Like anything in life, it takes planning. From something as large as a wedding to something as small as a beach bag, it takes planning or your experience may be less than you expected. What you bring to the beach is not simply a grab and go business. The idea is to get there and whatever happens, you do not need to leave your spot or cut your beach time short because you have what you need in your bag.
First, you need to buy a beach bag. Make sure it is big enough for all your things because you don't want to look like a bellhop. Keep it simple...one bag. A good beach bag can be found at most department stores and specialty shops. Make sure the bag is tough enough to carry all your things and do the job many times over, meaning it is durable and is not going kaput after one use.
Put the following items in the bag: beach towels, cover-up or light jacket, swimsuit (or put it on before you get there), flip-flops or sandals, books or magazines, sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), aloe vera (you just never know), sunglasses, hat, snacks, beverages, MP3 player (ipod or whatever you have for music), cell phone (fully charged), wallet or purse with cash/credit cards, a change of clothes (including underwear). Optional items to bring to make the day extra awesome include, a beach chair, beach umbrella, and beach toys or sporting goods. This is a basic list of things to bring. You can add whatever else you feel is necessary.
You need to remember to bring more than one towel because one is for sitting on and the other is to dry yourself off with. Nothing worse than not having enough towels...it is very inconvenient. Don't forget to include an insulated bag to keep your food and snacks cool if refrigeration is necessary. Insulated bottles are good too to keep your beverages cold.
This is why the beach bag needs to be big. Here is a tip...if you put the towels at the bottom of the bag it will help you get everything else in a little easier. Now you are ready to go!
You put your bikini on, you know what SPF is and that you need to select a product with a level of at least 30, but higher is better in this case. You know the sun emits radiation in the form of UVA and UVB. You know how each kind can harm your skin. That's a great start! Now what?
There are lots and lots of sun protection products out on the market which means lots of different ingredients as well. To best help you understand what to look for, we are going to point out two basic ingredients to look for and why. We will also list the ingredients you do not want to put on your skin. Everything else in between can be considered at your own discretion and preference.
First we need to discuss the two types of sunscreens: physical barriers and chemical barriers. Physical barriers are what they say they are. They prevent the sun's rays from penetrating your skin and cause them to scatter instead. Chemical barriers are different because they are absorbed into your skin and from there they absorb the sun's rays before they can cause damage to your skin. Although effective, there is a question of safety that surrounds them.
There are three ingredients in sunscreen products that should be avoided: oxybenzone, octyl methoxcycinnamate (OCC), and retinyl palmitate (a form of vitamin A). Oxybenzone is a common ingredient found in a lot of products and it may well be in the product you are using right now. It has a reputation of being a potential hormone disruptor, can cause allergic reactions and penetrates the skin in large amounts. Sunlight can cause oxybenzone to form free radicals which means it will cause skin to prematurely age. Who wants that? OCC is commonly found in products as well and it is toxic when exposed to sunlight. Great! The last thing to avoid is retinyl palmitate. Yes, it can help slow the skin's aging process, but once exposed to sunlight in a sunscreen, it also forms free radicals and can harm you.
So what's left to use? Good old zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are your best bets. They are also safe to use on children as recommended by pediatricians. The new formulations that are available now are not heavy feeling and provide the protection you need.
The next time you go shopping for sunscreen just keep these ingredients in mind and hopefully it will help you make the best choice possible for yourself. We want you to stay safe in the sun while you look beautiful in your swimwear.
We are not health experts, but we want to pass along information that we feel is helpful to our fellow readers and followers to help you start your own research.
You want to spend a fabulous day out on the beach in your beautiful swimwear, but you don't want to get burned. Do you get confused looking at all those products made to help protect you from the sun's harmful rays? Well, it's not easy and plenty confusing with all those choices out on the skincare aisle. I can go on and on about this subject such as the different ingredients, spray, lotion, UVA, UVB, etc..
Today, we begin the first part of a blog series to help you make sense of it all. Before we can even talk about SPF, we need to know what UVA/UVB is. UVA and UVB are the types of ultraviolet rays that come from the sun. UVA rays are the type that go deep into your skin and contribute to aging ("A" for aging!). UVB rays are the ones that give you a sunburn when you get too much ("B" for burn!).
You got it! Now let's move on to SPF and what number to pick. SPF is short for sun protection factor. This is a measurement of how well a sunscreen can protect you from a burn. Yes, this is ONLY a measurement of UVB ray protection, so that is why when selecting a product it is critical to make sure it says "UVA/UVB protection" OR "broad spectrum coverage" on there.
So what does the SPF measurement mean for you? Multiplying the SPF number by 10 will tell you how long you can be safe in the sun in an ideal or perfect situation before burning. "Ideal" means no sweating or water involved here, which is not realistic.
Example: SPF 20 x 10 = 200 minutes of sun protection
So how high of an SPF is necessary? The fairer or more sensitive your skin the higher the better. Everyone should use at least a minimum SPF of 30. I prefer higher because there is no perfect situation in real life and there is no reversal once the damage is done. I'd rather see everyone have fun for a greater span over the course of their lives. Sunscreen will still allow you to get color while out in the sun. Do not be mislead. Always reapply and use liberally.
I hope this has helped you understand SPF better and will help you stay safe in the sun especially on days that you venture out in your bikini.
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