Sunscreen for Everything
Sunscreen: the bottles of yummy-smelling lotion that seem totally overpriced, but are a must-have to protect yourself from the sun. Most of us probably only apply it to the basic areas of our body- legs, arms, chest, stomach, etc. While lathering on sunscreen is super important, it only protects the areas you apply it to (mainly your body). The truth is that sun exposure also has effects on other areas- including your hair, lips and other small spots we all seem to forget about (like our ears and toes). Here are a few products with SPF for those areas we usually forget about.
Sunscreen For Your Hair & Scalp
UV rays can wreak havoc on your hair, believe it or not. I notice that in the summer, my hair turns a few shades lighter from time spent in the sun. While I don’t mind the slightly-blonder shade, I don’t enjoy the damage that the sun is doing underneath the new pretty color. I usually will wear my hair up in a bun or cover it up with a light head scarf or hat to prevent damage. A woven sunhat or a head wrap are great options.
Another great alternative is using products that are created specifically to protect your hair from fading or getting damaged from the sun. My pick is the Ojon Color Sustain PRO Fade-Fighter Weekly Conditioning Treatment. This product is used once a week and protects your hair color for up to 40 washes. Ingredients like jasmine wax, UV sunscreen and jojoba oil come together to increase shine, give you a vibrant color and form a protective barrier from the sun.
Sunscreen For Your Lips
Since slathering sunscreen on your lips isn’t that appealing, investing in a chapstick with a high SPF is a must. If you want a little bit of color or a glossy finish, try the Miracle Skin Transformer Lip Rewind Advanced Peptide Lip Treatment. This product not only features broad spectrum SPF 20, but comes in a variety of pretty shades. If you’re looking for a higher SPF and something a little more organic, try CoTZ Lip Balm, which has SPF 45 and is free of sunscreen, oils, gluten and chemicals. Supergoop AcaiFusion’ Lip Balm has SPF 30 and a variety of other helpful ingredients such as acai, shea butter and vitamins E and C.
Sunscreen For Your Ears & Scalp
How many times have you put on SPF only to come back from the beach with burnt feet, ears or a scalp? Probably quite a few. These are a few of the often over-looked areas that most people forget to apply sunscreen to. Since lotion can be annoying and messy on these areas, the key is to find a formula and applicator that works well. The Mustela Broad Spectrum Mineral Sunscreen Stick boasts SPF 50+ protection. The unique, deodorant like application makes it easy to apply to hard-to-get-to areas and works wonders on babies and children, too. Similar products to try include Clinique Sun Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Sunscreen Targeted Protection Stick or Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 60.
What about your scalp? The Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral Powder has SPF 45 in a convenient brush applicator. Genius!
I completely forgot to bring my leave-in conditioner with UV protection on vacation, and I could really tell the difference. I did some serious deep conditioning when we got back because it felt so dry!
Oh no! Even a dip in the pool makes my hair feel weird (it could just be my mind though!)
My scalp ALWAYS burns no matter what I do… I need one of those sticks!
Lotion is too sticky to apply, so I feel like powder is the easiest way!
I am a SPF freak year round but especially in the summer so I love this. I’ve been curious about the PTR brush on sunscreen – have you tried it? Seems like it could be great for reapplying over makeup but I’ve heard mixed reviews. I love the supergoop sunscreen spray with antioxdants and that balm sounds really great too!
I haven’t tried the specific one in this post, but I’ve tried the Physicians Formula drugstore one and it worked well. My scalp doesn’t burn that much because I usually don’t have a part when I’m out int he sun (I throw my hair in a ponytail)
I love Ojon products I need to look into it, my hair does get lighter in the summertime. Good to know.
GREAT post! I am so careful about sun protection. Supergoop! is great. I actually mentioned it in my post today too. 🙂
Twins!
i needed to be better with the scalp protection when i was in antigua…i got a sunburn on my scalp right along my hairline and it was so itchy and annoying! i need to always wear a hat from now on since my hair is so fine. these are such great products that you recommended!
Oh no! The itching afterwords is the worst
The Peter Thomas Roth Mineral Powder is awesome! It’s so much easier to use in my hair than anything else!!!
I only heard about it recently- I was missing out!
YES sunscreen for your scalp! Need that. I always forget, or once I realize it’s too late! xo, Julie
I always need to remind myself to reapply to my lips. They get so dry and damaged!
Love the Neutrogena Baby stick!
I had NO idea that they made sunscreen for your scalp! I NEED THIS!!!! I burn like its my job unless I’m covered in sunscreen…and I never forget my ears or my feets! Thank you for posting this!
Glad you enjoyed it! I burn easily too (stupid Irish skin) and I always put extra on my feet ever since I burned them on spring break once!
This is a lot of great options. Nice post!
thanks!
I’m into the mineral powders. They provide great coverage and are so sheer. Physician’s Formula also has a great one!
These are such awesome products Rachel…thanks for sharing! Love that woven sunhat 🙂
These are ALL so important! I always forget about my ears and usually burn them pretty badly. I should look into getting one of these sticks!
As a gal with fair skin, I am a huge advocate of sunscreen. Thank you SO much for the tip about the Peter Thomas Roth one. I will definitely be buying that!
Glad to hear!
I am always looking for the right sunscreen! I have never thought of a conditioning treatment for your hair though. I will have to go buy this.
For blondes I’d say it’s a must-have (although I know you aren’t blonde haha)
Great post! I usually use deep conditioner at the beach, but sunscreen for hair works even better!
That works, too!
This is a great post! My mother has melanoma in the lymph nodes and her father has melanoma as well as her mother, sister, great aunt, and brother– so along with being Irish (fair skin).. I’m sure you can hear them now, always telling me to put on sun screen since we live in a FL beach town. I must admit that I am bad about putting it on but now that I know about these awesome products, I’m sure to know what to use. Thank you.
I’m sorry to hear about your family history with skin cancer Jamie. Sunscreen is so important- I like to use products daily that have SPF already built in, like chapstick and foundation
Thank you! I use Oil of Olay moisturizer that includes SPF on my face.. usually I forget when I’m outside.. I really need to work on that. YIKES!
Oh my gosh I went to the beach this past weekend and my scalp got burned SO BAD, right along my part. It was terrible and hurt to brush and blow dyr for a few days.
it’s the worst spot!
I’m actually totally obsessed with power sunscreen- PTR makes the best version. So handy + quick, and it doesn’t irritate my skin/eyes when I apply it to my face. 🙂
I need to recommend it to a friend who hates the sticky formula of most sunscreens!
Supergoop is my go-to sunscreen! I love all of their products… so happy to see them featured here 😀
i always forget about sun damage to my hair! i’ll have to try that ojan conditioning treatment.. x
I’ve never even thought of protecting my hair- and I definitely need to do better with protecting my scalp… apparently I just forget about my head.
haha
I am the worst at remembering my scalp when it comes to sun protection. Thanks for the reminder. I’ll have to check out these products.
I’ve been in desperate search of sunscreen for my lips. Since I’m allergic to a lot of different types of lipstick/chapstick, I think the organic one might work. I’ll give it a shot! Where do they sell those?
I know you can buy it online (like on drugstore.com), so I’d assume it’s in drugstores, too. It might be in the medicine aisle since it’s medicated.
I totally just bought it on amazon. Thanks for the tip! I hope it works, my lips are SO sensitive to the sun and nothing I’ve tried has helped!
yay let me know!
Awesome! I am all about sunscreen. I am new to your blog, and glad I found it!
Thanks so much Rachel!
i like that there’s a mineral spf powder…i might need that!
1. Supergoop is the best lip sunscreen ever. 2. I have that Peter Thomas Roth powder and never thought about using it on my scalp OR ears- what a dummy! I usually just use it for reapplication once I have makeup on! 3. My daily face sunscreen in Philosophy Hope and I love it because it isn’t too greasy and leaves my skin with a good base for makeup!
(I’m a sunscreen obsessor – like, I will spray my friends when we’re in the sun without their permission and they hate me for it kind of obsessor. Their wrinkles will thank me later!)
haha it’s great for an extra layer on top of makeup just like you mentioned!
Great post!! Sun damage is really a silent enemy, we realize the damage very late!
Great post, I need a new one for my hair!
I’ve never really thought of sunscreen for hair but it’s a great idea!
I love Clinique’s sunscreen products. They’re scent free (or maybe I just like the scent) which is such a bonus. But lately, I’ve been trying to simplify and spend less on beauty products so I’m using Neutrogena’s spf moisturizer lately and I love it! I definitely need to apply it more to my scalp and neck area though.
Neutrogena is a great drugstore brand! I have their SPF 70 in my purse at all times!
I swear by Ojon in the summer! My hair literally gets fried from the heat and wind, but it keeps everything in check.