Okay, so the other day I was thinking, “My skin is NOT about that sunscreen life every single day.” It gets greasy, sometimes it breaks me out, and honestly, I just get lazy. So, I started digging around for alternatives. What else can I use to protect my skin from the sun without slathering on the usual stuff?
First, I looked into clothing. Duh, right? But I mean really looked into it. I found out about UPF ratings – Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It’s like SPF, but for clothes! I grabbed a couple of long-sleeved shirts and a wide-brimmed hat with high UPF ratings. I also realized, the tighter weave the fabric has, the less UV rays get through, so that thick old denim jacket will protect me much better than the thin cotton shirt.
My Little Experiment
- Day 1: I wore my new UPF shirt and hat while gardening. It was sunny, but I felt pretty good, and no sunburn!
- Day 2: I tried staying in the shade as much as possible during peak sun hours (like 10 am to 4 pm). It’s amazing how much that helps! I just scheduled my outdoor chores for earlier or later in the day.
- Day 3: I remembered my grandma always carrying a parasol. I dug out an old umbrella – not fancy, but it did the trick! I felt a little silly at first, but hey, it kept the sun off me.
I also started paying more attention to seeking shade. Sounds obvious, but I used to just bake in the sun. Now, I actively look for trees, awnings, or anything to block those rays, especially during the middle of the day. I make my own shade too! Umbrellas aren’t just for rain, folks. I’ve used a regular umbrella at the beach or park before, and it works great.
And, of course, I did eat some food.
I focused on adding more antioxidant-rich foods. Things like carrots, and spinach.
I didn’t do this as a total replacement for other sun protection, more like an added bonus.
So, yeah, that’s my little journey into the world of sunscreen alternatives. I’m not saying I’ll never use sunscreen again, but it’s nice to have other options, especially for those days when I just can’t deal with the greasiness or the smell. It’s all about finding what works best for you and your skin, right?
