Summer is a great time to go on a date. There are tons of things you can do, and lots of ways to have fun. Best of all – they’re all inexpensive. Just don’t forget the sunscreen if you’re going to be out in the sun for long.

Go on a picnic. Pack up some sandwiches and drinks in a big bag along with a blanket and go for a romantic picnic in the park. Even in the hottest weather, you can find shaded areas. Picnic benches and tables are usually under a shelter, so you won’t melt in the heat. Even if they’re out in the open, a late afternoon/ early evening picnic is a great way to have a meal.

Go to Yard Sales. It’s a great way to pick up things cheaply, and it’s also a lot of fun. Check your local paper and get started early. You’ll have fun, and you might find some great bargains.

Have dinner at sunset at an outdoor cafe. Pick a place that has a great view of the setting sun, and wow your date with nature’s beauty.

Get wet. Plan a day of water play – whether it’s in a swimming pool, boating on a lake, or even washing the car together. Summer and water play go hand in hand, and no matter which option you choose, it’s going to be fun.

Don’t forget to give yourself a healthy summer glow before you go out. If you want a tan but don’t want the sun damage that can come with it, using a self tanning moisturizer is the way to go.

Do you have a fun summer date idea? Tell them to me on twitter, Facebook, or leave me a message here on the blog.

Sun exposure is good for you, in moderate doses. It’s been proven that people with regular time in the sun are healthier. The sun provides you with Vitamin D, and fresh air and exercise are always good for you. If you’re outside in the summer sun for short bursts, you’ll feel better and look better. But make sure that you apply sunscreen to your face (always!), and other exposed parts of your body when you’re staying out longer than a few minutes. On days when you know that your time in the sun is going to be extended, use a good, broad spectrum sunscreen and use it all over.

I know you hear the term all the time, but do you know exactly what a broad spectrum sunscreen is? That’s a sunscreen that protects you against both UVB and UVA rays. UVB rays are the ones that give you sunburn, which can dry out your skin and make you very uncomfortable. Not to mention that it can cause long term skin damage. UVA rays get down into the underlying layers of your skin, and cause wrinkling, age spots, and even skin cancer. You always want to make sure that you choose a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.

Whenever possible, always use hats, clothing that breathes (natural fibers like silk, linen, or cotton) with you, and shade to block the sun. If you stay in the shade – or shade your body – you’ll help avoid sun damage to your skin. If you can avoid prolonged sun exposure between 10 and 2, you’ll reduce the possibility of sunburn. But if it can’t be avoided, make sure that you apply plenty of sunblock. Then reapply it after exertion or swimming.

If you have children, it’s especially important to apply sunscreen. Sunburns, especially in young children, are the leading cause of skin cancer. Your child can sunburn quickly, and you want to make sure that you use sunscreen for kids to prevent them.

Enjoy your time in the sun, but be careful not to burn. Sunscreen, hats, and the right kind of clothing can help reduce over exposure to UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen before you go out, and then reapply it if you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time.

Do you use sunscreen every day? Let me know on twitter, Facebook, or leave me a comment here on the blog.

We all know that our faces need to be protected from the sun. Even our makeup and daily moisturizer has sunscreen in it, nowadays. But did you realize that the skin on your neck and chest is just as vulnerable to sun damage? And did you know that it’s much harder to treat the skin of the neck and chest and erase signs of sun damage? There are fewer oil glands and hair follicles there, and the skin doesn’t regenerate as quickly as the skin on your face. That means it takes longer for signs of sun damage to fade and for skin tone to even out.

Believe it or not, sunbathing can make your cellulite worse. Yes, those thigh bumps can actually look worse in the summer sun. It’s a cruel joke that just when summer comes and you wear less clothing, you can actually make yourself look worse. UVA-induced collagen loss from too much sun not only makes your face wrinkle, it will also make the skin on your body sag. This means cellulite is emphasized.

What can you do to prevent this from happening? Sunscreen for faces is a must, of course. But not only do you need to apply sunscreen to your face daily, you need to apply it to the delicate skin of your neck and chest. Apply also to any other areas exposed to the sun. You don’t want crepey skin on your chest, and you don’t want sunspots or prominent cellulite. Rub on that broad spectrum sunscreen religiously, and make sure you don’t skip any areas.

And as for the cellulite? Regular exfoliation can help stimulate collagen production. That means you need to scrub your skin every day. A pouf is a great exfoliator, and it’s gentle enough to use every day. Daily exfoliation will also keep your skin from looking ‘leathery’. Leathery skin comes when your body tries to protect itself from the sun by thickening. Then your skin dries out. You can prevent this and also plump up your skin by using a moisturizing body wash and following it up with body lotion or moisturizer. Your cellulite will appear smoother, and your skin won’t dry out in the sun. Also, if you use a shimmer moisturizer (one that reflects light), it will make your cellulite appear reduced, even if it’s not.

What are you doing to protect your body’s skin from sun damage? Let me know on twitter, Facebook, or leave me a comment here on the blog.

Oh, summertime. We love you, we do, with your backyard BBQ’s, your lazy days spent at the beach, and your fun in the sun. If we want to green up our summer, however, sometimes we’re not so sure how to do that. Here are some great tips for a green summer – they’re all easy, and some of them are a lot of fun. Because that’s what summer is about, isn’t it?

Barbecue It

Propane burns cleaner than charcoal or wood, so get yourself and the environment a gift and buy a nice propane tank grill this summer. You get a more even temperature to grill your meats or veggies, and over time, are cheaper to use. There’s no waiting for the coals to heat up or cool down, either. You just turn it on, and you’re ready to grill in just a couple of minutes.

Use fruits and veggies from local farmers, or better yet, grow your own. The ingredients for the average meal typically travel about 1500 miles to reach your table. Think how much fuel and energy you save by buying locally or having your own small garden. And think about how much money you’ll save, too. Buying from farmers markets and/or growing your own vegetables can save you big bucks on your food bill.

Beach Time

Get a solar charger and take it with you next time you go to the pool or to the beach. All those rechargeable things you have – cell phone, ipod, camera – can be recharged with the solar charger when you get back from your fun day. Just pack it in your beach bag with you anytime you’re going out in the sun.

Order your discount sun care products online. If you don’t have to make a special trip to the store, you’ve just saved fuel, and you’ll save even more money, as well, if you buy sun care products in bulk. So stock up on the things you need for the summer, save money, and conserve energy.

Staying Cool

Turn up your thermostat, just a little. Just two degrees saves you money and conserves energy, and chances are, you won’t even notice.

Take advantage of the summer sun by opening your curtains and letting the light into your home in lieu of flipping the light switch to on. Your electrical bill will thank you, and so will the environment.

Take reusable bottles filled with water with you instead of buying bottled water. Keep yourself cool on the go, and keep plastic bottles out of landfills. It’s a lot cheaper to fill your own bottles with water, too. Bonus!

It’s not hard to green your summer; none of these things are difficult to do, and all of them help the environment. What are you going to do to green your summer? Let me know on twitter, Facebook, or leave me a comment here on the blog.

Spring is now in full swing. As we get farther into Spring and eventually Summer the sun is stronger and effects our skin in many ways. Sun protection is an important part of the Spring/Summer seasons. Obviously, it’s important to wear sunscreen. There are lots of other things that help as well. Woman’s Day has put together 10 surprising facts about sun protection that will make you turn your head.

1. Your washing machine can help protect your skin. The latest trend in sunscreen isn’t something you rub into your skin; rather, it’s something you throw in with the laundry. While clothing does provide a barrier between the sun’s harmful rays and your skin, many fabrics pack a pretty puny punch. Take lightweight cotton, for instance. Don’t count on getting more than SPF 5 protection. However, a new product called SunGuard, endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation, can simply be added to your washing machine load along with detergent to add an extra level of sun protection to your clothes. After your favorite T-shirts and pants are washed and dried, the protective coating is said to block more than 96 percent of the sun’s rays from permeating the fabric. Best part? The product is very affordable. One package, just $1.99, gives a load of laundry protection for up to 20 washings. That’s an entire summer’s worth of tees!

2. Drinking fruity, alcoholic beverages means you need to reapply sunscreen more frequently. Do you love to lounge at the beach drinking a piña colada or margarita? That umbrella cocktail in your hand may be weakening your sunscreen’s effect, says New York–based skincare and beauty product expert Risi-Leanne Baranja, who cites the research of dermatologist Frederic Brandt, MD. “He explained that if you’re drinking a significant amount of sugar or alcohol, you are causing inflammation in your skin and you will release more free radicals,” she says. “Then the sunlight suppresses your immune system. Therefore, it’s important to add more sunscreen in these situations to combat it.”

3. Chocolate may protect your skin from the sun. No, don’t ditch your sunscreen in favor of a chocolate bar, but researchers say there may be something to our favorite treat’s sun-protecting effects. According to a recent study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, antioxidant-rich dark chocolate may increase your own UV protection. The researchers suggest eating little bits of chocolate—preferably dark chocolate, with 70 percent cacao content or higher—throughout the day to increase your body’s natural sun protection. Hey, we’re not arguing with that!

4. You’re probably not using enough sunscreen. Think about how much you squirt on your hand when applying it in the morning. A dime-size amount? A quarter-size? Both are far from enough, says New York–based celebrity makeup artist and skincare expert Mickey Williams. “Sunscreen should be applied liberally. Most people apply only 25 to 50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen. About one ounce of sunscreen, enough to fill a shot glass, is considered to be the amount needed to cover the exposed areas of the body properly.” If your face is the only real exposed area of your body, especially during the winter months, follow this advice from Dr. Brandt: “To ensure adequate coverage, apply a teaspoon of sunscreen—at least SPF 30—for your face and neck alone,” he says.

5. There’s no such thing as “waterproof” sunscreen. Many people think that if their sunscreen is water-resistant, they’re good to go all day at the beach. Not so, says Williams. “The general rule of thumb for sunscreen application is to reapply every two hours throughout sun exposure,” she says. But if you’re in the water, reduce that time frame to every 40 minutes. According to FDA guidelines, explains Williams, bottles marked as “water-resistant” last just 40 minutes during water immersion. Those labeled “very water-resistant” may last as long as 80 minutes before reapplication is needed. But beware of products that claim to provide “all day” protection or are labeled “waterproof,” as these are misleading statements and are not supported by the FDA.

6. You can avoid burns by wearing a UV-monitoring wristband. According to David Bank, MD, president of the New York State Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, it’s easy to assume that once you’ve put on sunscreen for the day, you don’t need to reapply. Instead of wondering if you’re getting too much sun or pressing your finger against your skin to gauge it (which doesn’t really work), consider using a smarter method promoted by dermatologists: UV-monitoring wristbands. “These tell you when you should reapply sunscreen based on how much sun exposure you are getting,” explains Dr. Bank. ”The wristbands provide you with a simple sun-sensitive gauge that alerts you through color change when you need to reapply sunscreen and when to get out of the sun and its potential damaging effects.” You can find these types of bands at your dermatologist’s office or purchase them online.

7. Sunscreen is controversial. Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults, and according to statistics, skin cancer is on the rise. So why would there be any question as to whether sunscreen is vital and necessary? The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently released a report linking certain ingredients in sunscreen with an increased cancer risk. Scary? Yes, but Marta Rendon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Boca Raton, Florida, says not to toss your sunscreen just yet. “Every year around this time, EWG releases a report about sunscreens, which winds up confusing and panicking our patients,” says Dr. Rendon. “The study that EWG cites was supposedly done by the FDA a decade ago and, in essence, says that vitamin A might have sped up the incidence of cancerous cells in sun-exposed lab animals. However, numerous studies since then have shown the benefits of vitamin A in reversing the effects of sun damage.” While she does acknowledge that there needs to be further study on the matter, “everyone should continue taking proper measures to protect his or her skin against sun damage. That includes using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that includes both UVA and UVB protection.”

8. Apply sunscreen everywhere—melanoma likes to crop up in strange places. “One of the most common places melanoma has been detected is between the toes, an area most women neglect,” says Brian Bonanni, MD, a dermatologist practicing at the New York City spa Gotham Skincare. “Sunscreen should be applied to scalp, ears, hands and feet.” And don’t forget your lips, too. “A physical sunblock with micronized zinc and titanium should also always be applied to the lips. There are now formulas that do not leave white residue on the lips, which women are more likely to use.”

9. You should never leave your sunscreen in a hot car. We’ve all done it—left our sunscreen in a bag inside a car on a hot summer day. But this may weaken its potency, says Dr. Bank. Instead, treat your sunscreen like you would prescription medication and keep it away from extreme heat. “Most preservatives in sunscreens are designed and tested in a range of temperatures close to room temperature,” he explains. “If you leave it in a hot car, there is a reasonable chance that the preservative and active ingredients may to some degree degrade so it won’t be as effective.”

10. Sunscreen can’t protect one vital area of the body, so take extra precaution. The one place that’s visible to the sun’s pelting rays yet can’t be protected by sunscreen? That’s right—your eyes. According to reports, 5 to 10 percent of all skin cancers appear on the eyelids. While you can apply sunscreen to your lids, it’s your eyes that sunglasses can really protect. The sun’s rays may play a role in eye degeneration and the development of cataracts. A pair of shades can go a long way in protecting your peepers. The American National Standards Institute requires that all shades (even the cheap drugstore varieties!) provide at least 95 percent UVB protection and 60 percent UVA protection.

Applying sunscreen isn’t always the most simple thing ever. There are a lot of areas to hit. Check out this check list from Glamour to make sure you don;t miss any important spots.

For your sunscreen, health and beauty products make sure to head over to Stock N’ Go. Leave a comment if you have any more sun protection tips!

(Image courtesy of Medtips)