Nothing beats the feeling of warm sunlight on your skin, especially after a cold winter.
On one hand, the sun helps us produce vitamin D, a hormone necessary for, among other things, bone health and immune function; on the other hand, too much sunlight can be harmful to the skin.
Because of this paradox, we need to find a balance between getting enough sun and avoiding damage from overexposure. Regardless of what you may have heard before, this does not always require sunscreen.
Sunscreen can actually reduce our body's ability to produce vitamin D.
Sunscreen starts with your diet
What you put into your body is very important – or even more important – than the protection you apply to your skin. Antioxidants are potent natural UV protectors, and specific sources of them can help protect the skin.
Eating vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients (the compounds that make fruits, berries, and vegetables colorful) enhances the skin’s protection. Think vegetables, sprouts, seaweed, fruit, and berries. Colorful!
Here are some of the many ways you can protect your skin when you are in the sun:
Sunny spices
Exciting research in plant biology has discovered the synergistic protective effects of turmeric and ginger on skin health.
Both ginger and turmeric contain powerful antioxidants and soothing properties that help protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
Become a tea connoisseur
Brief exposure to direct UV light is all it takes to activate collagenase and elastase, two enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of the skin’s collagen matrix.
Studies have shown that white tea, one of the least processed types of tea, inhibits these two enzymes, likely protecting against early wrinkle formation.
White tea also provides a high level of antioxidants. Green tea is also rich in antioxidants.
Load up on tomatoes
One of the most studied compounds in tomatoes is lycopene, and for very good reasons. Several studies point to lycopene’s ability to protect against free radicals caused by too much sunlight.
Natural tomato paste appears to contain the highest levels of lycopene compared to raw tomatoes. Tomatoes also contain a number of other antioxidants, including vitamin C, which complement lycopene’s protective effects.
Supplements that can help
Certain herbs and natural nutrients can be an excellent way to protect your skin from sun damage. Here are some of our favorites:
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant often cited as a potent protector against UV damage.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is another powerful antioxidant that can inhibit DNA mutation after direct UV exposure.
Promising studies show that pomegranate extract can protect keratinocytes from UV-induced oxidative damage. Resveratrol is found, among other places, in Cell Fuzion, a very effective antioxidant blend.
Omega-3
Omega-3 is a healthy fatty acid that helps strengthen circulation and elasticity in all the body’s cells, thereby also boosting the skin’s “self-defense.”
Beta-carotene
Beta-carotenes provide extra protection against the sun’s harmful rays, can inhibit the onset of sun rash, and contribute to a faster and more even tan.
Beta-carotenes are found in, for example, parsley, sprouts, carrots, spinach, kale, dill, papaya, spirulina, and other algae such as Dunaliella salina.
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid (antioxidant) derived from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis.
Astaxanthin is a very powerful antioxidant that can counteract free radicals. Astaxanthin is the compound that gives the pink color to salmon, shrimp, and flamingos.
Collagen
If the body is exposed to large amounts of UV light from the sun or a tanning bed, collagen production will be inhibited. Collagen is important for healthy and elastic skin.
Nowadays, there is a vegan-friendly type called Vollagen that contains the same 18 amino acids in the same proportions as human collagen but in free form, making them easily absorbed.
Evening primrose oil
Evening primrose oil contains important fatty acids that help repair the skin, and it can also inhibit specific enzymes in the skin that break down collagen, potentially delaying wrinkle formation.
Good organic sunscreen
If you prefer to protect yourself with a sun lotion, we of course have the very best natural and organic products for you!
Here you will find Alga Maris SPF 30 with physical protection suitable for both face and body. This sun spray has a light texture that makes it very easy to apply and quickly absorbed into the skin.
It contains, among other things, sunflower oil and coconut oil that nourish the skin, and titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that protect the skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Here you will find Suntribe SPF 30, which is a physical sunscreen. The sun cream is lightly tinted to blend into your skin tone.
It offers broad-spectrum protection (UVA+UVB), is water-resistant, and provides sun protection factor 30 (blocking 97% of the sun’s UVB rays).
There are both physical and chemical sunscreens with different properties and functions.
