Due to climate change our sun is very powerful and it is very important to be sun safe.
Here are a few of my sun safe tips to remember this summer.
Rashguard It Up: To avoid all the sunscreen you can find some great light breathable rashguards from The Gap and Old Navy for under twenty bucks. When my boys were younger I could even find ones with hoods. Or check out Winners, I recently picked up some Under Armor ones for $5.99, now that’s a steal.
Sunscreen: Even if you choose to wear a rashguard and sunhat, it seems like we still need a bit of sunscreen for our face. I do my best to look for sunscreens that have little to no chemicals and contain zinc. Juice Beauty is my new go to for our family. It’s great for sport activities, organic, and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Blue Lizard is created for sensitive skin and is a new one on the market. It comes in SPF 50 and when it is time to reapply the cap will turn blue in harmful UV light. It is also water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Green Beaver, a Canadian product has been my go to since the children have been little and works like a charm, it’s thick and does a fantastic job. The only thing I don’t like about it, is I find it stains clothes, so just make sure to wear clothing you don’t care about if there is some residue on it.
Best Hours For Sunshine: In our home we are eager beavers, up and at it and ready to go just after 8am. It works great because I truly want to ensure the kiddies and I get our morning swim, hike prior to 11am when the sun starts to get quite strong. If you find yourself to be out after 11am until about 4pm, make sure to cover up, get shade, and choose an umbrella when going to the beach.
Hydrate: Lastly, make sure everyone is hydrating often. On these hot days especially, I ensure we are all drinking frequently. You shouldn’t wait to drink until you are thirsty, but continually be sipping on water. When children are playing and in the water it is easy for them to forget about drinking water. As a parent it’s important that we educate them on the importance of water and ensure they are drinking regularly to prevent things like dehydration and heat stroke.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and be safe.
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MaryAnna Robbins CSEP-CPT, OFC RHEP – Group Exercise, Resistance Trainer, Yoga Fitness, Pilates Mat Fitness
