by Texas Homesteader ~
Sun Protection is important. But for me sunblock is used only as a last resort. Come see 7 easy ways I protect my skin without sunblock.
(Note: Some links in this post will take you to other related articles for further information. But links preceded with * are affiliate links. If you click and buy something I could receive a tiny commission.)
Importance Of Sun Protection
Sun protection is important, y’all! Our Homestead is located in Northeast Texas where heat & humidity are the daily forecast almost every day during summer months.
But our work days are filled with outside chores such as working cattle or repairing fences, gardening, beekeeping or mowing pastures.
Even though we spend many hours in the sun I shy away from using sunblock whenever possible. Why?
Although sunblock is marketed as safe and effective, I just don’t know how I feel about slathering chemicals on my skin several times each and every day.
Now don’t get me wrong, there are times when it makes sense to use sunblock.
But today I’m sharing seven easy ways I’m able to protect my skin from the sun’s harmful rays without resorting to sunblock.
When Are Damaging Sun Rays Strongest?
It’s important to remember that the sun is at its most intense level and UV is at its strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If at all possible, avoid outside activities when the UV is at its strongest.
A quick tip I learned: the shorter your shadow beneath you, the stronger the UV rays can be. So it’s best to be outside when your shadow on the ground is longer. If your shadow is short – go inside for a while!
Working Outside In Summer – Take The Shade With You
Wouldn’t it be nice if all my tasks could be done under the cool air of a shade tree? But that’s not the way we roll here on our Texas Homestead! I couldn’t accomplish the many chores on my list that way!
Thankfully I found a way to take that shade with me while I work! We purchased a rigid canopy that attaches to our tractor’s Roll-Over Protection System.
There are similar rigid shades for riding lawnmowers. So if you must work outside, if at all possible – take the shade with you!
Does Covering Your Skin Actually Keep You Cooler?
It didn’t make sense to me at first, but it’s true.
Covering your skin can actually keep you cooler.
Covering our arms and legs actually works to help keep us cooler by keeping the hot sun from heating our skin.
Think about it this way: If you’re standing in the sunshine you may feel very hot, but stepping under a tree where the sun doesn’t hit your skin makes you immediately feel several degrees cooler.
Here’s another thing I learned:
The darker the material and the tighter the weave, the more protection from the sun is received.
It’s said the more light you can see through the fabric, the less sun protection you receive.
We wear colored fabric but RancherMan & I don’t typically wear black clothes during summer months since black or very dark-colored fabrics will soak up more heat than lighter-colored fabrics.
It’s a balance depending on outside temps coupled with humidity for a true ‘feels-like’ temperature. We protect our skin from the sun but try to stay cooler too.
Staying Hydrated When It’s HOT Outside!
It’s important to receive protection from the sun as well as protection from the heat (which can also be a danger in Texas). That means lots of rehydration breaks when it’s hot outside.
I especially enjoy my own homemade version of Gatoraid – Haymaker’s Punch. It’s made with filtered water, honey and fresh ginger for a healthy (and zero-waste) hydration option.
What Hats Work Best For Sun Protection?
A wide-brimmed hat that shades your face and ears (and ideally the back of your neck as well) is a smart move when you are in the garden or mowing the yard.
I have a lightweight straw hat that’s my favorite for quick garden chores and such.
But keep in mind, just like the tighter-weave rule for clothing, the tighter the weave in the hat’s material the more sun protection you receive.
If you’ll be out in the sun for a longer duration of time, a wide-brimmed hat made of a tighter-weave material might be a better option.
Work Gloves To Protect Hands From The Sun
I typically wear gloves when doing chores outside. Different kinds of gloves serve the purpose for different tasks. If we’re repairing fences I’ll typically wear heavy leather gloves.
But most of the time I like to wear lighter-weight garden gloves. They’re flexible enough to work in the garden or drive the tractor while still protecting my hands & my skin from the sun.
My favorite gloves are * Touchscreen Gloves. They have special fingertips to allow me to operate my smart phone without removing the gloves.
That’s helpful for answering an incoming call or activating my music library when I want to listen to music while I work.
How To Protect Your Eyes From The Sun
According to the American Cancer Society, the sun can be harmful to your eyes as well.
My eyes have always been sensitive to strong light so I typically wear sunglasses anyway. But I’m doubly sure to wear them for sun protection too.
I prefer wrap-around sunglasses that offer UV protection. I’ve found ‘fishing’ glasses often have the best UV protection ratings.
Luckily I found some *lightweight sunglasses in the fishing department of a local discount store that had all the features I was looking for. And as a bonus they were inexpensive too!
Advancements in Sun-Protective Clothing
There have been some amazing advancements in protective clothing over the years. A lightweight long-sleeved shirt that protects your skin while still keeping you cool? YES PLEASE!
These are primarily touted as a *fishing shirt but that makes sense. I mean, fishermen spend much time out on the water under that sun.
The one I bought was made of an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 30 material. It was made in a way that allows the body’s heat to escape. I’m a big fan of covering the skin while still staying cooler!
Sunblock Can Be Helpful Too!
And of course sunblock is the last option in my sun-protection arsenal. It has its place and I’ll certainly use it when I must. But I much prefer to use the options above first.
~TxH~
This post categorized in 
Tagged in 
Links In This Post:
- *Men’s Cooler UV Protection Shirts
- Healthy Hydration – Haymaker’s Punch
- *Touchscreen Gloves
- *Fishing Sunglasses
- *Women’s UV Protective Shirts
Want To See Other Sun-Protection Posts?
- Protection Skin Without Sunblock
- Wearing Cool UV-Protective Clothing
- Sun Protection: Rigid Canopy For Our Mid-Sized Tractor
- Use Whatcha Got: MYO Fabric Canopy For Tractor
Looking For Solar Posts?
Solar Preparedness
Solar Cooked Meat Dishes
Solar Cooked Casseroles
Solar Baked Breads
- Baking Bread In A Solar Oven
- Pumpkin Bread
- Chunky Apple Cinnamon Bread
- Gluten Free Sweet Potato Brownies
Solar: Other
- Homemade Marinara Sauce
- Cooking ‘Hard-Boiled’ Eggs In A Solar Oven WITHOUT Water!
- Baking Potatoes In A Solar Oven
- Brewing Tea With The Sun
You can see all our SOLAR cooking articles here
C’mon by & sit a spell! Come hang out at our Facebook Page. It’s like sitting in a front porch rocker with a glass of cold iced tea. Lots of good folks sharing! You can also follow along on Pinterest, on Twitter or on Instagram.
If you’d like to receive an email when a new blog post goes live,
subscribe to our Blog!
References
I have had several pre-cancer spots removed from the backs of my hands. I was told that the worse way to drive a car is with your hands on top of the steering wheel which is what I was doing. I now hold the sides of the wheel and I always were gloves.
Wow, I’ve never heard of that Cynthia. Thanks for your tip. ~TxH~