Our favourite sun-care tips and tricks

This month we are diving into our favourite sun-care tips and tricks. So be sure to stick around and read through what each of us is doing this summer. 

Sara Ward

Lately, I’ve been fixated on my hands, scrutinizing every sunspot and wrinkle that’s making its grand entrance. It’s a strange obsession, I know, but hey, we all love a little quirkiness, right? So, this month, my sun advice takes you on a delightful detour from the usual zinc oxide. 

Brace yourselves for a playful journey where sun protection and food as medicine intertwine, leading me on a quest to defy those sunspots and wrinkles.

Let’s delve into the fascinating world of PUFAs (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) and sun protection. Did you know that what you eat can affect how you react to the sun? 

Meet your sun-slaying warrior, Omega-3! 

Think of it as the caped crusader found in fatty fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds. It boasts anti-inflammatory powers and soothes your skin after sun-soaked adventures. 

But watch out for the mischievous troublemaker, Omega-6! 

Omega-6 lurks in processed foods and vegetable oils, ready to stir up inflammation and make your skin more sensitive to those UV rays. Hello, sunspots and sunburns.

Your diet is like a magical potion that can unleash your sun-kissed superpowers! Combine the right foods with your sun protection routine, cute hats and sassy shades, and you’ll be unstoppable. Load up on Omega-3-rich goodies and indulge in a rainbow of fruits and veggies for a boost of antioxidants to fight free radicals.

Embrace the sun, dance with delight and shine on, my radiant friends!

Lisa Matsuzaki

Skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, acne and dermatitis are a challenge in both allopathic and alternative medicine because they are stubborn and systemic; affected by our hormones, diet, stress levels and environmental conditions. 

In TCM, we are always looking for the root cause to treat with acupuncture and herbal formulas, often recommending food therapies and topicals as well. We work to reduce inflammation in the body with acupuncture but key in reducing flare-ups is food and lifestyle choices. Everyone’s constitution is different but reducing certain foods like refined carbs and sugar, fried and processed foods and replacing them with more anti-inflammatory foods like berries, fatty fish, and cruciferous vegetables can help.

I am also seeing more and more folks who are looking to avoid topical steroids to treat their eczema and psoriasis and I love the Emily Skin Soothers line of products we carry at The Village which are rooted in Chinese Herbal Medicine.

Skin conditions take time to heal but with a layered approach of acupuncture, herbs, food and topicals, I have seen some amazing results.

SKIN CARE

I love skin care and it is part of my self-care to zone out while listening to a podcast and putting things on my face!!

Here is my routine:

AM:

Rinse face with water

Cosrx Snail Mucin (Yes, you read that correctly.)

La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Face Serum – every other day

Moisturizer warm months: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream for Extra-Dry Skin

Moisturizer cold months: Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream 

Sunscreen Biore Aqua Riche Watery Essence 50+ (I love this product and get mine from a random shop in Landsdowne Mall in Richmond but have seen it at Metrotown too)

PM: 

Double cleanse:

e.l.f. Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm then Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Alternating days:

Retinol Redermic Retinol Intensive or chemical exfoliant Naturium Azelaic Acid

Cosrx Snail Mucin

Moisturizer – either Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream or Mount Lai Balancing Facial Oil Sometimes Cicaplast Baume B5 

Sharyn Turner

Anyone who grew up in Australia knows the adage: Slip, Slop, Slap. 

I think nowadays there are a few more S’s:

Slip – on a shirt/rash guard

Slop – on sunscreen

Slap – on a hat

Seek – shade

Slide – on a pair of sunglasses

But these instructions still hold true. Physically blocking the harshest sunlight from our skin is our best defence against premature aging and skin conditions, including cancer. I also prefer to stay out of the direct sun between 11 and 3, if possible. 

AND! Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day, especially if you’re in the water. If you use a chemical-style sunscreen, make sure you follow the directions and apply it before sun exposure. I prefer mineral/zinc-based sunblock like this one but go with what you like, just make sure you use it!

Shanie Rechner

“What’s the one piece of beauty advice your mom always shared?” We often hear this asked of actresses, and as shortsighted as the inquiry can be, it always drums up thoughts of my own answer: SPF Application — face, neck and décolletage. Mama said “Suncare is key, little Shanie.” (Body too, obviously — any area that will be exposed to the sun.)

Vanity aside, we all know this is a big one from a health perspective. Surely you’ve already heard that skin cancer (melanoma) is the most common form of cancer. If you haven’t, now you have. The good news is it’s also the most easily preventable. With early detection it even has an 85% cure rate. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Preventative measures include:
1. Put on the SPF.
2. Follow Sharyn’s trusty S-Method mentioned in her corner of this blog.
3. Do a monthly check of your skin with the ABCDE’s in mind, and if you have one or more, follow up with your doc. 

Shanie’s skin-care recommendations for protecting your body’s largest organ include:

Supergoop sunscreens, dermatologist-tested, available in Canada at Sephora in-store and online
Unseen is my daily go-to
PLAY is in rotation for summer sports
They also have another with more pizzazz called Glowscreen, if that’s more your pace #GlamButMakeItSunSafe

Cerave line 

Available at most drugstores, Dermatology-based formulas, Budget friendly. Low maintenance, less is more, think 2-in-1 products: Facial Moisturizer + SPF A great starting place for skin care across the board: SPF, facial cleanser, facial moisturizer, body moisturizer.