Since I started traveling in 2002, I have only encountered one sunburn. And I vividly remember that last sunburn: April 2006, Quito, Ecuador. I had arrived a few days before my tour began and planned to do some sightseeing in this equatorial city. I followed normal protocol of applying sunscreen but then made the mistake of changing my shirt at the last minute. Unfortunately, the two tops were cut very differently and I got a very interesting sunburn that day. Since then I have adopted some practices which have kept me sun safe in dozens of countries.
1) First Things First. Before I leave my house or hotel, I apply sunscreen to my entire body (or the areas that will be exposed) and then, after it dries, get dressed as usual. This method allows for the sunscreen to absorb into your skin and allows for more even coverage since you’re not dealing with trying to avoid clothing. I use Coppertone Nutrashield with SPF 70 and love the non-greasy, pleasant smelling sun protection. I always throw the bottle in my daypack for touch-ups which I try to do every few hours if I am outside and even more frequently if I am in the water.
2) Benefits of Beauty. On most days, I use Benefit You Rebel as my foundation along with many of their other products, most of which are infused with SPF. But for travel days, I like to keep my make-up simple. I started with an oil-free moisturizer with SPF 15 (I love Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 15) and keep it simple with waterproof mascara and Softlips lip balm SPF 20. For non-greasy touch-ups, I am officially obsessed with Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30. It’s easy to bring with and reasonably priced.
3) Hat Trick. I never really liked hats. Maybe it is my head shape or something but I always thought they looked weird on me. Then, a trip to the Dominican Republic was on my radar. Wanting to be sun safe at the beach, I found a cute yet practical wide-brimmed straw hat. It helped me protect my skin while looking chic. And it even had an added bonus: I could crumple it up in my bag and it would emerge unscathed. Score! When shopping for a hat like this, look for one with a tightly-woven material to help provide maximum protection.
4) Avoid Peak Hours. The sun shines its brightest in the middle of the day. If at all possible, I try to avoid being out in direct sunlight during the midday hours. Instead, I’ll do a morning hike and a late afternoon swim opting for indoor or shady activities in between. Napping, massage, and eating are my favorite things to occupy that time!
5) Eye Candy. Be sure to invest in a pair of sunglasses before your next trip to protect your eyes from UV rays. I usually opt for a cheaper pair as I often break or lose mine! I also pack a hard plastic case (many stores give them to your with the purchase of sunglasses) which has increased the life on my glasses. And remember to also include them if you are going to a snow destination (like skiing in the Andes in July?) as the sun reflects off the snow and your eyes are vulnerable to the intense glare.
What are your sun safety tips? Share them here!
Written by Kristina Wegscheider. She’s not a doctor but she is a very fair-skinned person who travels a lot. Kristina is also the co-founder of DIWYY. Email her at [email protected].
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