Natural Sunscreens: Carefree Fun in the Summer Sun

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“Summer Afternoon: To me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English Language.”

Henry James

Summer has always been my favorite time of year. I feel giddy and free: ready to drop everything for a spontaneous gathering, a delicious swim in the ocean, or a sunset music festival. It must be something about shedding all those layers of warm clothing, going barefoot, and feeling the warm air on my skin. I am high on sunshine with more energy and enthusiasm for socializing and being outside. Graduations, reunions, weddings, and garden parties fill the calendar. Its time to make plans for yard sales, camping trips, picnics by the sea, hikes in the mountains, and (my personal favorite) long naps in the hammock. Its time to get outside and get some sun!

Accessorize

There are a few accessories I need to maximize my summer enjoyment. The first is a good book. I’m compiling my summer reading list with eagerness akin to a puppy chasing a ball! The second is lots of summer foods like luscious fruits and the freshest of fresh garden grown veggies. There is nothing so inspiring as knowing where my food was growing the day before! My third “must have” is a great pair of flip flops perfect for kicking off and running through the grass or wiggling my toes in beach sand. But in my “shoes are optional” world, sunscreen is unfortunately not. It’s a fact of life that must be acknowledged and dealt with. Luckily Nourishing World has some great all natural sunscreens as well as a few not so well known secrets for keeping your tan lines radiant and not injurious.

Effective and Safe Sunscreen

I’ll bet you think you’ve heard it all before when it comes to the need for sunscreen? We all get it that these days the ozone is thinning causing the ultraviolet light to pass easily through the atmosphere to burn and damage our skin even more than it did a few decades ago. Who hasn’t had an awful red, painful sunburn at some point? But what’s even worse is the potential for life threatening consequences many years after the burn. So along with your favorite summer accessories, plan to apply and then pack along a great mineral based, non-toxic sunscreen. Thinksport and Thinksport Kids both have an SPF rating of 50 for complete sun block in and out of the water. Free of hormone altering chemicals, these sunscreens block UVA and UVB rays with micronized zinc oxide, a physical barrier. Consistently rated among the highest for safety and efficacy by the Environmental Working Group Sunscreen Guide, Thinksport sunscreens are the sun worshiper’s best friend. Dr Mercola Broad Spectrum Sunscreens come in SPF 15 for light and SPF 30 for moderate protection. Rated a number “1” by the Environmental Working Groups Skin Deep database for safety and efficacy, Mercola’s Sunscreen provides broad spectrum UV protection with no synthetic chemicals. Only antioxidant rich natural oils moisturize and nourish the skin for protection and therapy in one treatment!

How about Astaxanthin?

Now for what you may not know: Astaxanthin is an extremely potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory carotenoid obtained from marine algae. Along with being good for eye health, brain health, joint pain, and athletic stamina, Astaxanthin has been called a “natural sunscreen” due to it’s ability to protect skin from damaging free radicals after sun exposure. By reducing oxidative damage to the skin, Astaxanthin keeps skin looking younger. It even may fade sun spots! Dr Mercola calls Astaxanthin “the supplement everyone should be taking.”

Melatonin For Sun?

Melatonin, the naturally occurring hormone that regulates healthy sleep/wake cycles, also has a surprising connection to sun protection. Studies have found that melatonin applied topically before sun exposure can lessen the risk of burning or damaging skin. Of course, Melatonin will also probably make you sleepy, so you might want to use it only when you plan to be napping in the sun! In addition, use Mercola Melatonin at night on the face and neck to build collagen and elastin. Not only will it help you to sleep, but its antioxidant properties will help heal the aging effects of sun damage.

The Emu Edge

Another valuable source of sun protection comes from emu oil, the “sacred food” of the Australian Aborigines. Studies have shown that emu oil, either taken orally or applied topically, can help decrease effects of the sun such as wrinkles, dryness, and sun spots. Keep skin looking youthful with Walkabout Emu Oil from free range, humanely farmed emus in Australia. Only lightly refined, Walkabout Emu Oil is pure, natural protection from the sun.

Vitamin Power

High doses of Vitamin E together with vitamin C may protect the skin from UV radiation and sunburn. In addition, we must get sufficient vitamin D3. D3 is critical for a healthy immune system, strong bones, good mental cognition, and for protecting us from many diseases. D3 can be obtained from a few types of foods such as fatty fish, but our best source of D3 is sunshine!