Sun Awareness Week Sunscreen Picks

Posted by Ali | Tuesday June 9, 2009 Leave a comment

Did you know there was even such a thing as Sun Awareness Week? Well, it's happening now. It certainly makes sense to pay extra attention to your sunscreen as the weather gets warmer.

While many of us may stick to certain brands for nostalgic reasons (who doesn't love the smell of banana boat?), the products we used as kids might not be the best for us now. Consider the SPF4 we wore as teenagers when trying to get the minimum coverage possible. Ouch! These days pale is in, thanks to starlets like Anne Hathaway and Scarlett Johansson. So which products are right for you?

Body
For a day by the beach or lying by the pool, we love L'Oreal Ombrelle Sunscreen Lotion with SPF 15 or 30. These formulas are reasonably non-greasy and provide excellent coverage in both the lotion and spray on varieties. If you're playing beach volleyball consider the sport version, which won't come off when you sweat.

Face
We're wild for Lise Watier's Sun Smart Universal UV Shield in SPF 30. The paraben free creamy smooth formulation immediately melts into your skin with no grease whatsoever - and, knock on wood, it doesn't seem to cause break outs!

Lips
Choose a breathable lipbalm with SPF, such as Burt's Bees Sun Protecting Lip Balm with SPF 8. It's made with titanium dioxide, a naturally-occurring mineral which creates a micro-fine barrier to reflect the sun's harmful rays.

Au Naturale?
If you prefer a natural form of sunblock your best option is Titanium and Zinc, which can be found at the drugstore. Yes, it's white and pasty, but if you're a health nut you'll prefer this over a chemical concoction. Celeste Lutrario, VP of research and development at Burt's Bees says Titanium and Zinc are natural elements that our bodies know and can process, which makes them a better alternative. However, if you can't bear to be seen in public looking like the Pillsbury Dough Boy use a regular sunscreen, but avoid going over 30 SPF since the higher the SPF, the more chemicals are likely to be present.

What are your favourite sunscreen products?
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