Courtesy of Rachel Rebibo/thelicensingproject.com
The Best Ways
to Minimize
Sun Damage
The sun is responsible for much of what many people assume is normal aging: wrinkles, sagging, discoloration, and dullness. If you have any doubts, compare the back of your hand to, say, your actual backside. One sees the sun pretty much every day, while the other sees it significantly less; even the most committed nudist has significantly nicer skin on their butt than on the backs of their hands. Over time, the sun has a big, big impact on the way our skin looks and feels.
The very best way to minimize sun damage is to prevent as much of it as you can in the first place. Short of a Gollum-style existence in a cave or an underground bunker, sun exposure is inevitable; everyday exposure adds up quickly, so focus daily on often-exposed areas like your face, hands, and chest. On sunny vacations and during outdoor workouts, we tend to expose more of the body for a longer time, so it’s important to be vigilant when planning for those occasions with plenty of clean sunscreen, too.
But there are effective ways to improve skin that’s been damaged by the sun. At the dermatologist’s office, treatments like lasers, heat and light therapies, and injectables can make a powerful change in the state of your skin, but taking care of your skin day in and day out makes an enormous difference. A consistent, clean skin-care routine that incorporates exfoliants, antioxidants, and nourishing moisture can help ameliorate the effects of sun damage, leaving skin revitalized and more fresh, smooth, even, and radiant no matter what your age—or how many beachy vacations in your past.
-
1
-
Protect and Prevent with SPF
Sunscreen can make a huge difference; the standard dermatologist recommendation is to wear SPF 30 or higher, every day.
-
goop Favorites for Face:
-
Vive Sana
Daily Protezione SPF 30
goop, $55 -
Honua Skincare
Malu Protecting
Day Cream + SPF 30
goop, $42 -
Naturopathica
DAILY UV DEFENSE
CREAM SPF 50
goop, $58
Why we insist on clean mineral (also called physical) sunscreen: Clean sunscreen made with only mineral sunscreens (the active ingredient list should include nothing other than titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide) creates a protective layer on your skin, similar to the way clothing can block the sun’s rays from reaching the skin. Unlike chemical sunscreens (anything else listed in the “active ingredient” portion of the label besides titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), which absorb the sun’s rays, mineral sunscreens reflect the sun’s rays away from skin. Minerals soothe skin (zinc oxide is what baby-bottom cream is made with), while chemical sunscreens are among the most irritating chemicals in the beauty industry. And while chemical sunscreens degrade in sunlight, mineral ones do not. A good rule of thumb is if a sunscreen’s harder to rub in, it’s probably mineral. And those extra few seconds of blending it into your skin are more than worth it.
-
goop Favorites for Body:
-
Beautycounter
COUNTERSUN MINERAL
SUNSCREEN LOTION SPF 30
goop, $39 -
EIR NYC
SURF MUD – SPF 30
goop, $24 -
The Organic Pharmacy
Cellular Protection
Sun CREAM SPF 30
goop, $69 -
Beyond sunscreen, wear hats and long sleeves when it’s feasible, stick to the shade in general, and limit your sun exposure so you’re not going to the beach or for a major run or bike ride between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. And if you ever end up with a sunburn, take some aspirin right away to help prevent further damage as it soothes the burn.
-
2
-
Exfoliate
As your skin ages or becomes damaged, it gets more sluggish: Dead skin cells turn over less frequently, which makes skin look dull and uneven and makes it more difficult for everything from moisture to treatment ingredients to reach the fresh skin underneath. Whether you do it with a physical exfoliant, like a scrub or a washcloth, or a chemical one, like an alpha hydroxy acid or a fruit enzyme, sweeping away those dead skin cells reinvigorates skin and paves the way for repair.
-
Once-a-Week
Superexfoliant:
goop Beauty
GOOPGLOW 15% GLYCOLIC
OVERNIGHT GLOW PEEL
goop, $125 -
Exfoliating Serums:
Tata Harper
ELIXIR VITAE
goop, $400 -
The Organic Pharmacy
FOUR ACID PEEL
goop, $55
-
Exfoliating Cleansers:
-
Dr. Barbara Sturm
ENZYME CLEANSER
goop, $75 -
Tata Harper
REGENERATING CLEANSER
goop, $82 -
Goldfaden MD
PURE START
goop, $35
-
Daily Pore Treatment:
goop Beauty
G.TOX MALACHITE + AHA
PORE REFINING TONIC
goop, $75 -
Daily Skin Essence:
Vintner’s Daughter
ACTIVE TREATMENT ESSENCE
goop, $225
-
3
-
Supercharge with Antioxidants
Free radicals from sun, pollution, and other environmental aggressors damage skin; you can observe the same action when you slice open an apple and the flesh turns brown as it oxidizes. Antioxidants are compounds that fight the formation of free radicals, helping prevent some of the damage caused by the sun. There are many antioxidant ingredients, including vitamins C and E, retinol, and CoQ10. Some antioxidants can work both topically and internally—vitamin C is a particularly popular and useful one—so taking the best care of your skin should be a multifaceted endeavor. Plants are naturally full of antioxidants, so eating lots of fruits and vegetables is important; supplementing and using plant-based skin care are both brilliant adjuncts.
-
Antioxidant
Powder for Skin:
True Botanicals
Vitamin C Booster
goop, $90 -
Drinkable
Antioxidants for Skin:
goop Beauty
GOOPGLOW MORNING SKIN SUPERPOWDER
goop, $60 -
Antioxidant Serum:
Vintner’s Daughter
ACTIVE BOTANICAL SERUM
goop, $185
-
4
-
moisturize
Well-hydrated skin not only looks and feels healthier; it’s also less vulnerable to breaking down in the face of environmental assaults. Keep your skin fresh and supple with a consistent supply of moisture.
-
Weightless
Moisturizing Serum:
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Hyaluronic Serum
goop, $300 -
Moisturizing Oils:
goop by Juice Beauty
Enriching Face Oil
goop, $110 -
Pai
ROSEHIP BIOREGENERATE OIL
goop, $44
-
Soothing Balms:
May Lindstrom
THE BLUE COCOON
goop, $180 -
Miracle Eye-Area
Moisturizers:
KORA Organics
NONI RADIANT EYE OIL
goop, $38 -
Rich Hydrating Creams:
goop by Juice Beauty
REPLENISHING NIGHT CREAM
goop, $140
-
8 Faces
Boundless Solid Oil
goop, $88 -
goop by Juice Beauty
PERFECTING EYE CREAM
goop, $90 -
Alpyn Beauty
PLANTGENIUS
MELT MOISTURIZER
goop, $60
-
5
-
TREAT YOUR
BODY, TOOExfoliating, moisturizing, and protecting your body skin can help prevent sun damage from affecting it, too. Moisturizers made with antioxidants are especially good for skin, leaving it hydrated, comfortable, and glowy.
-
1
-
Protect and Prevent with SPF
Sunscreen can make a huge difference; the standard dermatologist recommendation is to wear SPF 30 or higher, every day.
-
goop Favorites
for Face:
Why we insist on clean mineral (also called physical) sunscreen: Clean sunscreen made with only mineral sunscreens (the active ingredient list should include nothing other than titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide) creates a protective layer on your skin, similar to the way clothing can block the sun’s rays from reaching the skin. Unlike chemical sunscreens (anything else listed in the “active ingredient” portion of the label besides titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), which absorb the sun’s rays, mineral sunscreens reflect the sun’s rays away from skin. Minerals soothe skin (zinc oxide is what baby-bottom cream is made with), while chemical sunscreens are among the most irritating chemicals in the beauty industry. And while chemical sunscreens degrade in sunlight, mineral ones do not. A good rule of thumb is if a sunscreen’s harder to rub in, it’s probably mineral. And those extra few seconds of blending it into your skin are more than worth it.
-
goop Favorites
for Body: -
Beautycounter
COUNTERSUN MINERAL
SUNSCREEN LOTION SPF 30
goop, $39 -
EIR NYC
SURF MUD – SPF 30
goop, $24 -
The Organic Pharmacy
Cellular Protection
Sun Cream SPF 30
goop, $69 -
Beyond sunscreen, wear hats and long sleeves when it’s feasible, stick to the shade in general, and limit your sun exposure so you’re not going to the beach or for a major run or bike ride between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. And if you ever end up with a sunburn, take some aspirin right away to help prevent further damage as it soothes the burn.
-
2
-
Exfoliate
As your skin ages or becomes damaged, it gets more sluggish: Dead skin cells turn over less frequently, which makes skin look dull and uneven and makes it more difficult for everything from moisture to treatment ingredients to reach the fresh skin underneath. Whether you do it with a physical exfoliant, like a scrub or a washcloth, or a chemical one, like an alpha hydroxy acid or a fruit enzyme, sweeping away those dead skin cells reinvigorates skin and paves the way for repair.
-
Once-a-Week
Superexfoliant: -
Exfoliating Serums:
-
Exfoliating Cleansers:
-
Daily Pore Treatment:
-
Daily Skin Essence:
-
3
-
Supercharge with Antioxidants
Free radicals from sun, pollution, and other environmental aggressors damage skin; you can observe the same action when you slice open an apple and the flesh turns brown as it oxidizes. Antioxidants are compounds that fight the formation of free radicals, helping prevent some of the damage caused by the sun. There are many antioxidant ingredients, including vitamins C and E, retinol, and CoQ10. Some antioxidants can work both topically and internally—vitamin C is a particularly popular and useful one—so taking the best care of your skin should be a multifaceted endeavor. Plants are naturally full of antioxidants, so eating lots of fruits and vegetables is important; supplementing and using plant-based skin care are both brilliant adjuncts.
-
Antioxidant
Powder
for Skin: -
Drinkable
Antioxidants
for Skin: -
Antioxidant Serum:
-
4
-
moisturize
Well-hydrated skin not only looks and feels healthier; it’s also less vulnerable to breaking down in the face of environmental assaults. Keep your skin fresh and supple with a consistent supply of moisture.
-
Weightless
Moisturizing Serum: -
Moisturizing Oils:
-
Soothing Balms:
-
8 Faces
Boundless Solid Oil
goop, $88 -
Miracle Eye-Area
Moisturizers: -
goop by Juice Beauty
PERFECTING EYE CREAM
goop, $90 -
Rich Hydrating Creams:
-
5
-
TREAT YOUR
BODY, TOO -
Exfoliating, moisturizing, and protecting your body skin can help prevent sun damage from affecting it, too. Moisturizers made with antioxidants are especially good for skin, leaving it hydrated, comfortable, and glowy.
