The Environmental Working Group’s fourth annual Sunscreen Guide has been released and the findings might surprise you – EWG researchers recommend only 39 (that’s 8 percent) of the 500 beach and sport sunscreens tested for this season. The products that didn’t make the cut either don’t sufficiently protect skin from sun damage or contain dangerous chemicals – or both.

The EWG reports that there is a surge in exaggerated SPF claims above 50 and that the use of oxybenzone, a hormone-disrupting compound that penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream, is found in about 60 percent of the 500 beach and sport sunscreens analyzed. The products rated highest for their safety and efficacy, earning them EWG’s coveted “green” rating, all contain the minerals zinc or titanium.

The results have lead EWG to “warn consumers not to depend on any sunscreen for primary protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Hats, clothing and shade are still the most reliable sun protection.” But when you can’t go that route, the guide will help you pick the safest, most effective products out there.

It’s also important to note that vitamin D, formed in the skin through the action of the sun, is essential for many processes in the body, including maintaining healthy bones and a strong immune system and protection from certain types of cancer. Year round sunscreen use combined with too little time outdoors contributes to vitamin D deficiencies. Experts recommend that you aim for 15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure a minimum of 3 times a week, to keep your body producing vitamin D.

You can check the status of your sunscreen by searching the Environmental Working Group’s online database.

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1.  Moisturizing
You can start by applying moisturizer every day. Apply it after you leave the shower in the morning, after you hit the gym and before bed. If you are confused when buying a moisturizer, look for nutritive compounds in the lotion like the biopeptides in Biotherm Homme’s Age Refirm lotion. You should also keep your eyes open for something that protects from UVB and UVA rays. UVB rays can cause sunburn, but the UVA rays are the most dangerous as they can lead to skin cancer and deep lines.

2.  Wash your face in the shower
It may be a hard habit to break, but try washing your face in the shower instead of the sink. The steam in the shower will help to open your pores and clean deeper below the skin’s surface. Next, use an exfoliating facial scrub. The process of exfoliation will help to remove the outer layer of dead skin and reveal the newer skin beneath. This shedding of the outer layer unclogs pores and helps reduce acne breakouts. Once you are finished, lightly dry your face and put on a moisturizer immediately.

3.  Eliminate the bags under your eyes
Unfortunately, aging damages the skin around your eyes which is already the thinnest on your body. Eventually, the blood vessels beneath appear, and the waterlogged fatty areas around your eyes begin to droop, forming dark circles and the appearance of bags. However, there is good news, using a pea-sized drop of eye cream or serum, dabbed under each eye before bed, can help eliminate those dreaded bags under your eyes. When choosing an eye cream or serum, make sure to pick one that contains antioxidants or topical anti-inflammatories. Antioxidants which contain vitamins A, C and E can help to reverse damage from the sun. Finally, smoking can directly affect the appearance of your skin. The nicotine and other chemicals found in cigarettes can prevent proper microcirculation in your skin, resulting in damaged connective tissue. Also try avoiding eating foods with too much sodium as they can cause your body to flood with water and appear puffy and bloated looking.  

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