.

3. Waterproof Your Makeup. You don’t have to be swimming to wear waterproof makeup because if it’s too hot out you’ll probably be sweating so you are kind of swimming. Try waterproof mascara, waterproof eyeliner and an oil-free, long wearing foundation. I love Chanel-StyloYeux Waterproof Eyeliner.

4. Drink More water. This is another thing I always go on about. If you find yourself thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Eight 8 oz. glasses a day is recommended, more if you’re in hot weather. And don’t forget that caffeine dehydrates (and makes you forget you haven’t had any water). So don’t count one of those diet cokes or iced coffees as one of those glasses. Cheers.

How to Keep Your Skin Healthy and Young

Did you know that 90% of aging is from the environment and sun? And sun protection is not just preserving your skin, it also can protect your health, your life! It's serious. It’s pretty easy to remember how damaging the sun can be when it’s beating down on you. It’s when it’s cool and cloudy that sometimes you need to worry most—because even if you can’t see it, the sun still creeps through the clouds and damages skin.

Some options for your protection:

Get a moisturizer with SPF. It’s a simple way to protect yourself without worrying about the extra step of adding sunscreen. I recently discovered LaRoche-Posay Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer. I love that it’s in a tube (easy to pack and hard to break) and it has a nice creamy texture you don’t always get from a moisturizer in a tube.

Use a tinted moisturizer with SPF. It can replace a moisturizer, sunscreen and is a lightweight alternative to foundation—an all-in-one multi-tasker! Try Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20.

For your body, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock is the best! I put this product on for a long hike and ocean swim in Hawaii. When I got home, the only place the sun got me was where I didn’t apply it! You could see fingerprints where I missed applying to the backs of my shoulder. This sun block is so light and non-greasy you don’t even feel it on your skin.

Give yourself the rule that you will never, ever go out without protection. I always assume that whenever I'm outside, I'm getting damaged. This makes me just paranoid enough to heed my own advice. Do whatever it takes to motivate you.