Remember, though, the best sunscreen is blocking your skin from the sun as often as possible. Wear a classic straw or a white hat on the beach – they’ll never go out of style. We still love our Savannah hat from Coolibar.
Sunglasses are vital for protecting both your eyes and the tender skin around them. Wear a cover-up over your bathing suit when you aren’t swimming. Also, don’t forget lip balm!
Here are some more important sunscreen and sun protection tips:
Put on your sunscreen and lip balm at least ½ hour before sun exposure, so it has a chance to soak into your skin.
Sunscreen washes off in water (no matter how water resistant it is), breaks down in sunlight, and can be stripped away with a towel. So no matter if you’re swimming or not, reapply your sunscreen as often as possible. Once every two hours is a good rule of thumb.
UV rays are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm, so seek shade during these hours!
Remember, a cloudy sky doesn’t mean you’re safe and should frolic on the beach with no protection. Clouds are only water, after all, and can’t block UV rays.
If you notice yourself getting “a little pink,” get out of the sun. Sunburn can take at least 12 hours to totally manifest itself, so chances are you’re already much more burned than you think you are.
Children have delicate skin and are therefore much more susceptible to the sun’s harsh rays. Without protection, children can garner burns in just fifteen minutes of sun exposure. Be sure to reapply vigilantly, especially if your child is doing a lot of running around, sweating, or swimming.