FitSugar

The Best Sunscreens For This Summer

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:30:00 -0700

Will Ferrell's new line of charitable sunscreen (featuring Sun Stroke, Sexy Hot Tan, and Forbidden Fruit varieties) might get you some laughs on the beach and prevent a not-so-sexy burn, but they're not the ultimate in sun protection. In its quest to find the best sunscreens for your Summer, Consumer Reports rounded up 10 sunscreens and compared their effectiveness in protecting against ultraviolet A and B radiation.

The magazine chose three CR Best Buys based on the lab test results and reminds us that we shouldn't base our purchases on brand alone - previous tests showed quality variances within the same brand. To see what sunscreens performed the best and are worth your money, read more.

CR Best Buys

Walgreens Continuous Spray Sport SPF 50
Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50 (lotion)
Target (now called Up & Up) Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30

Worst Performers

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch With Helioplex SPF 70 (lotion)
Banana Boat Kids Tear Free SPF 50 (lotion)

Do you have a go-to sunscreen?

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Gear Review: SPF 15 Lip Gloss by Clinique

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0700

I know a few of you hardcore athletes might scoff at the idea of lip gloss being gear, but this gloss offers sun protection along with color, and that is why I am ranking it as gear. Lips should be treated like skin and protected from the sun's rays. Most shiny lip gloss actually attracts the sun, making it easier for harmful rays to penetrate the delicate flesh and causing skin cancer on your kisser.

That is where Clinique's Long Last Glosswear ($14) with SPF 15 comes in handy. It coats and protects your lips, and it really does last. It is flavorless too, which I think is great, and the texture is so thin you forget you have it on. On my way out the door for a midday run, I couldn't find my chapstick with SPF, so I wore this lip gloss. It was great. It kept my lips moist and protected. It comes in many shades and is available online at the Clinique website.

Do You Really Need SPF 100 Sunscreen?

FitSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:00:00 -0700

When it comes to exercising, there's strength in numbers, but that's not necessarily true when the subject is sunscreen. Compared to your 50 SPF sunscreen, one that has 100 SPF might give the impression that your product is inadequate. According to dermatologists interviewed by The New York Times, swapping out your 50 SPF for the 100 isn't a necessary move.

Sunscreen brands have been consistently raising the SPF bar. Coppertone started it with last year's groundbreaking launch of SPF 70+, followed by the introduction of SPF 85 from Neutrogena and Banana Boat, and most recently Neutrogena's 100 SPF sunblock. The numbers cause consumer confusion, but Dr. David M. Pariser, the president of the American Academy of Dermatology, says, "As you get higher and higher, it’s not really a practical difference."

To learn what is truly important about sunscreen, read more.

The Times points out the marginal difference in UVB protection: SPF 100 blocks 99 percent of UVB rays, SPF 50 blocks 98 percent, and SPF 30 protects against 96.7 percent of UVB rays. Some doctors argue that ditching your bottle of 30 or 50 for a higher SPF could lead to a false sense of security about staying in the sun longer without reapplying.

Dermatologists suggest that, rather than becoming consumed with the SPF number, it's more important to focus on wearing enough sunscreen. A full shot glass of the stuff should do the trick. What else do you know about sunscreen?

First Sunburn of the Season Is OK, Right?

FitSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:00:00 -0700

The recent warmer weather has inspired many people to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. For many of those people, this is the first taste of sun their skin has seen since the long Winter. I've heard many women say that they always get one bad sunburn in the beginning of Spring, and then they tan for the rest of the Summer. Since they think it's inevitable, they believe there's nothing wrong with it.

Your skin is extra sensitive to the sun's rays at first, especially if you have pale skin, but that doesn't mean you should just let it burn. Just to remind you, any amount of sun exposure poses an increased risk for the development of skin cancers and accelerates the aging process, but sunburns, especially repeated sunburns, pose an even stronger risk. So make sure to apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside, and reapply it every two hours to prevent sunburn and keep your skin protected at all times.

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Minutes to a Healthier You . . .

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:45:00 -0700

It's not always the hours you put in at the gym that keep you healthy, the little things help too!

Next time you find yourself in the sun, take just five seconds to check out your shadow. If your shadow is shorter than you are, then that means the sun's rays are very intense. Especially since we tend to spend more time outdoors in the Spring and Summer, you may want to seek shade or get indoors to apply more sunscreen and wait until the sun is less intense.

Be sure to check out all my quick health tips.

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Nike Maxsight Contact Lenses

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:30:00 -0700

When you go outside in the summer, you've got to protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. Sunglasses are great, but with some fast-paced sports and activities, you don't want to worry about them flying off or having them break. Working out in the hot sun makes my face get really hot and sweaty, and I hate when the lenses get all fogged up, don't you? Plus, the really good sunglasses are so expensive, and I'm always worried about losing them.

The solution? Nike Maxsight is an innovative, fully tinted soft contact lens, so you can wear your sunglasses without the frames.

They provide distortion-free sight, for both prescription and non-prescription contact lens wearers. They cover your entire pupil and iris (the black and colored parts), eliminating glare and enhancing contrast. They filter out more than 90% of harmful blue light and 95% of UVA and UVB.

You can get Nike Maxsight contact lenses in 2 colors: Grey-Green for running or training, and Amber for fast-paced sports like soccer and tennis.

Fit's Tips: Call your eye doctor and ask them about Nike Vision. I did and Nike actually sent me a FREE trial pair. Want to see what they look like? Then read more

They just look like really dark contact lenses, like ones you'd get for Halloween or something. I put a Nike Maxsight contact lens next to my regular contact lens so you can see the difference. With normal lighting, my eyes didn't turn into alien eyes - they just looked really dark. These are the grey-green color, although they look kind of brown in my eyes.

I have to say I LOVED them. It did take a few minutes for my eyes to adjust, but it felt like I was wearing polarized sunglasses. They blocked out the sun and I had crystal clear vision.

If you love to be outdoors, and hate having to deal with wearing sunglasses, I would definitely recommend getting a pair of Nike Maxsight contact lenses. That way, you'll be protected completely and never have to worry about losing your sunglasses again.

Get Your Butt in Gear: Sunblocker Rashguard by Title Nine

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:00:00 -0700

If you plan on spending a lot of time in the sun and the water this summer season, I highly recommend investing in a sunblocking rashguard. While the O'Neil UV Protection Rashguard does the trick, the Sunblocker Rashguard ($45) by Title Nine does the job with a little more fashion sense.

Title Nine commissioned two surfers, both women, to design this guard, and they definitely gave the rashguard a feminine touch. The sleeves though short, completely cover the shoulders but allow for freedom of arm motion. You can paddle out without feeling restricted. The neck is also a little higher, like a mock turtleneck, providing just a little more sun protection. The guard provides both UVA and UVB protection.

Buy it directly from Title Nine. It comes in pink Punch (pictured above) or light blue Water.

Get in Gear: Oasis Sun Hat by Outdoor Research

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:00:00 -0700

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation skin cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in the U.S. So why not wear a nice wide brimmed hat in addition to applying sunscreen. Hats shield the blinding sun from your eyes, protect your scalp, keep the UV rays off your face, neck, and shoulders, and can help shade you from the hot sun, keeping you cooler.

I found this one called the Oasis Sombrero Sun Hat ($30). It's great for hiking, kayaking, gardening or just hanging on the beach - it's like your own personal shade umbrella. It's made of SolarShield™ fabric that has UPF 50+ protection, and it's collapsible, so you can easily pack it in your bag. Inside the hat there is a Coolmax® mesh headband to absorb sweat, and the chin cord is removable. What's my favorite part about this sun hat? The brim is made with foam, so if your hat blows into the water, it'll float!

Buy an Oasis Sun Hat from Eastern Mountain Sports so you can enjoy nature without worrying about the damaging effects of the sun.

Get Your Butt in Gear: UV Rash Guard by O'Neill

FitSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Nothing is worse than snorkeling for hours on the first day of your vacation and spending the rest of your precious days in paradise dealing with a very sunburned back. What you need to pack for your sunny, swimmy vacation is a rash guard.

You may be saying to yourself "Fit, I am not worried about a rash. It is a sunburn I am trying to avoid." To this I will say, lightweight rash guards are made from fabrics with high UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) factors, to keep your skin extra protected for long hours in the water. They are like a sunscreen swimsuit for your upper body.

Originally developed for surfers to prevent rashes from the sand and surf wax combo, rash guards are designed to move and swim in making them a much better option than swimming in an old tee shirt. Obviously they provide much better sun protection and this one, designed by O'Neill has a UPF rating of 50 plus. It even has a utility pocket with a drain hole - they think of everything.

Buy one directly from O'Neill for $49.95. Rash guards come in both short and long sleeve styles so your forearms can stay protected too.

Don't Let Your SPF 30 Turn into SPF 20

FitSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Did you know that if applied incorrectly, an SPF 30 sunscreen is actually SPF 20?

SPF 30 sunscreen may provide significantly less protection when not enough is used. To get the most out of your sunscreen, use one ounce, enough to fill a shot glass (or your palm). This is the amount needed to cover the exposed areas of the body (arms, legs, neck and face of the average adult) properly. So stock up, use it liberally and reapply often (especially after you towel off).