Tan don’t burn…..use Coppertone? Anyone remember that advertisement?

How about mixing baby oil and iodine and slathering our bodies with that?

Or, going to the beach and using nothing and then sporting the worst case of sunburn ever?

Or, how about thinking – I need to burn then peel 1st – after that the suntan is on it’s way?

Things sure have changed, haven’t they? Now, I have no idea why we put iodine in our baby oil…someone said that was a good idea so we all did it. And, looking back, don’t you wish you knew then what you know now.

As we age (especially us ladies over 50) we definitely need sunscreen.

Is sunscreen safe?

Every time we’re outside and the UV Index is over 3 we face some risk. If your daily activities involve prolonged exposure to the sun, getting a high-quality sunscreen is important. Vitamin D is essential for so many reasons but…. what about the long term risk of sun exposure?

There are so many benefits to sun exposure but we need to protect ourselves with sun screen.

There are so many different types of sunscreens…

…and they are all made of various ingredients. (I even tried making my own one summer. I looked like a ghost and smelled like a very strong coconut). Your environment will also determine the type of sunscreen you need and how often you apply.. Have you ever been to the Caribbean? For some reason the sun feels ‘stronger’ there than at home and I tend to burn faster so I use a different product and apply more often.

You may or may not know, but there are also health concerns about sunscreen. Your skin is your biggest organ. The general rule of thumb is this – if you can’t put it in your mouth you shouldn’t put it on your body. I found this great article about how sunscreen chemicals are absorbed into the body. Give it a read. Decide for yourself what it means and what is true or not true.

So, what should you do?

In typical Jane fashion I hit the web. And this is what I found out for you.

• Choose a non oily sunscreen. You will avoid breakouts (gray hair and breakouts – unfair!) and won’t feel all greasy. Find one that has transparent zinc oxide so that you aren’t looking like Casper.

• Another choice is a broad based sun screen that you can use on your face and body. It is also waterproof (won’t come off when you sweat or go swimming)

• Choose a mineral based rather than a chemical based sunscreen. Mineral sunscreen uses minerals (most commonly zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) to protect you from the sun. The minerals sit on top of your skin and reflect UV rays. Chemicals sunscreens work by absorbing the rays through a chemical reaction. Another GREAT article to read is ‘Mineral vs Chemical Sunscreen: Know the Difference’

What mineral sunscreens should you choose?

I did some more research and found options. Here are a few Mineral Sunscreen choices:

1. Ren Clean Skincare

2. Sunscreen Butter

3. Juice Beauty Sport Sunscreen

4. Aveeno Mineral Sensitive (sensitive skin)

5. Babo Botanicals (for babies)

6. Australian Gold Botanical

7. Tizo 3 Sunscreen (for your face)

A few mineral sunscreen top picks from Amazon for you:

And, did you know that sunscreen is NOT only for the summer? You might want to read ‘Is sunscreen only for the summer.’

Is sunscreen the only answer? How about a hat? A cute straw hat or even one that is ‘function over beauty’. Make sure the tops of your ears are covered. And your neck, if you are out in the sun a long time.