The Sun and Tanning
Who doesn’t love the sun! It provides a great dose of vitamin D which we need to stay healthy and also aids in boosting mood and easing anxiety.
The best time of the day is around noon to benefit from sunlight because the sun is at it’s highest point. So with that being said you need less time in the sun. We only need about 15 to 30 minutes a day in the sun to get proper vitamin D exposure.
Another benefit is that it can give you a nice glow. But, too much sun exposure can be dangerous for the skin which can lead to dangerous sunburns and skin cancer. Because of this, it is very important that you use the proper SPF when going out to enjoy the warmth and beauty of the sunlight. The FDA’s minimum recommendation is no less then an SPF of 15. But the American Academy of Dermatology recommends at least an SPF 30.
I personally like to use SPF’s that are free of harmful chemicals, such as, fragrance (linked to cancer, allergies, skin sensitivities and reproductive toxicity), oxybenzone (endocrine disruptor and can cause skin irritation), and octinoxate, also known as, octyl methoxycinnamate or ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (developmental and reproductive toxicity).
Physical sunscreens that block suns rays that are safe to use are Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide which are both non-comedogenic.
As much as I love the convenience of sprays, they can be harmful to breathe in because you can ingest the ingredients. Also, sunscreens that contain higher then an SPF 30 aren’t as effective and may contain more harmful chemicals.
Another tip to make sure you are getting the proper sun protection is mixing your sunscreen into your moisturizer if it does not contain an SPF.
My top 10 favorite sunscreen brands are:
These are just a list of my personal favorite sunscreens. There are many other good chemical free brands that are on the market.
I also feel limiting your time in the sun and shading yourself under an umbrella are good recommendations. You can check out a complete list at EWG’s Skin Deep website.
