Nourishing fun out in the sun
“L.A. living” conjures fun in the sun, basking at the beach and driving past palm trees, windows-down. But heightened awareness about UVA/UVB damage has tamped down enthusiasm about being exposed to summer’s glaring rays — making many ex-sunbathers incredulous that they were ever part of the tanning brigade. But there are modern beauty products designed to harness the sun’s power and use it as a force for beauty good rather than evil. Our experts shed light on not just protecting, but nourishing, skin and hair al fresco.
Protection plus
First things first. Don’t forget the sun-protection basics: Wear a good broadspectrum sunscreen with an SPF between 15 and 50, and reapply it every two hours, says Stanford University dermatology professor Dr. Anthony Oro. “A hat and a roof are also inexpensive and effective safeguards against the sun’s rays,” he adds.
Then you can start looking at products that make the most of your sun time. For example, Clinique Sun Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream with SolarSmart is infused with “solar activated” anti-aging ingredients.
“We have been incorporating into our sun care products many other technologies to get the benefits you need in the sun, such as antioxidants and repair enzymes,” says Tom Mammone, Clinique vice president for skin physiology and pharmacology, global research and development. “One technology we use is our SolarSmart, an evolving technology where we encapsulate a team of antioxidants that burst open and release when they’re exposed to the sun. We also use photosomes that contain a DNA repair enzyme called photolyase that when it absorbs sun uses that energy to repair DNA damage.”
Activate hair health
Although there’s a wealth of after-sun, deep-conditioning hair products, look for leave-in sun protection to defend against hair damage. “Ultraviolet light from sun is absorbed by hair, as hair is actually a very good sunscreen for your scalp,” says Oro. “But the rays can damage the hair structure and make it brittle, causing breakage.”
Get color
For a walk down memory lane, there’s always Sun-In Spray-In Hair Lightener ($4.99, ulta.com) and similar products. Even celebrity hair stylist Frederic Fekkai says he’s used vodka and lemon to highlight hair.
Here are a few beauty products that can help you face the sun beautifully.
Clinique Sun Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream with SolarSmart and Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum ($21.50, $59, clinique.com) are infused with solar-activated antiaging ingredients.
CND Vinylux Weekly Polish ($10.50, cnd.com/products) is a long-wearing formula used without base coat. Exposure to sunlight activates patent-pending ProLight Technology, making the polish more durable.
Alterna Haircare Bamboo Beach Summer Sun-Kissed Smooth Illuminating Cream ($22, sephora.com) contains a UV protection formula to control frizz, lighten and nourish hair.
John Frieda Beach Blonde Sun Streaks Lightening Spray ($9.99, ulta.com) is a sun-activated hair highlighter.
Sun Bum Beach Formula 3 in 1 Leave In ($14.99, shop.trustthebum.com) is a UV-protecting formula that helps control frizz and split ends.