4 Science-proven Ways to Prepare & Protect Your Skin for Summer
Collagen: Help your skin bounce back
The sun's UV Rays work to break down collagen in your skin — resulting in wrinkles or pigmentation. By improving your collagen production, you can help your skin prepare and protect itself against sun exposure. Clinically proven, Biosil® will increase collagen levels in your body.
Proven SPF: How to choose the right one
Look for a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 that contains zinc oxide. The FDA currently states that only two sunscreen active ingredients are safe and effective: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. You'll want to choose zinc oxide because it offers a broad spectrum of protection against UVB and UVA rays.
Find a zinc oxide product combined with titanium dioxide for a sunscreen that doesn't weigh as heavily on your skin. Because it's so gentle, titanium dioxide is the sunscreen of choice for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin.
You can feel secure choosing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 — anything above may not offer significantly more protection. Oh, and don't forget your hands, scalp, and feet when you apply sunscreen.
Doing the best for your body means being aware of its low collagen symptoms as they can indicate what’s happening below the surface. Here are six signs you are low on collagen and how to fix it.
Preparing and protecting your skin from summer sun damage is one of the most effective ways to invest in yourself. The most significant danger to your skin isn't aging, after all — it's sun damage. But, with so much misinformation and conflicting advice, it isn't easy to know what to do. Articles promising quick miracle fixes, sensational cleanses, or unverified supplements often top Google — and should be avoided. These solutions may do more harm than good to your skin.
When things are unclear, we fall back on clinically-proven and research-backed reasoning. The best way to protect yourself from sun damage is to look at tried and tested methods.
Here are the top 4 science-backed ways to prepare and protect your skin for summer:
Water: Hydrate yourself from inside out
We can't say enough about the benefits of water. Notably, keeping your body hydrated will help to maintain your skin's elasticity. Drinking water will not prevent sun damage but rather will keep your skin healthy and hydrated during the hotter season.
Science says the amount of water you should drink in a day depends on your metabolism, age, weight, height and daily routine. Typically, adults should drink 5-8 glasses a day and more if it's hot out.
Antioxidants against sun damage
Antioxidants like Vitamin C and E can help protect your skin from sun damage. Vitamin C and Vitamin E can help to protect your skin from the damaging effects of UV exposure. They do this by protecting your skin cells from damaging free radicals — which can cause chronic health problems — by preventing their formation, scavenging them, and promoting their decomposition.
Besides oral or topical supplements, these foods and drinks have plenty of antioxidants in them:
blueberries
green tea
yerba mate
pomegranate extract
coffee extract
cinnamon