How To Enjoy The Sun Safely

Summer is here! What a wonderful time of year! Summertime is full of fun in the sun, but if you are not careful it could leave you burnt and unable to enjoy this time of year.

When spending time in the sun, it is super important to protect yourself. Here are a few tips:

Wear a wide-brimmed hat.

  • Wear loose-fitting clothing that covers exposed skin.

  • Wear sunglasses.

  • Find shade and stay hydrated – consume an electrolyte beverage like Nuun.

  • Avoid the sun during the peak times of 10 and 2 pm.

  • Get enough vitamin D! I know this sounds funny since it is the sun that provides us with vitamin D, and we are told not to expose ourselves to the skin. Research shows that lower levels of vitamin D can increase the risk of sunburn and developing skin cancer. Try Health First Vitamin D capsule or liquid.

  • Wear safe sunblock.

What is safe sunblock?

A safe sunblock should not contain dangerous ingredients such as Oxybenzone, a hormone disruptor that can trigger allergic reactions. Look to see if the product is free of the 'dirty dozen' ingredients including parabens, phthalate, perfume (a.k.a fragrance) and sodium lauryl/Laureth sulphate.  

Choose a mineral-based cream instead of a spray.

Transparent options are great, but larger white particles of zinc oxide provide better UVA protection. Research shows that titanium dioxide and zinc oxide migrate through the skin, but inhaled nanoparticles enter the bloodstream through the lungs.

Zinc oxide sunscreens work by scattering the sun’s rays, which prevents the potentially damaging UV radiation from getting into the skin. Zinc oxide sits on top of the skin and physically block the rays.

Try zinc oxide-based sunblocks like Green Beaver and Rocky Mountain spf products. They are free of the “dirty dozen” and are not heavy on the skin!

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UV Protection

Having a tan looks great, but it ages the skin. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can be harmful, leading to sunburn pigment discolouration and causes wrinkles. UVA rays are associated with leathering and sagging of skin, whereas UVB rays are associated with sunburn.

Innovite’s UV Protect protects the skin from daily sun exposure and UV radiation. It helps decrease a persons susceptibility to UVB sunburn and improves the skin’s response to UVA oxidative stress (oxidative stress causes premature ageing).

The active ingredient in UV Protect is Nutrox , a patented Spanish Mediterranean citrus and rosemary extract that contain both water-soluble and fat-soluble antioxidants that fight the free radicals that damage DNA.

UV Protect is clinically proven to…

  • Improve sink UV response by 30%

  • Reduce wrinkle depth by 15%

  • Increase skin elasticity by 9%


Cooling Down

After time in the sun, it always feels good to use an aloe vera gel to cool and soothe the skin. Try Nature’s Aid! It is a soothing blend of aloe, witch hazel, rosemary, tea tree and vitamin E. It heals and nourishes the skin on multiple levels. Nature's Aid feels even better if you keep it in the fridge and use it cold after a day in the sun.

Have a fantastic summer! Come see a wellness advisor for information on all your sun-safe needs!

Written by Jasmin Courville

Arbour Lake Store Manager

Brendan Klatt