We’ve Got You Covered: UV Protection Products

UVA vs UVB rays

UV rays are natural energy produced by the sun. You can’t see them, but your skin feels them.

There are two main types of UV rays:

• UVA — long wavelengths that penetrate deep into the skin causing early aging and wrinkles
• UVB — shorter wavelengths that are mainly responsible for sunburns

Both types of UV rays damage skin, and both can cause skin cancer.

Thankfully, there are many different products that can help protect you head to toe from UV rays.

Check out these products for UV protection

Wide-brimmed hats

A wide-brim hat provides the best protection against UV rays, but you don’t have to go over-the-top Jennifer Lopez at Wimbledon to get the benefits.

Look for a hat with a brim that extends 2-3 inches away all the way around your head to cover your ears, neck, face, etc. You also want material that’s tightly woven — no holes — and bonus points for ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) hats that are designed to block UVA/UVB rays.

You might consider: Coolibar Brittany Beach Hat, Sunday Afternoons Sol Seeker Hat, Solbari Summer Ultra Wide Brim Sun Hat

Hair care with SPF

Wide-brimmed hats provide the most protection north of your neck, but if you want to show off your beach waves, there are sprays and powders with SPF to help protect your scalp — no messy lotion required.

Although your hair does help shield your head from some UV rays, you need more protection when you’re in the sun — particularly along the part of your hair and any areas where your hair is thin or your scalp may be exposed.

You might consider: Coola Scalp & Hair Sunscreen Mist, Actiiv DEFENSE SPF 30 Hair, Scalp + Skin Spray, Colorescience Sunforgettable Sunscreen Brush

Read: Don’t Skip the Sunscreen! >>

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are a real face-saver when you've been up all night (thanks, vasomotor symptoms of menopause!) or got sucked into a marathon of This Is Us.

Sunglasses also help protect your eyes from UV exposure that can cause cataracts, eyelid cancer and sunburned eyes. And yes, sunburned eyes are as terrible as they sound.

The good news is most sunglasses sold in the U.S. are designed to block UVA and UVB rays. When in doubt, look for a label that says 100% protection against UVA and UVB or UV absorption up to 400nm.

When it comes to style, the more coverage the better. Wrap-around sunglasses go the extra mile by blocking UV rays from the side.

You might consider: Fifth and Ninth Racer 72mm Polarized Wraparound Sunglasses, Sunski Strada, Quay Press Tour

Lip care

Kiss UV rays goodbye when you apply SPF on your lips. Like your skin, your lips are vulnerable to premature aging and wrinkles and skin cancer when exposed to the sun.

Protect your pout with a lip balm, gloss or lipstick that has SPF 30 or higher.

You might consider: Sun Bum Coconut Clear Lip Balm, ATTITUDE Oceanly Phyto-Sun Lip Balm, Raw Elements Lip Rescue

Broad-spectrum sunscreen

Not all sunscreens are created equal. To protect against both UVA and UVB rays, look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Also, check the label for oxybenzone and propylparabens — both are endocrine disruptors that mimic the female sex hormone estrogen in the body and interfere with your hormones. Research shows the two chemicals may promote breast cancer in people who are at high risk or have a history of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Note: It’s important to wear sunscreen year-round on exposed skin whenever you leave the house during the day — even on cloudy days. And reapply sunscreen every two hours when spending time outside.

You might consider: Alba Botanica Sunscreen Lotion, Solara Suncare Clean Freak Nutrient Boosted Daily Sunscreen, Stream2Sea Every Day Active Mineral Sunscreen

Ultraviolet protection factor clothing

One simple way to make sure your body is protected against UV rays: Wear clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50 or higher. A UPF 50 means the fabric is designed to block 98% of UV rays. And since the sun protection is built into the clothing, you never have to worry about reapplying.

You might consider: REI Sahara Shade Hoodie, Beneunder Cooling Sun Protection Jacket, Coolibar Hydra Tie Pants

Footwear

While we all love a fun summer sandal, flip flops are the thong of shoes — they provide zero coverage and leave your feet exposed to UV rays.

Whenever you’re out strutting in the sun, don’t forget to apply broad-spectrum sunscreen to exposed skin including the tops of your feet and your toes.

For added protection, UPF shoes and socks can help keep your feet footloose and skin-cancer free.

You might consider: Black Girl Sunscreen Sun Shield Water Shoes, Ker Sun UV Socks, Tilos Low Cut Sport Skin Socks