It’s felt like summer for weeks now, but today (June 22) is just the second day of Summer. Whether you plan to celebrate the season beachside, poolside, lakeside, or outdoor patio hopping, your go bag should always include one critical item: Sunscreen!
Even on cloudy days, the sun’s stealthy, sneaky rays can burn you. If you want to reduce your chances of developing skin cancer (and sunspots and wrinkles), by all means slather on the sunscreen … the right sunscreen!
Buyer Beware!
The sunscreen aisle is packed with a dizzying array of options. Don’t just grab the closest or cheapest product (or the one with the cutest label.) To make sure your skin is properly protected, make sure the product you pick has the following on its label:
SPF (this stands for Sun Protection Factor) 30 or higher.
Broad Spectrum. This means the product screens out both types of the sun’s rays – UVA rays that cause skin to age prematurely and UVB rays that cause sunburns and skin cancer.
Water Resistant. If you plan to swim or sweat, choose a product that won’t wash off. You’ll still need to reapply a water resistant sunscreen every 40 minutes or so.
Bonus tip: Make sure you apply enough sunscreen! Experts say you should envision how much sunscreen would fill a shot glass, and apply that amount to your body. Once you have, get out there and have some skin-safe fun in the sun!