Not Your Mother's Sunscreen

Okay, raise your hand if you sat in the sun without protection when you were younger—literally baked yourself like a biscuit. (Do the words “baby oil” bring it all back?) Clearly, we didn’t know any better.

Today we all know that overexposure to the sun is deadly… that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S…. and that there are 1 million new cases every year. You can’t possibly read all this information and then say with a straight face that you didn’t have time to put sunscreen on, or that you forgot it or your dog used it all.

Listen....we know you don't want a lecture. But you probably don't want a skin cancer diagnosis either, right?

Whenever you’re in the sun, apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to all exposed areas, and reapply it frequently when you’re swimming or sweating. No excuses. And do yourself a favor right now—check the sunscreen in your medicine cabinet or beach bag. It takes roughly two teaspoons to give you adequate coverage. That means that if you've had it for more than four trips to the beach (give or take) you aren't using enough. And if you bought it last summer? It's probably time for a new tube.

Viva summer! Viva sun! It's OK to enjoy the season. Just take care of your beautiful skin first!