Many Quebecers go on vacation in the winter with the intention of coming back with a “nice, healthy tan,” but there is a fine line (like our skin) between getting a little color and getting a sunburn that will end up raining down anyway. When you know that the sun ages your skin prematurely and will make wrinkles appear earlier, there is not much sexy about not taking care of your skin after all. Protection is serious business!
Several factors increase the harmful effects of the sun's rays on our skin; such as our geographical proximity to the equator, the time and duration of our exposure, the color of our skin, the reflection of the water, etc.
Since many surfing destinations are close to the equator, the sun's rays arrive at a more direct angle, and are therefore more intense than what we are used to. Then, an exposure Prolonged exposure to the sun between 10am and 3pm should be avoided, but if the tide or wind are favourable at this time of day, it will be even more important to protect yourself well. Also, the paler our skin, the more sensitive it will be to the sun.
The good news is that there are several ways to protect yourself from the sun. You can protect yourself with clothing, whether it's a rash guard or a hat, or sunscreen for parts of the body that can't be covered with fabric.
When it comes to sunscreens, it's easy to get confused, but basically, they can be divided into 2 main categories: chemical sunscreens, which penetrate the skin and absorb the sun's rays rather than our skin, and mineral sunscreens, which will have a physical/mechanical barrier effect on the sun's rays. Chemical sunscreens take 20-30 minutes to be effective, while mineral sunscreens are effective as soon as they are applied. Note that mineral sunscreens are often made from zinc, and leave a white film on the skin, although products with different colors also exist. The others The benefits of mineral sunscreens are that the product won't run into our eyes, preventing us from seeing the waves coming, won't harm marine life, and is more water resistant. No matter what you choose, the most important thing is to protect yourself, and we've got you covered at the Oasis Surf dix-30 store, come see us. (Insert link to online store)
So, if you like to protect yourself from the sun, clap your hands!!