Around the time I turned 20 I decided to radically change the way I was protecting and nourishing my skin. The whole thing started as an inward change: if I wanted fresh, young skin I had to stop hurting it. There are so many ways we unknowingly inflict pain on our own bodies!
I noticed, for example, that every time I went through a conflictive or stressful week, my face immediately reacted with a subtle outbreak. Sometimes it started out so small that I wasn’t able to tell what had caused it when it got worse a few weeks later. But I started studying my emotions, the food I ate, and the environment I moved in for a while. What I learned was truly eye-opening: for me, healthier skin depended on a calmer life. I had to become more aware of my energy, the way my meals were prepared, and how I reacted to my surroundings.
Then, and only then, I started making outward changes to my skincare routine. These helped with the more environmental factors I mentioned before. When I traveled somewhere cold and dry, there were ways to keep my skin hydrated. When I returned to the hot and humid climate I live in most of the year, there was a different set of products that could help me balance out the need to moisturize and the need to control oil. Likewise, whenever I know I’ll be exposed to direct sunlight, there are a few go-to products that help my skin (face, hands, feet, and the rest of the body) stay fresh.
Going Organic
Regardless of the climate conditions, I noticed a clear difference when I switched to organic products. My skin problems slowly reacted to more natural ingredients like green tea, lavender, aloe vera, and chamomile. While those specific components might benefit my oil-prone skin, there’s a wide range of organic products targeting other skin types like dry and mixed.
I wrote this article to share that list with you, hoping that it’ll also help you control for all of the external factors hurting your skin. As you read this, remember that there are inner matters to heal and balance if you want long-term skin and health changes.
My Go-to Sun Care Products
Let’s split this into products that have worked for me prior to sun exposure and right after.
Before you hit the sun:
- A facial sunscreen that protects your skin without leaving it greasy or uncomfortable, like Alba Botanica’s Very Emollient Facial Sunscreen (SPF 30)
- A body sunscreen that’s waterproof and dries fast like Alba Botanica’s Hawaiian Sunscreen with Green Tea (SPF 45)
- Water. Make sure to drink enough water while you’re under the sun, since your body is getting dehydrated.
- A hydrating lip balm. I like Nivea’s tinted Shea Butter and Cherry Extract formula, but there are other brands that offer SPF protection for lips like Burt’s Bees.
After a day of sun:
- An oil-free moisturizer to hydrate your skin after being exposed to sunlight, like Alba Botanica’s Hawaiian Aloe Vera and Green Tea Moisturizer
- A body scrub to clean your skin, like Alba Botanica’s Natural Acne Dote Scrub. Sometimes your skin is too sensitive to use this on day 1, but make sure to exfoliate sometime after your day of sun to make sure that any dead cells are removed.
- A relaxing mask for your feet, like Kocostar’s Foot Moisture Pack. Don’t forget feet! Especially if you’re like me and love running around barefoot. All that hot sand calls for some serious R&R.
- If you feel like your face needs an extra bit of moisturizing, try a flower-infused mask like Kocostar’s Camellia Happy Mask.
- Your hair and scalp are also hit by intense sunlight. I’ve seen great results using Organix’s Biotin and Collagen Conditioner.
Any other sun care products you know and love? I’d love to read about them below!
