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Sheryl Kraft

Sheryl Kraft, a freelance writer and breast cancer survivor, was born in Long Beach, New York. She currently lives in Connecticut with her husband Alan and dog Chloe, where her nest is empty of her two sons Jonathan. Sheryl writes articles and essays on breast cancer and contributes to a variety of publications and websites where she writes on general health and wellness issues. She earned her MFA in writing from Sarah Lawrence College in 2005.

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How to Worship the Sun Without Getting Burned
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How to Worship the Sun Without Getting Burned

The dangers of the sun are real, but there are ways to enjoy the sun without getting burned.

Menopause & Aging Well

Everyone is talking about the dangers of the sun. You already know that, but still, you refuse to hide away in a dark house. We can't blame you.

But you need to be wary and informed to be safe.

We're giving you ways to have your sun and enjoy it, too, without the fear of burning yourself.

For when you want the very best sunscreen

Sunscreen, as you know, is a simple way to avoid sunburn, which puts you at an increased risk of melanoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer (not to mention other things like dry or wrinkled skin, dark spots and more). There are so many on the market—how to choose? Consumer Reports just came out with its list of best for summer 2019 and among them are Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch (my personal fave!) and LaRoche-Posay (another fave). Want more? Here's Consumer Reports'Sunscreen Buying Guide.

Read: 10 Things You Must Know to Enjoy the Sun Safely >>

For when you want to dive in

It's hot, and what better way to cool off than to submerge your steamy body in some cool water? But remember even though the water offers relief, it doesn't offer protection from the damaging rays of the sun. Coolibar offers lots of stylish choices for swimming safe including shirts, capris and turbans so you can look stylish and stay protected from the sun while doing the backstroke.

For when you want to cover your head and frame your face

Hats off, er, on, to the Wallaroo Hat Company for making finding a hat to suit your face easy. Their UPF 50-plus hats are made to block 97 percent of the sun's rays and come in a variety of cool styles and colors to suit any face shape and any occasion. They're even packable so you can tote them along wherever your travels may take you.

For when you want to cover up

When you want to stay outside but you need to put something between you and the sun, slip on one of these cover-ups from Summersalt. The company, founded by females, offers styles to fit any body in recycled materials with no-middleman pricing (read: affordable).

For when you need some shades

Sunglasses, along with sunscreen, are a must, even on cloudy days when UV light can still penetrate. And since conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts have been linked to the sun, you need to protect your eyes with sunglasses like these from Sunski. They're polarized, light, flexible and giving, too—the company donates 1 percent of its annual revenue to environmental nonprofits.

For when you want to protect from the top down

Don't forget about your scalp and hair, which are not immune to sun damage and are often neglected. The sun's rays can be drying to hair and can burn an exposed scalp, too. Coola Organic Scalp & Hair Mist with SPF 30 does more than protect—it also feeds your hair some pretty cool ingredients like monoi oil and kola extract.

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