Top Ways to Protect Your Skin

As avid outdoorsmen, we spend countless hours under the beating, relentless sun. Therefore, as we begin to get older we’re left to wonder how we can protect ourselves from the effects the sun has on our skin. 

Let’s take a look at why protecting yourself from too much sun exposure is essential and what you can do to naturally protect your skin from the sun this summer. 

Why is this important?

Considering that the skin is the largest organ on the human body, it’s essential to protect it. The sun is responsible for approximately 80% of premature skin aging and development of skin cancer. Further than the simple sunburn, which can cause serious damage to skin cells, prolonged time spent in the sun is directly linked to premature aging, sun spots, and skin cancer. 

You’re probably aware that the sun’s UV rays are responsible for damaging the skin. It’s believed that UVA rays cause premature aging and developing some skin cancers. While many of us grow up in this industry, we likely weren’t thinking about our skin for many years. We’ve probably all had our fair share of sunburns. UVB rays are responsible for causing a sunburn and linked to skin cancer as well. So, think about all of the sunburns you’ve had and how many times you’ve potentially exposed yourself to cancer causing rays. 

However, don’t be afraid – it’s never too late to start protecting your skin from further damage. Plus, there are plenty of natural ways to protect your skin during your outdoor adventure. We’ve put together a few tips to ensure your skin is protected while spending time outdoors. 

Sunscreen

We’ve all been told this for years. And while we’ve probably brushed it off and rolled our eyes – now it’s essential to our daily routine in protecting our skin. However, you might’ve never thought about the importance of choosing a good sunscreen brand and SPF. Many of the sunscreens on the market are manufactured with chemical filters that protect the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. In fact, sunscreen is made up from 16 filters that were FDA approved in the 1970s without evaluating the potential hazards they could contain. 

Today, sunscreen contains a blend of up to six active ingredients including oxybenzone, octisalate, octinoxate, octocrylene, homosalate, and avobenzone. In 2019, the FDA released a report regarding 12 of the 16 filters that were originally approved in sunscreen that did not meet the requirements to get “generally recognized as safe and effective.” However, these are some of the most common ingredients in sunscreen. 

Some of these filters are associated with some very serious side effects. For example, Oxybenzone has been linked to organ toxicity. Additionally, it’s harmful to aquatic life, Hawaii banned oxybenzone in 2019 to protect coral reefs. 

However, there are some less toxic sunscreen alternatives. Such as, mineral sunscreens made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are a great alternative. These aren’t absorbed into the skin, meaning they don’t make it into the bloodstream. Therefore, they stay on the skin’s surface and protect the skin from the harmful UV rays that way. 

Wear a Hat

When headed out, it’s easy to forget to protect your scalp from the sun’s harmful rays as well. Plus, you can protect partial areas of your face with a hat too. If you’re looking for a good hat to protect you from the sun, check out our branded logo hat here. It’s complete with our branded logo on the front with a mesh back for better breathability in the heat. Additionally, this hat features a plastic snapback closure, making the perfect fit achievable. 

Eyewear

Don’t forget to protect your eyes, too. Make sure you find a good pair of sunglasses when you’re out in the sun to protect the delicate skin around the eyes. Finding the perfect pair comes to your personal wants and needs but there are many options out there to find your fit. 

Protective Clothing

At Revital Outdoors, we recommend wearing a light, long-sleeve shirt while spending time in the sun to keep your skin protected. A UPF 50+ Sun Protection shirt like this, is great for heading outdoors for extended periods of time. Longer pants or taller socks can also help protect your skin from any rays. We recommend finding something breezy during the warmer months to stay cool. You can also opt for lighter color options when finding a good outfit during the summer months, too. It’s important to note that darker colors attract the sun’s rays. So, think about that when doing your shopping. 

Avoid Peak Sun Hours

If you can, try to plan your outing around the peak sun hours of the day. This will help keep your skin’s exposure to the sun very limited. Between 10a and 4pm, the sun’s rays are at their strongest. This means that UV radiation is at its most intense. Also, UV radiation is at its most intense damaging during the late spring and summer. Plus, in high altitudes, areas closer to the equator, and when reflected off water, snow, or sand. 

Therefore, if you’re headed out to the water or field, try to go early or late afternoon during the warmest months. However, if you’re planning to spend the entire day in the water or stand, make sure to find some shade, wear a hat, and cover up with light protective clothing. 

Protect your Skin

If you’re looking for additional support to the regime you already practice, try our CBD Cream. It’s unscented and nourishing to your skin. It’s perfect for restoring your skin’s barrier before or after your outdoor adventure. Plus, it contains the finest ingredients that are formulated to support health that goes beyond skin deep. We recommend pumping a dose and lather to restore that skin and the muscles below it after a day’s outings. 

In conclusion,

It’s vital to protect our skin, being that it’s the largest organ on the human body. We spend the majority of our time doing what we love, being outdoors. That means, tons of time spent underneath the beautiful, but harmful sun’s UV rays. Therefore, it’s important to revive and protect our skin each and every day. If you have any questions about our CBD Cream or skin support, please leave a reply in the comments. A Revital Outdoors team member will be in contact with you shortly.