LOVE . SUN . BEAUTY

Sundriven gloves were featured on the beauty and lifestyle blog, Whoorl! Sarah says of the gloves:

"These gloves. One of the medication side effects I’m dealing with right now is extreme sun sensitivity, which I thought meant to stay out of the sun as much as possible. However, it actually means if my skin is in any sort of sunlight for more than 2 minutes, I’m blistered toast. And once you burn, you burn. My poor hands just won’t seem to heal. As you can imagine, driving my children around all day in the Southern California sun has made things very difficult for me. Even my darkly-tinted windows don’t help at all. To make a long story short, it started to seem like my sole purpose in life was to chase the shadows on my steering wheel. Thank goodness for Sundriven – the gloves are lightweight, completely protective, and pretty dang cute.  I wear them day in and day out, and although I have the gray ones, I think the coral shade is calling my name too. Thank you, Sundriven!"

It may not yet be summer, but it's certainly on its way. As much as we love summer and the warm sun, it also means a greater chance of damage to our skin. While you should always be protecting your skin year round - even in the winter - it's even more important in the summer when the sun is at its strongest. Luckily, with so many ways to protect your skin, summer doesn't mean you have to hide indoors and chase the shadows. You can have fun in the beautiful outdoors worry-free. Here are five easy ways to protect your beautiful skin all summer long.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is the most obvious form of skin protection. With so many sunscreen brands and types on the market, how do you know which one to pick? Here are some simple pointers:

• Check the expiration date. Never use expired sunscreen, as it won't protect your skin. If your bottle doesn't have an expiration date, check the consistency of the sunscreen. If it feels gritty or clumpy, it's likely expired. In general, sunscreen is supposed to last three years, but that varies greatly by brand and ingredients.
• Shoot for SPF 30-50. Many dermatologists agree that SPF 30 is the sweet spot for protection levels. Don't fall into the trap of thinking SPF 30 protects twice as much as SPF 15. SPF works on a scale basis. SPF 15 blocks around 94% of UVB rays, and SPF 30 blocks about 97%. SPF 45 or 50 blocks around 98%. After that, the increase is minimal. Many dermatologists agree that SPF 80 and 100 is more of a gimmick to get you to spend more. No sunscreen of any level blocks 100% of rays.
• Apply enough. Too many people don't apply enough sunscreen. It should take you several minutes to rub all the sunscreen into your skin. Don't apply a thin layer; glob it on! Take the time to massage it thoroughly into your skin. There used to be a rule that claimed you needed a shot glass size of sunscreen. However, everyone's body is a different size, so that rule doesn't apply well for most people. Judge for yourself, but when in doubt, apply twice as much as you think you need.
• Reapply every hour or two. Sunscreen doesn't do you much good if you only apply it once. If you plan on being outside all day, bring a tube with you and reapply every hour or so.

UPF Clothing

Clothing with UPF (essentially the fabric version of SPF) has made major strides in the past few years. When UV wear first entered the market, the fabric was thick, unattractive, and uncomfortable. Today, there are some great options on the market. We love Sundriven, which offers stylish dresses, wraps, gloves, and more. Each item is made with an eco-friendly fabric that feels soft as silk but lighter than linen. It keeps your skin cool when it's warm out and features UPF 50+. UPF clothing is great to wear over your arms, chest, hands, and legs so you don't have to worry about sunscreen and reapplying so often. UV wear is particularly great for your hands, since most people forget to apply sunscreen on their hands. And, even if they do, they may accidentally wash it off when they wash their hands.

Hats

Don't forget to protect your delicate scalp! This is doubly important for women who color their hair or who have dark hair. It's not uncommon to forget about your ears and scalp, and it's really hard to protect your scalp as sunscreens are too greasy for your head. While there are some sprays on the market, many of them are still oily and greasy. The easiest and most stylish way to protect your head is with an oversized hat.

Sunglasses

Your eyes are extremely delicate and need protection. Not only do sunglasses protect your eyes, but they also protect the delicate skin around them. Prevent crow's feet and fine lines around your eyes by wearing a large pair of sunglasses. The darker the tint better, so go for a stylish pair of black sunglasses.

Food

What? That's right. Several foods have UV protective powers and can help strengthen your skin and nourish it. Tomatoes are great because they have lycopene, which acts as a natural sunscreen. Other foods rich in antioxidants are kale, olives, Brazil nuts, and green tea.

Author: Melissa Darcey

Happy Memorial Day everyone! This holiday always seems to act as an official reminder about the impending summer days. It's the perfect time of year to shop for your summer essentials so you'll be ready and fashionable for every BBQ, beach day, baseball game, or weekend getaway.

Make sure you have these essentials on your summer list.

A Bathing Suit

What's summer without swimming, whether it's in a pool, lake, or the ocean? One-pieces are making a comeback and we love this style from Victoria's Secret:

A Bathing Suit Cover-Up

Don't forget a simple cover-up to throw on over your bathing suit. We love the Sundriven Lena 6-way hooded wrap. There are so many different ways to wear it and the fabric is cool and comfortable. Best of all, with UPF 50+ in the fabric, you can protect your skin.

A Carryall Bag

In summer, you want a bag that can store just about everything you need and that won't easily get dirty. We love a colorful and sturdy canvas bag, like this one from TOMS.

Sunscreen

Of course you can't forget about sunscreen! It's a must year-round and especially in the summer. We love this tinted daily shield with SPF 40 from Clarins. It feels more like a moisturizer than greasy sunscreen. 

And for the rest of your body? We love this lotion spray, also by Clarins.

Sunglasses

Protect your eyes with some fun sunglasses. For summer, we like to go a little wild and colorful with our sunglasses. These from Madewell are in our bag.

A Hat

A hat not only protects your scalp and face from sunburns, but it also looks stylish. We love this retro looking hat from Urban Outfitters.

A Wear Everywhere Dress

Lastly, our summer must-haves list includes a dress that you can wear everywhere and anywhere. Our pick is the Sundriven Ava dress, which features UPF 50+. It's comfortable, cool, and protects your skin.

A few other things to add to your list? A chapstick with SPF, a beautiful coral-colored lipstick, and a durable pair of sandals. What are your must-haves for summer? What else would you include on this list?

Author: Melissa Darcey