Tips for Taking Better Care of Your Skin, On and Off the Beach

Let’s face it, we’ve all seen those people who look as if they’ve spent one (or 100) too many long days lounging by the pool, basking along the beach or navigating the waters searching for fish and fun. And while having that just right sunkissed glow can be a rather attractive asset, no one wants to appear ten years older with skin like leather just to scream, “I live at the beach!”

1 Use Sunscreen

In our modern culture most of us have come to understand that if our skin doesn’t look healthy, in many ways we don’t look healthy. Even more importantly than appearance, however, is the real-world knowledge that protecting and taking care of our skin is vastly important to our overall longevity. And we now know that this doesn’t just mean when you’re 40, or 50, or 70 years old.

It means taking care of your skin all the time. Because the truth is, most of the damage manifested in skin problems isn’t due to what you do today, as much as is it what you did 10, 15, or 25 years ago. That notwithstanding, ‘It’s never too late to start putting more emphasis on skin health, and following some of these simple suggestions can certainly make for a positive difference now and down the road.

Yes, I know you know that. But, do you?’Most of us have been lectured about sunscreen until someone was blue in the face. Yet, strangely, we still get red because we don’t always use it. Go figure. By now we’ve all read a lot of conflicting information on good and bad sunscreen use, along with what strength to use and what those numbers do and don’t “really” mean. The bottom line is, while using good sunscreen is great, using anything is likely better than using nothing at all –especially on those days in the direct sun for hours. You should apply sunscreen almost religiously whenever you’re outside for over an hour, and you should definitely be reapplying every two hours when you’re at the beach, pool, or just working in the yard for many hours in a day. All sunscreens are formulated and manufactured to protect wearers against UVB rays, which are the primary cause of sunburns, sun damage, and most skin cancers, however UVA rays –which we seem to hear less about—are also causes of wrinkles, sunspots, skin cancers, and overall premature and unattractive aging of the skin.

Because you need to protect yourself against both types of these sun derived culprits, most dermatologist and physicians recommend that their patients (and the rest of us sun lovers too) procure a good SPF 50, or higher, broad-spectrum sunscreen. It’s also worth noting, that especially for beach or pool days, one uses a formula that states it is water-resistant. Be prepared to reapply after taking a dip in the gulf or pool though... not even the best brands will stay on through all those saltwater splashes and belly flops.

2 Use the right soaps and cleansers for YOUR skin

One of the best things you can do to protect your skin -particularly your face- from sun damage is to takecare of your skin in other ways too. For starters this means using the right soaps and cleansers for your skin type, and the climate, and even season. For instance, most dermatologist will tell you that one of the best soaps for your face and skin is simply good old fashion white Dove.

Yep, even better across the majority of skin types than expensive brand name cleansers that cost ten to twenty times the investment in that one bar of Dove.

3 Hydrate your body to hydrate your skin

We all hear so much about drinking enough water, and the importance of staying hydrated, but the simple truth is... well, it is a simple truth. Most all of us (somewhat dependent on body size and composition) need to get a minimum of 60 to 150 ounces of water per day. And, most people don’t do this. Back to the simple common sense aspect of skin care: if your entire body is dehydrated then your skin is too. What I’ve found that works is simply keeping a 12 to 20 ounce glass bottle of cool purified water in the refrigerator (at home, work, or a cooler in your car) and making yourself chug it the number of times a day to get the amount you need. The general rule is ½ to 1 ounce of water daily, for every pound of body weight, with the variation in ounces being based largely on how much you are using or losing in various activities and climate conditions.

Writer Bio:

4 Watch alcohol content when outdoors in the sun and heat

I’m not going to lie. I like a big cold beer (or five) as much as anyone I know. However, I think we’ve all established that alcohol is a dehydrant. So, if you have a tendency, like me, to load up a cooler of your favorite libations when heading out for a day on the sand or water just make sure you remember to slam those 60 to 150 ounces of water you need in between the other tastier drinks. It’s also a good idea to limit daily drinking to a few drinks a day… okay, until the weekend if you must. I’m not telling you what to do or how to live your life. However, we’ve all seen that guy who drinks a six pack a night, and how does he look? Not the best skin, right? And probably a good 15 years older. Yeah, not good for your skin… see how easy this is?

5 Get your nutrients... Inside and out

Remember that whole, “you are what you eat” adage? Well, somewhat unfortunately, it’s mostly true! A whole lot of things aren’t particularly good for you, so lets skip that list and just go to what is specifically good for your skin, when it comes to what you eat. Think vitamin C rich foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in polyphenols and beta-carotene. Things like soybeans, nuts and seeds, oily fish, and even coffee can be helpful in keeping healthy glowing skin from the inside out. As for giving your skin -especially your face- a dose of nutrients, you can’t go wrong by using a good vitamin C serum to help nourish your skin and keep that youthful glow all year long. Vitamin C also goes a long way in helping your skin heal after sun damage, as well as, lightening sun spots that were caused by too much sun exposure.

Will Estell is a writer, realtor, and media entrepreneur with over 600 published magazine features, and numerous online articles in an array of genres. Over the past 25 years Will has been instrumental in founding twelve new magazine titles from concept to fruition, as well as serving as editor in chief for numerous others, before becoming a real estate agent. Originally from the backwoods of rural Mississippi, Will is a father of three who splits his time between Destin and Navarre, along with his wife, ABC 3 news anchor, Laura Hussey. He is a regular contributor to VIP Magazines.