Page 158 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2022

SHOPPING
158 | June 2022 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
FOCUS ON FASHION
Sun-Safe Summer Hats
Brims at least four inches wide all the way around the hat are best. Dermatologists agree that wide brims protect face, neck, eyes, and ears. Visors and baseball caps are basically designed to eliminate glare and not good overall protection unless they feature very wide brims and wrap around the head or have a neck drape.
From wide-brimmed straws to raffia lampshade toppers, floppy knits and crocheted cotton buckets, there are a plethora of styles to keep the sun out of your eyes and protect your skin and hair while making you look great. More good news is that many
DARK COLORS/TIGHT FABRICS
are soft, packable, and very travel friendly. Your bottom-line purchase decision-making rule should be: buy what looks good on you, what makes you feel good, and what’s
healthy for your head, eyes, ears, nose, and neck. It comes down to that. In summer heat, safe trumps style. SUNGLASSES IN THE MIX
story by Barbara Travis
Everyone knows how important wearing sunscreen is, but what about the importance of wearing a hat in the hot summer sun? Both stylish and protective, hats partner with sunscreen for an extra
layer of insurance against skin-damaging rays. The two work well together.
Sunscreen on the body wears off and must be reapplied every few hours to be
effective; a sun hat, however, stays put and continually does its job covering and protecting the head and neck. The good news is that a well-chosen hat can lend both fashionable panache and sun-safety.
Choosing A Safe Sun Hat
Stylish Summer Choices
WIDE BRIMS
CONSIDER THIS
When it comes to sun-safe material, dark-colored hats in tightly woven fabrics like denim, canvas, wool, or synthetic fibers are best at shielding against harmful UV rays. A good way to test fabric coverage is to shine a flashlight through it. Even easier and just as reliable, hold it up to the light. If you can see through it, then UV rays can filter through, and you might want to move on.
Sunglasses are an added attraction and an integral part of
the 2022 summer fashion mix. While shielding your eyes from harmful rays, sunglasses also help to guard against common eye disorders such as cataracts. Who knew? Now you do. Choose eyewear designs for style as well as health-conscious reasons. Donning a pair of good-looking, sun-friendly, fashion-killer sunglasses is the ultimate way to top off the trifecta of sunscreen, a large brim hat and protective peepers.
SAFE SUMMER FUN
READ LABELS
Today, some summer caps and hats have built-in UV protection. If so, the label should designate the level of coverage. That’s basically a good thing, but don’t shirk your personal duty to move past clever brand marketing. Read and learn from the small print. Choose hats that have an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 30 or above. That’s the minimum
Summer sun and fun go hand in hand. Embrace
them both. With a few personal precautions and a
proper chapeau, your days outdoors soaking up rays at the pool, walking on the beach, working in the garden,
or lounging in your backyard can be even more enjoyable and carefree. After all, isn’t that what summer’s all about?
recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation for sun-safe fabric. Anything above UPF 30
is better and probably makes for a wiser purchase decision.