Spring and summer are a couple of my favorite times of year. I love to garden and plant lots of flowers, visit farmers markets, and living in Barrington, Rhode Island, I of course love me some beach time. Lots of outdoors activities call for some extra attention on skin protection. As we know, UV damage is the leading cause of aging skin as well as the potential risks of skin cancer. I have put together a holistic guide to keeping your skin protected and healthy from both the inside and out.
Wear SPF
I will start with the most obvious. This is crucial for skin health during the spring and summer months but also year-round. I love Glo Skin Beauty's SPF options at citron because they are made with clean, healthy ingredients that not only protect your skin but nourish the skin as well.
C-Shield Anti-Pollution Moisture Tint SPF 30
Protect, perfect, and hydrate skin with this 3-in-1 tinted moisturizer. Skincare, sunscreen, and mineral makeup, powered by reef-safe SPF and natural mineral pigments, this flexible tint delivers weightless wearability for a sheer, dewy, radiant finish (this one is my favorite).
Oil Free SPF 40
Protect against sun damage and aging environmental skin stressors with this weightless, invisible finish, oil-free antioxidant and hyaluronic acid infused broad spectrum SPF 40 sunscreen – now 100% mineral.
Also, recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation for daily use, Oil Free SPF 40+ meets the highest standards for safe and effective UV protection.
Wear a Hat + Shades
Limit your time in the direct sun between the hours of 10am - 4 pm when the sun is hottest and wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection.
Here are some cute hat options that I found:
Eat Foods High In Antioxidants to Protect Your Skin From the Inside Out
Protect your skin from the inside out by increasing antioxidants in your diet. Antioxidants help combat free radicals caused by UV damage that cause skin aging as well as the mutations that can occur and lead to skin cancer. The anti-inflammatory effects of antioxidants also help minimize sunburn.
Skin-loving Foods High in Antioxidants
Spinach, Sweet Potato, Carrots, Kale, Mangoes
These food are high in beta carotene which converts into vitamin A (retinol) and protects skin health from oxidative stress caused by UV.
Red Grapes, Rasperries, Pomegranate
Rich in ellagic acid and resveratrol which prevent the breakdown of collagen and inflammatory response due to UV damage.
Citrus (oranges, kiwi, lemon, grapefruit)
Foods rich in vitamin C are shown to decrease the acceleration of aging in the skin.
Nuts and Seeds
Flaxseed and walnuts contain omega-3’s and vitamin E, preventing moisture loss and a protectant against UV damage.
Salmon and Fatty Fish
The omega-3’s in fatty fish protect the skin against sunburn, dryness, and potential skin cancer severity.
Now grab your SPF, a floppy hat, and a lemon, raspberry smoothie and enjoy the spring and summer!
Looking for more professional advice on your skin? Try our virtual consultation or reserve a facial with one of our licensed estheticians.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6117694/