The sun, a source of life and vitality, can also be a formidable enemy to the health of our skin. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause burns, premature skin aging, and even increase the risk of skin cancer. However, with a few simple precautions, it is entirely possible to enjoy the benefits of the sun while preserving your health.
Protecting yourself from the sun is an essential habit, both in summer and winter. During your sports activities, walks, or at the beach, it is crucial to adopt the right practices to avoid sunburns or worse, skin diseases. It is often mistakenly thought that to tan, one should avoid sunscreen, whereas it is quite the opposite... In this article, we reveal our best tips (we're not going to invent anything very new, but still!) to protect yourself from the sun effectively: avoid intense exposure hours, maintain good hydration, choose an eco-friendly sunscreen (preferably), and opt for adequate physical protection, especially if you surf!
By following these simple tips, you can fully enjoy the pleasures of the outdoors while preserving the health and beauty of your skin.
1: Avoid intense exposure hours
It is known, but it is important to remind. Practical safety advice persists! Between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., UV rays are the most intense and the most dangerous for the skin. It is therefore better to avoid exposure in the early afternoon. If you have no choice, if you absolutely want to enjoy the beach or not miss a series of exceptional waves, don't forget head protection! Seek shade as much as possible. Favor areas not exposed to the sun, umbrellas, or head coverings! Ideally, sun exposure should be gradual and moderate.
2: Apply an appropriate and environmentally friendly sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun
Sunscreen is essential to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun. It is recommended to choose high SPF levels, especially at the beginning of summer when the skin is less accustomed to intense sun exposure. A golden rule for the face: always opt for an SPF 50 sunscreen. This area is the most sensitive and exposed all year round, and using high sun protection will help prevent the appearance of brown spots or premature wrinkles.
When choosing a sunscreen, make sure it provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays, in order to protect your skin from the short- and long-term effects of the sun.
It is essential to reapply sunscreen every two hours, as well as after each swim, to maintain effective protection against UV rays. At the same time, using a moisturizing cream with an anti-UV index throughout the year can also help protect your skin from sun damage.
Did you know?
The protection of corals has become a major concern in recent years, as coral reefs are valuable but also very fragile marine ecosystems. The use of sunscreens containing certain chemical ingredients can have harmful effects on the health of corals, contributing to their bleaching and decline.
Some ingredients found in traditional sunscreens, such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, are particularly harmful to corals. When swimmers bathe in the ocean after using these creams, the chemicals are released into the water and have a negative impact on nearby corals.
For this reason, many sunscreen brands have developed alternative formulations that are considered "Reef Friendly", meaning they are free of ingredients harmful to corals. These sunscreens use mineral filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which provide effective sun protection while being safe for coral reefs and other marine organisms.
By choosing "Reef Friendly" sunscreens, you can help protect corals and preserve the health of marine ecosystems! Luckily, on Hawaii Surf you can find 2 brands Reef Friendly, Cruelty Free and Vegan:
- Sun Bum : founded in 2010 by a group of passionate surfers from Florida. It offers sun care products committed to taking care of you, nature, and animals. Indeed, their products are all certified Reef Friendly, Cruelty Free, and Vegan. The brand uses natural ingredients such as coconut oil, avocado oil, banana peel pulp, and aloe vera. Their product range is very diverse. It extends from sunscreen to after-sun care, to hair care, and even banana lip balm!
- Seventy One Percent : French brand freshly created in 2021 once again by a team of passionate surfers. Very quickly, their products became summer essentials for lovers of the sun and the ocean. The Seventy One Percent sunscreens are all made from 100% natural ingredients that respect marine life and animals. The SPF 50+ creams and sticks have been specially designed for surfing. They are therefore ultra-resistant to water and sweat to guarantee you optimal protection against the sun, even in the water.
3. Maintaining good hydration helps protect against the sun
4. Do not neglect physical protection
Ne surtout pas négliger la protection physique avec une combinaison, un lycra ou un t-shirt anti-UV. Elle permet de se protéger du soleil efficacement sans aucun effort ! Pendant vos sessions, l'exposition au soleil avec la réverbération de l'eau est nettement plus dangereuse que sur la terre. Il est donc indispensable de se protéger le corps avec du néoprène ou un lycra s'il fait vraiment chaud. Nous avons donc sélectionné des produits qui pourraient vous être très utile pour vous protéger lors de vos prochaines sessions surf. 
Est-il vraiment utile de rappeler que porter une protection pour la tête est indispensable ? Ne prenez pas le risque d'attraper une insolation, optez pour une casquette, un joli chapeau ou un bob ! Si vous surfez ou que avez tendance à rester des heures à l'eau, nous avons une excellente alternative disponible sur notre site : le bob de surf ! Ultra pratique, étanche mais surtout réglable au niveau du cou, comme ça, vous ne risquez pas de le perdre. La protection sur la tête permet de se protéger du soleil efficacement et surtout d'éviter les insolations et les maux de tête. Alors, protéger sa tête oui, mais n'oublions pas les yeux ! Les lunettes de soleil sont indispensables toute l'année. Les yeux craignent énormément les UV, surtout quand ils sont clairs. Alors, on opte pour une bonne paire de solaire qui bloquent les rayons UVA et UVB.
Normally, with all this information, you have everything you need to have a great summer without any risk. All that's left is to enjoy! Hoping this article will be useful to you, we'll see you very soon for a new topic on the blog!
