Glam Slam: Summer Suncare Essentials

If you are a sun lover who thinks Snooki from the “Jersey Shore” has the ideal tan, listen up!

July is UV Safety Month and here are a few ways to protect your skin and hair from Summer’s harsher elements..

PROTECT YOUR SKIN
“Everybody knows the sun is damaging, but we constantly need to be reminded,” says Paul Rogers, owner of the Face Place in Los Angeles (www.shfaceplace.com), where celebrity clients like Meg Ryan, Mary-Louise Parker, Sheryl Crow, and Laura Dern all follow rigorous sun protection regimens.

“The number one cause of premature aging is too much exposure to the sun, resulting in age spots and wrinkled and sagging skin. Plus we increase our risk of developing skin cancers. This does not paint a pretty picture, but there are effective ways to keep the skin healthy and youthful looking,” Paul says.

“First and foremost you should always wear a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays and if you are engaged in outdoor activities, your sunscreen should be reapplied every hour. The Face Place recommends their Ultimate Face Shield, which provides moisturizing sun protection. The Ultimate Face Shield contains titanium dioxide and avobenzone for broad spectrum protection.

There are a number of things around the house that you can use to help protect you from sun exposure as well as others to soothe your skin from the burn you got because you left the house ill prepared. It is important to always dress appropriately. For maximum protection, you should wear loose fitting clothes made of a tightly woven fabric like cotton, a wide brim hat and wrap around sunglasses. If you arrive home tomato red and jalapeno hot you need to soak a cloth with a solution of 50% milk and 50% water and then apply to the sunburned skin. Or make a bag out of cheesecloth and fill it with oatmeal, place in a full tub and climb in. These remedies will definitely take the sting away.

A need for protection from the effects of the sun doesn’t stop after you head indoors. It is important to restore the natural moisture to your skin. One very effective product that you can find at your local pharmacy is Burt’s Bees After Sun Soother. It contains aloe and linden flower extract to heal and soothe skin that has been overexposed to the sun.”

PROTECT YOUR HAIR
“Be aware that too much sun exposure is damaging to the hair, unless you protect your hair,” says stylist Sofia at the Loft Hair Lounge in Los Angeles. (www.thelofthairlounge.com) “This Summer keep away from the hair dryer, flat iron and curling iron and let your hair go all NATURAL,” she suggests. “Make sure you trim your hair every 6-8 weeks to prevent split ends. If you’re heading out the door, make sure you have products to hydrate and moisturize your hair.”

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum Thermal Protection ($8.99)
It instantly shields all hair types against the damaging effects of heat styling & UV exposure that leads to frizz. Minimizes color fading, leaving the hair smooth and silky with vibrant shine whether you style straight or curly.

Paul Mitchell The Detangler ($9.99)
For natural or color treated hair, it’s a moisturizing, fast detangling conditioner that provides UV protection. The ingredient contains carrot extract, which is rich in beta-carotene, a natural UV absorber.

got2b Glossy Anti-Frizz Shine Serum ($5.95)
Say good-bye to flyaways! Formulated with conditioning agents and UV absorbers. Glossy will smooth, polish and protect your hair from all heat-styling agents and UV exposure.

Citre Shine Colour Prism Anti-Frizz Serum ($6.95)
Preserve and protect your hair color by smoothing and sealing your cuticle to lock in shine. A UV protectant that helps protect color, tame frizz, treat split ends and add brilliant shine.

For a salon option, Sofia recommends the L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Solar Sublime UV hair care line to protect your locks. “The Solar Sublime Shampoo gently cleanses the hair and eliminates any residue of sand, salt and chlorine build up. It contains Mexoryl S.O UV-protect, a UV filter that helps protect the hair fiber before, during and after exposure to the sun.

Solar Sublime Masque is a great UV-hair care protectant. This creamy balm is designed to protect and hydrate the hair with a luxuriant feel and lustrous finish.

Solar Sublime Advanced Protection Conditioning Spray is a light leave-in spray that provides instant protection for hair during sun exposure. Can be reapplied throughout the day for effective, progressive UV-protection.