Water & Sunscreen Essentials for Summer ~ On the Blog

Most people neglect proper body hydration and the mandatory use of sunscreen mainly because it is a constant, everyday necessity.  Our lives get busy and our minds pull from one task to the next, many just forget the absolute need for these two simple, but profound self-care provisions.  With proper daily hydration and the everyday use of sunscreen can reduce the aging process of the skin. This mean fewer fine lines, discoloration patches, dry areas, and tough texture.

Benefits of Proper Hydration

Water keeps skin supple.  When a person is severely dehydrated, skin is less elastic. Without enough water in the body, cells get congested and skin cannot detox from everyday life it goes through. With proper hydration, the skin practically glows. Without it, skin cannot properly free itself of toxins and so it becomes irritated, inflamed, and clogged, causing a multitude of unsavory consequences ranging from itching, blackheads, redness, acne, and general blotchiness.

Slow the aging process, since all organs require copious amounts of water to function correctly. Dehydration for long stretches, every cell, organ, and system in the body must work harder, which means it will age faster. Drinking enough water literally keeps the body young feeling, looking, and acting – for longer.

Benefits of Sunscreen

This will not be a debate on which SPF is better than another.  The point is to make sure that daily sunscreen is part of the skincare routine and not overlooked.

The difference between traditional, chemical-based sunscreens and the mineral variety comes down to the type of active ingredients. Mineral-based creams use physical blockers which form an actual barrier on your skin and reflect the UV rays. Chemical-based blockers absorb UV radiation to dissipate it. Mineral-based, physical blockers protect against both UVA & UVB radiation. But since chemical blockers absorb the rays instead, this allows UVA to reach those deeper layers of your skin and do damage

What to look for in a sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens are typically better for the skin, with active ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Every sunscreen will wear off, so no matter the SPF or active ingredients, reapply at least every two hours. Remember that in a pinch, any type of sunscreen is better than no sunscreen.