Beauty
The full spectrum: sun safety for all occasions
Anita
Beauty
The full spectrum: sun safety for all occasions
You already know sunscreen is a must. What gets confusing is choosing the right formula for your outdoor activity. We’ve teamed up with skin-care pros to solve the mystery for you—in style.
Talula 'Adelina' hat, $17.50, aritzia.com
Gardening
Check theweathernetwork.com/forecasts/uv/list to find out how quickly you’ll burn on any given day. If the UV Index is moderate to high, consider taking a rain check on your yard work. It’s also important to apply the right amount of product. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, 40 percent of Canadians who apply sunscreen don’t put enough on. “In the laboratory, SPF 15 will give you 93 percent protection against UVB,” says Dr. Cook, “but in reality, people are only putting on a quarter to half as much as lab tests indicate to be adequate.”
Dash and splash cap, $38, shop.lululemon.com.
Exercising Outdoors
Reduce your UV exposure by planning your outdoor activities for first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon. If you have to be outside when the sun’s rays are at their peak (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Toronto dermatologist Dr. Sonya Cook suggests wearing a hat with a two-inch brim to protect your nose, ears and scalp. During physicalactivity in the sun, it’s important to choose the right sunscreen. Water and sweat, usually the mortal enemies, have finally met their match: Some of today’s water-resistant SPFs use a breathable adhesive film that sticks to skin, providing lasting coverage.
Blazer, $50, zara.com.
Commuting to Work
Think a quick commute to the office means you can skip sunscreen? Think again. Even tinted car windows can let in UVA rays. “UVB, or burning, rays are blocked by glass, but UVA, or aging, rays have a longer wavelength and can pass through,” says Dr. Cook. “Because UVA rays travel farther, they have a bigger role in the development of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.” Apply SPF 30 daily to your face, neck, chest and the backs of your hands. “You see the most sun damage in those areas because they get a lifetime of exposure.”
One-piece Swimsuit Fanny, anita.com.
Beach Day
Spending the day by the water with a new read is the stuff summers are made of. But before you even put on that bathing suit, ward off sun damage by slathering on sunscreen with a high SPF—enough to fill a shot glass—every two hours. If you’re using a chemical sunscreen with filters such as oxybenzone and avobenzone to absorb the UV rays, Montreal dermatologist Dr. Manish Khanna recommends applying it 30 minutes prior to going outside; to be effective, sunscreen must interact with skin cells, and that takes time. But you can’t rely solely on sunscreen, says Dr. Khanna. Seeking shade and wearing wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses and rash-guard tops are just as essential.
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