It’s only March, but the summer sun is coming out to play and boy is it exciting! The tank tops, shorts and sandals are all getting removed from storage and happily adorned. The only thing left to do… is get a tan. Most everyone prefers the way they look with a little color and as summer approaches we attempt to get that sun-kissed look back as fast as possible. According to a survey, one-third of Americans don’t use sunscreen and almost 70% of the ones that do are only occasional users. I know we all look better with a tan, but do we look better with wrinkles too? Just ten minutes in the sun can expose you to damaging rays!

Wrinkles, sun spots, sagging skin, SKIN CANCER, is it really worth it? I’m not saying don’t get a tan, just be smart about it. Don’t try and get it all in one day, build your tan gradually and keep your skin protected. Protecting your skin is as important as brushing your teeth, so try to make it a part of your daily routine.  To start, your daily face lotion should have an SPF of 15 or greater. Personally in the summer months I use SPF 30 as a daily lotion on my face and SPF 15 on my body, EVERY DAY no matter what. Then I use a self-tanning lotion to give me the bronzed look that I like until I have slowly and safely built up my tan from the sun.  Just remember that the SPF should always be SPF 15 or higher, and that will only protect you for a couple of hours, so if you are going to be out in the sun all day then you need to re-apply every two hours.  Also – don’t forget about your hair, eyes and lips, they are exposed and will need protection as well.

A burn is a wrinkle, not a tan. Keep telling yourself that. Burns = dead skin cells, blisters, peeling and spots.

Here are some great products from Stockngo.com that can PROTECT your skin from damaging rays, NOURISH and smooth your skin give you the TANNED look that you want, without all the damage:

FACE
Neutrogena Healthy Skin with SPF 15
Jergens Natural Glow Daily Face Moisturizer
BODY
Banana Boat Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
Jergens Natural Glow Body Moisturizer
HAIR
Biosilk Silk Therapy (has UV protection)
LIPS
Chapstick Lip Balm with SPF 30

Stockn’Go offers a wide array of health and beauty products at prices that can’t be beat.  Shop today and stock up on all your household needs.

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.

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.