Collegiette Beauty: Summer Skin Care

Summer is practically synonymous with tanning, and what better time is there to lounge around in the sun when school is no longer a priority? However, as we all know, the sun can be a danger to our skin. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in America, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. So before you hit the pool this summer, remember to always protect your skin.

Before-Sun Care

Sunscreen reflects some of the sun’s light and lets your skin absorb other types of rays. It protects against both UVA (which causes aging effects) and UVB (which causes sunburn) rays, whereas sunblock only protects your skin against UVB rays and completely blocks the skin from absorbing the rays. So it’s up to you to decide which option is best for you. If you want to protect your skin against sunlight period, go for sunblock. But if you want to get some color and protect your skin at the same time, sunscreen is the way to go.  As far as S.P.F. (sun protection factor), that is a measure of how well the sunscreen or sunblock protects against the UVB rays. The higher the S.P.F., the higher percentage of rays it will block. So again, it’s up to you to decide how much sun you want your skin to get. But, no matter what you choose, for the sunscreen or sunblock to be effective you must reapply every 2 hours. This is a good habit to form, even if the product claims to be sweatproof, waterproof, or long-lasting – better safe than sorry!

It’s also a good idea to use a higher S.P.F. on your face (and lips!) because your skin is much more sensitive there. You can buy sunscreen and sunblock specifically for the face and a lot of facial moisturizers and even foundations already have sunscreen in them.

After-Sun Care

The sun can be damaging to your skin in ways other than just sunburn. During the summer months, it’s best to use an after-sun lotion all of the time to keep your skin moisturized and healthy. Many moisturizers are made with aloe and other nutrients that help replenish and repair skin cells after sun exposure. It’s also a good idea to exfoliate 2-3 times a week to slough off the dead skin cells and keep your skin fresh.

And sometimes sunburn happens. The number one go-to – aloe. It’s a cool relief and can be reapplied as much as you want. However, do not use any creams that aren’t intended for sunburn treatment as they can irritate your skin and prevent healing (petroleum jelly, lidocaine, etc.) Be careful of scented lotions and soaps as they can also irritate the skin; opt for unscented, basic lotions and soaps. Taking cool showers or laying cool rags on sunburn can be a temporary relief as well as taking ibuprofen as that can help reduce swelling. Some people claim that taking a hot shower helps take the heat out of the sunburn, so that might be an option, but a painful one, indeed! Also, remember to stay hydrated because your skin needs all the help it can get to regenerate. Avoid sun exposure on sunburned areas and wear loose clothing to avoid painful rubbing. 

Extra Fun-in-the-Sun Tip:

Find a pack of stickers with many of the same design and use them to get a sticker tan!