Sun Safety

Hello, Sunshine!

Summer is here and we’re excited to spend more time outside as stores and patios re-open for business. Picnics and park hangs and beach days? Yes please! But don’t forget your sunscreen.

I know from experience how easy it can be to get lax with your sun protection. You tell yourself you’ll apply it later or that you’ll stay in the shade, but by the end of the day—it’s lobster city. And not the good kind that you get to eat.

When you’re spending long hours in the sun, SPF is your best friend. Exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays won’t just leave you with a painful sunburn, it causes long term skin damage, which can lead to skin cancer. Did you know it can also suppress your immune system? Yikes!

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your skin while you’re outside is to make sunscreen part of your daily routine. So here’s a little Sunscreen 101 for you, as well as a few other tips for keeping your skin healthy and hydrated all summer long. 

Sunscreen 101

You’ve probably heard of SPF, but do you know what it means?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The number indicates a sunscreen’s ability to deflect UVB rays. It’s calculated by comparing how long it takes protected skin to sunburn vs. how long it takes unprotected skin to sunburn.!!!If you’re like me, and the math part starts to hurt your brain, just know that SPF 30 or higher is recommended to protect against sunburn and long term skin damage. SPF 30 will give you 97% deflection of those UVB rays. You get an extra 1% for every 20 factor increase, so SPF 50 is 98% and SPF 70 is 99%.

Sunscreens work in different ways depending on what kind you’re getting. There are two main types: mineral sunscreen or so-called classic sunscreen. Classic sunscreen uses chemical components that absorb and dissipate UVA/UVB rays, while mineral sunscreen uses physical mineral components like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to scatter and reflect those rays. Both are effective, they’re just different.

The main suncare brand we proudly carry—Coola—makes both classic and mineral sunscreens. They offer a wide range of products to fit your needs. Whether it’s for your face, for full body coverage, or something water resistant, Coola’s got you covered. We carry a range of their classic and mineral sunscreens, as well as some of their unique products like tinted BB+ creams, Refreshing Water Mist, and Makeup Setting Spray—all with SPF!

How to get the most out of your sunscreen:

• Wear it whenever you go outside. Even when it’s cloudy the sun’s rays still penetrate.
• Apply 15 minutes before going outside.
• Reapply after being in the water, sweating a lot, or if it’s been more than 2 hours. (Yes, even if you’re using the water-/sweat-resistant kind!)
• Remember that the sun is strongest between 10 AM and 2 PM, so make sure that’s when you have maximum coverage.
• Take breaks inside or in the shade. 

More Summer Skincare Essentials

Now that the dryness of winter is behind us, it’s all too easy to forget about keeping our skin hydrated. Summer skincare is about more than just remembering to slather on the sunscreen.

So what should be in your summer arsenal? H+H has you covered! Here are a few of the most effective products to boost your skincare regimen during the summer months.

Serums

Serums are a great way to keep skin moisturized without weighing it down. The last thing you want when you’re hot and sweaty and covered in sunscreen is to add another layer of cream. Serums keep your skin hydrated and smooth, while giving you a natural dewy glow. 

Here are a few that we have in store:

• Glow 49% Jojoba Oil Serum from Three Ships
• HydrExtreme Serum from Consonant Skincare
• Matcha Green Tea Organic Facial Oil from Eauné Skincare
• Moon Dew Serum from Wyld Skincare
• Regenerate Face Serum from Wildcraft
• Rejuvenating & Hydrating Serum from Province Apothecary 

Toners

Toners are another way to give your skin the hydration it needs. They’re most often used between cleansing and moisturizing your face, but they’re also a great way to refresh your skin throughout the day. Spritz on overheated skin to give yourself a much-needed cool down. A great bonus? They’re often made with floral waters, so they smell fantastic! 

Try some of these great toners we carry:

• Balance Toner with Geranium + Orange Blossom from Wildcraft
• Invigorating and Balancing Toner from Province Apothecary
• Rose Water Toner from Dot & Lil
• Awake Rose Hydrosol Toner from Three Ships
• Day Dreamer Lavender & Chamomile Mist from Kismet Essentials

Beauty Tea

Don’t just focus on what you’re putting on your skin. What you put in your body affects your skin, too. We all know it’s important to drink lots of water to replenish your body on sweaty days, but it keeps your skin healthy, too.

Brew some of H+H’s Beauty Tea blend and pour it over ice for a deliciously cool beverage that will keep you refreshed, inside and out. Beauty Tea is specially blended in-store in small batches with organic herbs to support your lymphatic and nervous systems, alleviating all types of skin stress. The Calendula Petals, Chamomile Flowers and Lavender Flowers all have an anti-inflammatory action on the skin and help calm and heal any irritation, redness or blemishes.  The Nettle, Cleavers and Red Clover Blossoms all work to keep your skin’s circulation of water and nutrients moving efficiently to give your skin tone a beautiful glow!

Enjoy the sun and stay safe out there!