Keep your skin safe from summer wrath

Dealing with sun exposure can be tricky. Sun rays are damaging, while too little sunlight can leave us lacking vitamin D. Find out how to balance the good and bad while keeping your skin safe.

• The key is balance- Try reducing your exposure to the sun, avoiding long hours in direct sunlight, and limiting exposure to early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is less intense. If you’ll be in the sun for long, wear protective clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible, along with a wide-brimmed hat or lightweight scarf to protect your neck, and apply a natural broad-spectrum sunscreen made with chemical-free, nanoparticle-free zinc oxide.
• Zinc oxide sunscreen- Zinc oxide acts as a physical sunscreen: it sits on top of the skin, instantly reflecting and scattering light, so there is no wait time for sun protection. Zinc oxide outperforms other sunscreen agents in its ability to block the UVA and UVB spectrum. Despite its positive benefits, zinc oxide has been hindered by its whitish look and heavy feel on skin. To address these issues, some manufacturers have created sheerer, lighter versions by grinding zinc oxide down to superfine, nano-sized particles.
• Protect from within- Aside from protecting yourself from UV damage on the outside, you can also protect yourself from damage on the inside with a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables that contain high levels of polyphenol antioxidants and lycopene can help increase your body’s ability to protect itself from free-radical attack and sun damage, boosting skin’s natural defences.