Heart & Soul

As we get closer to L.A. be sure to arrive sun-kissed, not sunburned. We’ve come a long, long way from baby oil. Protect your winter skin from spring sunshine and dodge summer’s mega rays with a few easy tips.

Sun wear: The first line of defense from the sun is clothing. Choose light-colored shirts and pants, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats. If you plan to make being in the sun a habit or you’re sensitive to the sun, consider investing in apparel made with fabrics that have sun-blocking technology. Rated at SPF 50 and higher, high-performance SPF wear also contains anti-bacterial and moisture-wicking properties. Find SPF clothing at landsend.com and spfstore.com, which sells high-performance as well as casual clothing.

Sunblock: Look for sun protection factor of 30 to 50. SPF any higher is not necessary; who needs to be protected in the sun for 80 times longer than you could without sunblock? Just be sure it contains protection against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays.

Sensitive skin

A good bet for people sensitive to the chemicals in sunscreen is to figure out which one you’re allergic to and avoid it. PABA and oxybenzone have been known to irritate You can also try a lotion or spray that contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide – they’re physical sun filters and are good for using on babies’ tender skin, too. The downside is that some formulations can look chalky, especially on darker skin.

Slather, sun, repeat

Use a generous amount–an ounce, or enough to fill a shot glass–to exposed areas of your body before you get into the sun if you can, and repeat every few hours, or sooner if you’re swimming or sweating. Choose a spray if you’ll use it more often.

Use it up

Don’t let it lay around all winter. Use it as lotion year round. Even winter sun has wrinkle-etching UVA rays, so keep your face and bod protected all year.

–Nichele Hoskins

Next tip: sunscreens we love.