SUN PROTECTION
There was a time whe n “sun protection” meant one thing:
A rash guard so you didn’t sandpaper your stomach off on a waxed surfboard.
That was the entire strategy.
We’d paddle out, bake like rotisserie chickens for four hours, and then someone would casually say something helpful like, “did you reapply sunscreen?”
Sir. We are literally in the ocean.
Somewhere between our twenties and now, the collective understanding of sun care changed. A lot.
Dermatologists started sounding less like nagging parents and more like people who had seen some things. Suddenly every wellness expert on earth was saying the same thing:
Daily sun protection might be the single best anti-aging habit you can build.
Better than expensive creams.
Better than elaborate 7 step routines.
Better than whatever TikTok serum people are layering this week.
Just... protect your skin.
Which sounds obvious... until you realize how many of us still treat sun protection like it’s only required on beach vacations or the occasional ambitious hike someone talked us into.
Meanwhile the sun is out here doing its job every single day.
Driving.
Walking the dog.
Sitting outside at lunch pretending to answer emails.
It all adds up.
Once that realization clicks, sun protection stops being a “beach thing” and starts feeling more like brushing your teeth.
Just a daily ritual. Something future-you will appreciate.
Of course, historically there was a small problem.
Most sun protective clothing fell into one of two categories:
- Extremely technical
- Extremely not cute
There was very little middle ground.
But fabrics have come a long way, which is where things actually get interesting.
These days I reach for pieces that feel like normal clothes but quietly do a lot more work. Lightweight layers with UPF 50 protection that shield your skin without making you feel like you’re wearing a wetsuit in the grocery store.
The Lake Zip-Up is probably the one I grab the most. It has this easy two way zipper and pockets (because obviously), and somehow the zipper just disappears when you’re wearing it. You can surf in it, hike in it, sit at a cafe in it and forget it’s even a “sun protection” piece.
It just becomes part of the day. Which is really the point.
The fabric story is where it gets fun though.
There’s Tricot, which has that classic swim feel.
Flyweight, which is lighter and softer and makes heat feel slightly less offensive. The kind of piece you put on and immediately forget about until someone asks where it’s from.
And Stellar Knit, which weighs almost nothing and dries so fast it’s the one you throw in your bag when the day looks aggressively sunny.
There’s also a hooded version with thumbholes built for movement. Paddling, running, beach walks that accidentally turn into a three-mile detour because someone spotted tacos.
The usual.
And when the heat is really showing off, I default to the simplest things. Lightweight cotton tees like the Dylan or Parker that breathe, dry quickly, and don’t try too hard.
Which is kind of the whole philosophy.
Style and self-care shouldn’t be separate.
The goal isn’t to hide from the sun. The sun is still the whole point.
We’re just smarter about how we show up for it now.
Wear the sunscreen. But also... wear the layer.
Your future skin will be very happy you did.
