Spending time in the sun is a pastime most people enjoy. As summer is just around the corner, the weather has started heating up and we can all be excited for a new season.
While the sun encourages people to get up and go outside many of us forget the most important thing to do before any sun exposure: put on sunblock.
Many different sources cite, and most experts agree, that wearing sunblock is an absolute must when exposing your skin to the suns rays, but many disagree on what SPF is the proper protection. Companies like Coppertone, Banana Boat and Bull Frog offer lotions and sunblocks ranging from SPF 4 to SPF 50. These brands are among the most common found in drugstores, grocery markets and mega multi-purpose stores.
For some people concerned with skin sensitivity, anti-aging, acne or specific ingredients, there are numerous beauty companies that offer sunblocks and lotions. Neutrogena® offers Age Shield sunblock with UVA-blocking technology. This broad-spectrum sunblock defends skin against UVA and UVB rays. Not only is it waterproof and sweat proof, it contains Anti-Oxidant Vitamins A, C and E to fight the signs of prior damage. If it’s an overall brighter complexion you are looking for, Philosophy® is the brand for you. A Pigment of your Imagination spf® is a morning time topical sunscreen with SPF 18 and kojic acid. Now don’t be alarmed by the word acid or by putting it on your face in a sunscreen. The kojic acid is used to brighten the color of your skin while preserving your natural color, specifically-designed to improve an uneven complexion and help fade the brown spots that sun exposure can cause.
For the sporty girl who loves to burn the trail, but not her face, St. Tropez® provides a SPF 15, water and sweat resistant, oil-free formula that is fast-drying and light-weight. In true European style, the smell is something that rivals a way-too-expensive-for-me perfume. The sunblock is part of a four-step tanning program that includes a body polisher, body moisturizer and your choice of a sunless tanner.
With different needs come different lotions and sunblocks. The luxury of the 21st century is that most people can have almost any item tailored to their own specific needs. Why not apply this to your summer sun protection? Be prepared, wear sunblock and enjoy the southern California summer sun.