Everyone, everyone (everyone!) should be protecting their skin from the sun. But, if you’re going through cancer treatment like radiation or chemo, or if you’re particularly vulnerable to skin cancer, you cannot be messing around unprotected under the sun’s harmful rays.
We have a couple favorite sunscreens (a must), but sun protection goes beyond just sunscreens. Hats are an incredibly protective, versatile accessory/outfit maker. We have shirts specifically designed with sun protection in mind, sunglasses, and more. These items can be practical–we’d never fight that–but they can also be a chance for you to add a little fun, polish, or whimsy into your everyday looks.
Sunscreen Options
(More of Jadey’s Favorite Sunscreens Here)
A Gentle (Made for Babies) Protective Sunscreen
Your skin might be sensitive now in ways you haven’t imagined. Many dermatologists suggest people going through cancer treatment switch to mineral sunscreens because they tend to be less irritating on sensitive skin. And this one from Pipette, which we love, is literally made for babies.
A Lightweight Tinted Mineral Sunscreen
Dermatologist and Moh’s surgeon Dr. Yesul Kim recommends La Roche-Posay products for their gentle ingredients. Anthelios is a lightweight, tinted facial sunscreen, available in four shades. Especially if you have a deeper skin tone, a tinted facial sunscreen can help avoid the white cast problem of mineral sunscreen by recoloring white zinc oxide and titanium dioxide particles with skin colored pigments.
An Ultra-Moisturizing Gel with Sunscreen
Don’t let the word ‘acid’ put you off: hyaluronic acid helps your skin attract and retain moisture. Dermatologist Dr. Dina Strachan recommends this gel moisturizer which includes a broad-spectrum chemical sunscreen. But both hyaluronic acid and chemical sunscreens can be irritating if your skin is really, really feeling it–so patch test an area to make sure.
Apparel to Protect
A Protective, Light Shirt
Solumbra’s clothes are made specifically to shield you from the sun. To be maximally protective from UV rays, fabrics can be densely woven, chemically treated, or otherwise constructed to make them more protective–like this one from Solumbra which has a SPF of 100+. Jadey Co-Founder Michelle Reiss recommends this boyfriend button-down as an easy cover up for sunny days by the water.
A Bright, Tight Long-Sleeve Shirt
It’s your time to make peace with long sleeves, and this shirt from Left on Friday is a first step. Whether you wear it for swimming or on land, it's made specifically for sun coverage with a UPF 50 rating. Their shirts come in such good, saturated colors: we love the neon orange-y red. It’s cropped, so you’ll want a high-rise pant option to meet you in the middle.
An Easy-to-Transport, Splurge-Worthy Sunhat
If you’re looking for an iconic straw hat, there are quite a few; if you’re looking for one that is magic and can be smushed into luggage and then bounce back into shape, it’s this one by Eric Javits. It’s woven from UPF 50 fabric (a sun-protective measure), and has an inner elastic band to keep it secure on your head on windy days. It comes in ten different colors, from neutral to pastels to bright pinks and blues.
An Adjustable, Wide-Brim Wonder
This is a fantastically large hat to protect the face and neck from sun exposure. It's lightweight cotton, so it's not going to be burdensome on hot summer days. It’s also a bit of a statement piece? We love it.
A Baseball Hat That Delights You
There’s nothing as easy as a baseball hat (and we know you won’t forget sunscreen on your neck). You may have several baseball hats lying around already, and also you may still want a new one to give you the verve to actually wear it. Jadey Editorial Director Maggie Lange wears her baseball hat from Womb House Books in Oakland all the time. They’re each named for a cult-classic writer, and feel a bit like an in-joke between you and you.
Reliable, Lightweight, Great-Looking Sunglasses
A good pair of UV-blocking sunglasses can help prevent skin cancer on your eyelids and around your eyes, as well as prevent cataracts and other eye conditions caused by UV exposure. It’s best to look for sunglasses labeled as UV400 or UV95-100%, which offer a high level of UV protection. Michelle recommends Izipizi Polarized Sunglasses which have 100% UV lenses, the highest level of protection offered. They’re lightweight and feel so easy to wear.
A Pair of Sturdy, Looks-Good-on-Everyone Sunglasses
We love Illesteva’s Leonard sunglasses. They’re very well-made to withstand the toil of daily use, like clunking around in a tote bag. They’re UV400 so quite protective, and the classic, laid-back shape makes them very easy to wear.
