Did you forget how to protect your skin over the long winter? Here are sun protection tips for the whole family that you can use year-round!
Happy Spring! The sun has finally come out from its hiding place where I live. Hallelujah! I am so here for the milder weather and the sunshine!
But, after living through gray day after gray day for the past several months, I’m out of practice when it comes to sun protection. So, to refresh my own memory, I wrote myself a quick and dirty list of sun protection reminders that I needed to remember for myself and my kids. And then I thought that you, dear readers, might be in need of a reminder about sun protection too. So, I turned my chicken scratch list on the back of a kid’s masterpiece into a blog post. None of these are particularly novel or exciting, so don’t get your hopes up.
Now for a bit of a disclaimer. I am not a dermatologist or medical professional of any kind. I’m just a mom who grew up in Florida before our culture really put much emphasis on sun protection. I have learned what to do and not to do the hard way. If you want to up your sun protection game, here are my best sun protection tips that your whole family can use.
Sun Protection Tips
Shade
Of course, the first tip on any list of sun protection tips is to limit your time in the sun. This is especially true when the sun is at its peak intensity, typically between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. But, especially in the Spring when you’re just excited to see the sun again, you don’t want to stay inside when the sun is shining brightly. That’s where my first sun protection tip comes in – shade!
I’ve always been a lover of shade, but as I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate the shade even more. If I’m going to be outside for any length of time, I make a shade plan. Whether that’s a seat in the garage while the kids play in the driveway or an umbrella at the beach, shade is a non-negotiable for my outdoor time. And it should be for you too. Don’t think you have to stay inside on sunny days – just make a shade plan!
Sunscreen
I told you this wasn’t going to be earth-shattering advice here friends. Of course, my second sun protection tip is to wear sunscreen.
Now, to add a little bit more value to a list of sun protection tips, let’s talk about a few sunscreen specifics.
When to wear sunscreen
All the time, every day. If the sun is out and you’re not staying inside all day under the blankets in your bed, you should wear sunscreen. Yes, even if you’re not leaving the house. UV radiation can come through windows. Yes, even if you’re just running errands. UV radiation isn’t going to skip you because you’re not planning to be in the sun. Basically, if you have a question about whether you should wear sunscreen, just apply the sunscreen.
Where to apply sunscreen
You should apply sunscreen to any areas of exposed skin on your body and your kids’ bodies. Faces and hands of course, but don’t forget about places like feet and parts of your body where clothing meets exposed skin. My most intense sunburns have been on the tops of my feet and around the bum seam of my bathing suit. Trust me, if you wear shoes or like to sit down, you don’t want sunburns in these areas.
What type of sunscreen
Whichever type of sunscreen you’re actually going to wear is the right type of sunscreen. Personally, I prefer mineral-based lotion sunscreens, but they tend to take some extra rubbing in and can leave a bit of a white cast, so they may not be for you. I’m naturally fairly transparent, so a white cast just looks like my normal skin tone. If you have any pigment to your skin, this might not be a good look.
My favorite sunscreens
If you’re looking for a recommendation for sunscreen, I have a few favorites.
Adult face sunscreen
I am really into face sunscreens, so I have quite a few contenders for my favorite face sunscreen. I’ll give you a few recommendations in a few different categories, so you can decide which one you might want to try.
Tinted mineral sunscreen
I always go back to Neutrogena Purescreen+ Tinted Mineral Sunscreen. I get the light shade, for obvious reasons. It’s moisturizing, but not too greasy. It rubs in well to the hairline. It lasts for a good long time, so you don’t look like a fish has been slowly nibbling your face off over the day. I also like that it’s about $20 so it’s affordable for something you’re going to use every day of your life.
Chemical sunscreen
I am not a fan of U.S. chemical sunscreens on my face. I have extremely sensitive skin, especially on my face, and the chemical filters do not jive with it. But, I have found that Asian chemical sunscreens don’t cause eczema flare-ups – rejoice! Since I have learned this important piece of information, I’ve tried a few Asian sunscreens, and have crowned a clear winner – Scinic Enjoy Super Mild Sun Essence. It feels so good going on my face and leaves zero residue. My husband even uses it without complaint!
Adult body sunscreen
Once again, this is not a one-size-fits-all category. I even have two different favorites, depending on what my day holds.
Everyday sunscreen
If I’m just having a normal life day, my go-to body sunscreen is Eucerin Daily Hydration Cream with SPF 30. I’ve used Eucerin lotions most of my life because they don’t aggravate my eczema, and this SPF version is no exception. I apply this sunscreen as my normal lotion in the morning so I know I have a base layer of sun protection every day.
Intense sunscreen
If I’m going to the beach or the pool or otherwise planning an outdoor activity for the day, the Eucerin SPF 30 doesn’t cut it for me. When I have an outdoor plan as part of my day, I pull out the big guns – Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen. This is an all-mineral sunscreen with an SPF rating of 50+ that is water resistant for 80 minutes. Sure, it’s a commitment to get it rubbed into the skin, but it’s worth it.
Kid sunscreen
I only use one sunscreen on my kids. I passed along my horrible skin to them, so I have to be very careful about what sunscreen I can use on them. The only sunscreen that has never caused any problems with their delicate skin is my intense pick above, Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen. I keep a bottle in their bathroom, a bottle by the back door, a bottle by the garage door, and a bottle in my bag. I am never without this stuff.
Unfortunately, I’ve never found a foolproof application method. I keep it old school and just dump a puddle on my hand and get to rubbing. Sure, there might be some tears, but fewer tears than they would have from a sunburn.
More sunscreen
Most people are pretty good about making sure they get their first sunscreen application of the day, especially if they’re planning on spending time in the sun. The curve drops precipitously when it comes to reapplying sunscreen throughout the day. Sunscreen is not a set and forget product. You really should apply additional sunscreen every two hours when you’re spending time in the sun. Now, if you’re just applying sunscreen to protect your skin from UV radiation through the window, I personally don’t think you have to stick to this rule as strictly.
Physical barrier
If you’re really looking to up your sun protection, remember that physical barriers are always better than sunscreen (although sunscreen is still non-negotiable, friends). What do I mean by a physical barrier? Clothes, of course!
I love a good tank top as much as the next gal, but they’re not the best things to wear when it’s sunny and warm. Opt instead for long sleeved shirts and pants in lightweight, natural fabrics like linen or cotton. There is a reason that linen is the quintessential summer fabric. It’s provides sun protection and lets your skin breathe. It’s only drawback is that is wrinkles terribly.
Another sun protection tip that I have in the physical barrier category is to wear a long sleeved rashguard with your bathing suit. Yes, I know it might ruin your lewk, but it will save your skin. As a mom of young kids, I also love a long sleeved rashguard because it ensures that everything stays locked and loaded while I’m running after kids. I don’t have time for no wardrobe malfunctions.
Sunglasses
Don’t forget to protect your eyes from the sun – they need protection too! And although it’s pretty standard for grown-ups to count sunglasses as a daily sun protection step, kids need to protect their eyes from the sun too. To avoid a fight about wearing sunglasses, my best tip here is to start having your kids wear sunglasses as early as possible. We had our kids in sunglasses basically as soon as they were born. I mean, is there anything cuter than a baby in sunglasses?
Hat
And last, but certainly not least, on my list of sun protection tips for the whole family is to get yourself a hat. You can get a cowboy hat, a wicker hat, a baseball cap, or any other type of hat you like. Just get yourself a hat and wear it when you’re out in the sun. Not only do hats provide mobile shade for your face, they also protect your scalp from the sun. Who doesn’t love a two-for-one deal?
Other posts
If you’re looking for other Spring posts, I’ve got you. Check out these posts:
I hope I’ve refreshed your memory and prepared you for outdoor living with these sun protection tips. What are you excited to do in the sun this Spring? Let us know down below or over on Instagram @sarainseason.
[Note: None of this content is sponsored. The links above may be general affiliate links, which earn me a small commission so I can keep making great content for you!]