SUN 101

It’s Time For Swim Season…You Ready?

By: Allie White

You’re mentally on vacation – better get your dopp kit in order, too.

Have you ever heard of “Blue Monday”? Apparently, it’s the most depressing day of the year due to its distance from the winter holidays, time to the next round of vacation days, likelihood of broken New Year’s resolutions, and weather in the northern hemisphere. Depending on which source you believe, it either just passed or is about to happen.

But I’d actually advocate for a rebrand, something more like, “Blue Month-and-a-Half.” Because this stretch of the year? It’s brutal. Unless you’re a winter baby with something to celebrate, live in Australia, or are the world’s most optimistic optimist, there’s very little to get psyched about from late January to early March.

While I’m absolutely not the world’s most optimistic optimist (nor am I a winter baby or live in Australia), I have found a few **mindset shifts** that help me somewhat-healthily navigate the depths of winter rather than curling up under a blanket while eating dry cereal out of the box for six to eight weeks. One of them is meticulously planning extravagant vacations to warm, sunny locales and then mentally packing my bag.

Crazy? Nah. Aspirational. Inspirational. Do-what-it-takes-to-survive-the-winterational.

Here’s what I’m packing in my fictional toiletry bag for my imaginary trip to a fantasy overwater bungalow in Bali. Where are you headed?

TO PROTECT MY WINTERIZED SKIN THAT HASN’T SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY IN EONS:

Have you ever had fun applying sunscreen? Didn’t think so. Whether it’s a bottle that refuses to cooperate, a texture you can’t stand applying, or leftover residue that just won’t sink into your skin, traditional sunscreen doesn’t exactly scream “PARTYYYY!” Until now. The Classic Whip Sunscreen from cult-fave SPF brand Vacation is quite literally an ice cream party in a bottle. Cleverly designed like a can of whipped cream, this SPF 30 dispenses seamlessly and the lightweight mousse sunscreen is a breeze to apply. And it’s reef-friendly!

TO DO THE SAME AS ABOVE, BUT FOR MY FACE — AND MAKE IT NO-BRAINER EASY:

No matter how old I get, it’s impossible not to hear my mom’s voice when I’m out in the sun, reminding me to reapply SPF “every few hours…just to be safe…you’re so fair!” Well, mom, the joke’s on me because as an adult with my own agency, nothing thrills me more than remembering to re-up my sun protection. (Lesson learned, sun poisoning of ‘03!) And because I’m a delicate little flower who is also high-maintenance, I absolutely require a different SPF formula for my face than the rest of my body. Which is why I was absolutely thrilled to discover Larkly’s Mineral Powder Face Sunscreen recently.

First off, mineral sunscreen FTW. Plus, the compact size and easy-to-use brush applicator means it takes mere seconds to ensure your face stays safe in the sun. A few generous swipes of this UVA and UVB protectant and you’re good to go for a few more hours — without any greasy residue or downtime before jumping back in the water.

TO ENSURE I SMELL AS DELICIOUS AS THE TROPICAL LOCALE I’M SUNNING IN:

With a name like “Surf,” you better believe this all-natural fragrance is transportative. No artificial notes, no chemically-altered ingredients, all 100% natural make this blend of warm florals, citrus, exotic flowers and notes of vanilla vacation in a bottle. Perfect for a subtle fragrance while you sun yourself on the beach or, ya know, while you sit on your couch dreaming of the beach.

TO CARE FOR MY SKIN AFTER I INEVITABLY GET A LITTLE TOO SUNKISSED BECAUSE I MISSED A SPOT:

Ok ok, even the most fastidious SPF wearers sometimes miss a spot (or, you know, an entire limb). We’re on vacation! Leave us alone! I couldn’t possibly set this tropical drink down for one second to accurately apply sunscreen to my legs! For those of us who have good intentions but subpar application technique when it comes to sunscreen, it’s wise to pack some after-sun care as well…you know, just in case. For instant soothing, cooling and hydration of that sun-parched skin, consider the Lifeguard Relief Gel from Dune Suncare.

Dune Suncare The Lifeguard Relief Gel

With an aloe vera base (because of course), this stuff also features hibiscus and neem extracts, vitamin E, seabuckthorn, and at least a dozen other restorative, hydrating ingredients. Oh, and it absorbs almost instantly — no more sticky residue of aloes past.

NUDA Bronzing Glow Drops

TO MAKE THAT “VACATION GLOW” LAST WELL AFTER THE TRIP IS OVER:

Alas, all good things — including imaginary tropical vacations — must come to an end. But your sunkissed glow doesn’t have to be one of them. When you're back on non-beach land and your hard-earned tan is starting to wane, fake it a bit with Nuda’s Bronzing Glow Drops. This super-blendable complexion enhancer is radiance in a bottle: squalane, ginger, lavender and moringa brighten and hydrate skin while also letting you control the intensity of the bronzing effect depending on how many drops you want to use.

Use it alone on your skin, mix it with foundation, or, you know, disappear for a week and re-emerge with this on your face and try to convince everyone you were just “unplugged on a beach somewhere for a few days.” They’ll never know.