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Missed A Spot! 7 Places You’re Forgetting to Apply Sunscreen Klaudia Tirico
Sun damage is no joke. With skin cancer cases on the rise (five million people are treated in the U.S. annually), just this week the surgeon general issued a call to action for Americans to reduce their risk. But even if you’re regularly applying sunscreen, you may be missing a few commonly overlooked body parts while slathering on SPF. Here, we highlight those areas and give you simple solutions to ensure you're protected from head to toe.
Photo: Dominika Szijartóova by Branislav Simoncik for Harper’s Bazaar Czech Republic July 2012
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Eyes Klaudia Tirico
When applying sunscreen on the face, most people bypass the eye area for obvious reasons. Many sunscreens actually warn us to keep the product away from our eyes to avoid irritation and stinging. But the eye area needs SPF just as much as any other body part, since UV rays can end up hitting the area our sunnies don't cover. The solution is SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50, a mineral-based formula made specifically for the delicate eye area. Not only does it protect the skin around your peepers from broad spectrum rays, it even creates a smooth canvas for makeup. You can apply it all over the eye, including the lid, without worrying about irritation.$30 at SkinCeuticals.com and physician offices nationwide. -
Lips Klaudia Tirico
It sounds so obvious, but we wouldn't be surprised if your lip balm doesn’t have SPF in it — many formulas don't. No one wants to kiss with a sunburned pout, let alone apply that hot new coral lipstick on the irritated area. So unless you’d like a permanent lip color (yes, hyperpigmentation can occur on your pout), swap your current lippie for this Anthony Advanced Formula Lip Balm SPF 25. It provides broad spectrum protection and even targets aging with resveratrol. Plus, it’s unisex and leaves a matte finish, so you can share with your S.O.$8 at Sephora -
Chest Klaudia Tirico
You probably wear SPF on your face daily, whether you're beach-bound or not, but what about the area below the neck? Unless you're wearing a turtleneck, your décolletage is most likely being exposed to UV rays as much the skin on your face is. Give your cleavage a little TLC with Erno Laszlo’s Luminous Intensive Décolleté Treatment SPF 20. The luxe formula promotes cell turnover, erases sun spots, age spots and dark spots, and hydrates and protects all at the same time. That LBD with a deep V-neck is sure to look bomb from now on.$95 at Nordstrom -
Back of Neck + Ears Klaudia Tirico
Just like you'd apply a bit of bronzer to your ears and neck to make your makeup look more natural, the same goes for sunscreen. Unless you’re rocking a wide-brim hat all day long, you need some kind of SPF all over your ears and on the back of your neck. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Try a light tinted lotion like this L’Oréal Paris Advanced Suncare Silky Sheer BB Face Lotion on your face and just extend it out to your ears and the back of your neck. It doesn’t get easier than that. You’ll love the silky soft texture, matte finish and color-equalizing pigments.$10.99 for SPF 50+ at Drugstore.com(also available in SPF 30) -
Hands Klaudia Tirico
It’s about time we saw more hand creams with SPF, no? Again, even if your face looks young, you won’t be fooling anyone if your hands are sun damaged and wrinkled. With Ahava’s Age Perfecting Hand Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15, it’s so easy to stay protected. The non-greasy formula is blended with the brand’s signature dead sea minerals, hyaluronic acid, amino acids and natural oils to fight UVA and UVB rays, reduce dark spots and restore radiance and elasticity. You’re going to apply hand cream anyway, why not make it an SPF?$32 at Nordstrom -
Feet + Scalp Klaudia Tirico
If you’ve got flip flop tan lines, you’re probably not doing everything you can to protect the tops of your feet from UV rays. The feet tend to get skipped because we don’t want to slip and slide inside our sandals. Oily formulas also mean most of us skip SPF on our scalps — who wants to grease up their hair by smearing sunscreen on their part? Instead of heavy creams, try a lightweight spray like this L’Oréal Paris Advanced Suncare Quick Dry Sheer Finishing Spray. Once you spray on the alcohol-free formula, it dries instantly and leaves a matte finish – you won’t even know it’s there. Plus, antioxidants like vitamin E and white grape seed keep skin healthy and beautiful.$9.99 for SPF 30 at Drugstore.com(also available in SPF 50)
