Sun Safety – My Top Sun Protection Products

I’m in complete vacation mode at the moment with the sound of the ocean waves outside our balcony door as we cruise our way to Bermuda! We finally got some good sun time in yesterday & today, and I wanted to share my top picks for sun protection with you.

There are TONS of sunscreen products out there, and I’d love to hear your favorites in the comments below! Sunscreen products range from inexpensive store brand sunblock all the way up to designer sunblock that can be quite pricey. My picks are pretty middle of the road when it comes to price I would say overall.

For Body

I’ve tried a lot of sunscreens over the years, including some of the fancier and more expensive ones, but my favorite that I come back to is Ocean Potion for my skin. I first discovered Ocean Potion actually while visiting my grandparents. I can’t remember where or when, but I remember my grandma Carol introducing me to it because it blocked both UVA & UVB rays {known as broad spectrum}. Nowadays, I really can’t believe that any sunblocks are sold that AREN’T broad spectrum, but if you do a walk down the sunscreen aisle in your local target, you will find some I’m sure because I did and was shocked.

Ocean Potion products are also Paraben-free {parabens are linked to neurological problems, hormonal function disruption, tumors & cancer to name a few things} and Oxybenzone-free {oxybenzone is “linked to hormone disruption and potentially to cell damage that may lead to skin cancer” according to CNN}. They are also free of PABA, Retinyl Palmitate, Propylene Glycol, Octinoxate, and BHT according to their website. Another great thing about them is that they do not test on animals. 🙂

So clearly these products are healthier for you than your basic sunscreen, but they still don’t break the bank despite their better quality! They come in a variety of SPF levels as well as have lines with different specific benefits such as ones made with Deep Sea Minerals, Sea Kelp, Algae & Aloe Vera Extracts, Anti-oxidants, & Vitamins B, C, D & E. They also offer sport products that won’t wear off with excessive perspiration.

But by far the best thing about Ocean Potion is the scent 🙂 They advertise their signature scent as the “Scent of Sunshine” and it truly is the best, beachiest scent there is. It’s kind of a key lime type smell is the best description Marc and I can come up with lol. It makes you think of tropical destinations {& tropical drinks!} and you’ll just love the way you smell after applying! I’m linking the SPF30 protect & nourish lotion here, the SPF30 sport spray here & the SPF50 lotion here.

For Face & Lips

For my face, I wear a moisturizer daily with SPF. However, on vacation, I switch over to this face moisturizer because I love the benefits it provides for my skin when I’m out in the sun more often. This moisturizer provides the perfect amount of hydration for sunkissed skin without being too greasy or oily {it’s oil-free actually}, while offering SPF30 protection. It’s also made with antioxidants and vitamins A, C, & E. I’ve been using this moisturizer for years on vacations!

I also recently tried out this great setting spray with SPF50 and I love it! This spray is perfect if you want to have your makeup looking nice and not smear sunscreen across it or if you put sunscreen on under your makeup but need to reapply SPF. You simply spritz this on over top and it acts like a setting spray while providing sun protection as well! It even dries to almost a powder finish on the skin so if you are sweaty or shiny from the sun, this helps to fend that off. Lastly, it has a super yummy smell. The size I have pictured here is actually a sample size so you will get a bigger one if you purchase.

It’s super important to not neglect your lips when you’re out in the sun. Lip cancer is actually very common most likely because people focus on their skin when applying SPF, but don’t even think about their lips. But on top of obviously wanting to avoid cancer, it’s also just super uncomfortable to have burnt lips. I always have a lip product with me that has SPF, and my go-to for when on vacation is this one since it adds a nice little pop of natural color while hydrating my lips & protecting them from the sun. Win win win! This color I have linked is my favorite {it’s one of their newest colors} but I also have and love this rose shade and this nude shade. Check out all of their shades for the one you like best, or choose their non-tinted one here!

If you do end up with burnt lips, I highly recommend this lip mask that I wrote about in detail in my Lip Care post here.

Other Measures

It’s always a good idea to protect your eyes with sunglasses, particularly a pair that is polarized to help block glare & reduce eye strain and squinting.

Lastly, when the sun is super strong & you won’t be able to find a shady spot for a long time, always have a layer with you such as a sarong or wrap that is not sheer and can protect you if needed as well as a hat such as this one to cover your scalp, ears, and face.

The sun is a wonderful thing to enjoy…it gives us Vitamin D and just makes us happier and more energized. You know I’m an advocate of sunshine all the time, c’mon “Sunseeking in Style” is the name of this blog! But make sure you enjoy it with care & take the time to protect against the harmful effects it can have!

And if you are looking to still have a nice summery glow even without the sunshine, check out my recent post here on the best sunless tanner there is!

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