lola's secret beauty blog: Fun in the Sun

Sunday, June 29, 2025

A Few Summer Tips for Staying Safe in the Sun

Now that summer is officially here, it is definitely time to take some safety precautions while spending lots of time outdoors. Here are a few tips that I follow:

1) Check the expiration on your sunscreens and replace them if they have expired. I do not leave the house wearing anything less than an SPF30 no matter what the weather is like, even to hang out in my backyard. Since we spend more time outside during the summer, it is imperative not to skip this step. Remember to reapply your sunscreen frequently. If you will be swimming, be sure to get sunscreens that are water-resistant or waterproof.

2) Visit your doctor to have your moles and other skin issues addressed. Spending time in the sun is a fun way to spend the lazy days of summer, but it is also an important time for your doctor to check any skin irregularities or anything in the least bit suspicious looking. Cancerous and precancerous lesions, and skin cancers is a real concern, and catching them early is very important, but avoiding them altogether is even better.

3) Limit your sun exposure. Seek shade whenever possible since it will help protect you against heat exhaustion and sunburn.

4) If you go hiking, or on long walks, for a run etc., make sure not to forget to bring your water. Opt for locations with plenty of shaded area, and exercise with great caution in the heat. Better yet, wait until it cools down. It is easier than you think to end up with heat exhaustion, or worse yet– heatstroke.

5) Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Carry a big bottle of water when you are out and about. If you will be out for long periods of time, bring extra thermal water bottles.

6) Wear a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and light clothing when outdoors for longer periods of time.

7) Have a first aid kit available, whether you are at home and having a BBQ or at the beach for a picnic. You never know when you will need it while playing outdoors. I include extra hand sanitizers and face masks in mine, just in case they are needed.

8) Make sure your cell phone is fully charged, and that you have a charger with you (and a solar charger if you are without power). It is always important to make sure that you are prepared for an emergency situation, and a charged phone can be make all of the difference in the world.

What tips do you have to share?

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Beach Day Picks to Kick-Off Summer

Press Samples and Purchased (Affiliate Links)

Now that summer has officially arrived, I have selected a few beach-ready faves to ring in the season. Of course, I also highly recommend a good UV beach umbrella, UV protective clothing to wear when you need more than just your swimming suit, lots of high SPF sunscreen, water etc., but I just wanted to celebrate a few favorite finds to wear at the beach.

Wallaroo Hats ($43.00-$67.00 each from Wallaroo Hat Company): Since all seasons require sunscreen and sun protection, a good wide-brim hat with a UPF rating is a great way to offer your head, hair, face and eyes added protection from the sun. Wallaroo Hat Company makes hats with a UPF rating of 30+ and 50+, and therefore they offer great protection from the sun when you are outdoors having fun.

According to Wallaroo Hat Company,

Wallaroo hats merge fashion and protection through their UPF rating of +50 meaning they block out up to 97% of the sun’s rays.

Look for our sun icon on our sun protection hats to determine which ones have a UPF rating of 30+ or 50+. These fabrics are tested by the Australian Radiation Protection Agency and block 96 to 97.5% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet radiation, or UV, is present in sunlight. The Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) shows how well a fabric protects your skin from solar UV. Always remember that a Wallaroo Skin Cancer Foundation approved hat only protects the skin it covers. Safeguard the rest of your body by wearing sunglasses and sunscreen.

UPF measures the amount of UV radiation that penetrates a fabric and reaches the skin. The tightness of the weave, the weight, type of fiber, color and amount of skin covered all affect the amount of protection provided. UPF is for clothes and fabrics.

Big Sunglasses with UVA & UVB Protection: These are Stella McCartney glasses from a couple of seasons ago, but they are still a popular shape and they are big enough to give my eyes lots of coverage– especially when paired with my big hat.

IVY Swimwear Rosella Black in Nude Mesh ($72.99 from IVY Swimwear and Amazon): A fun bikini, or one-piece, is always a must-have for a day at the beach. I do not lay out to tan, and instead seek shelter under an umbrella or anywhere shade can be found, but a good bathing suit is essential for playing in the water!

According to IVY Swimwear,

This is the perfect lil tanning bikini! The gold clip on the top is perfect for push up support, while the gold minimal adjustors on the bottom allow for the straps to be adjusted to fit your curves. We are obsessed with the simple nude mesh fabric on this set. The black and nude color blocking will surely make this bikini stand out from the crowd!

Birkenstock Gizeh Birko-Flor Sandals ($99.95 from Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Amazon): I have 3-4 pairs of these amazing sandals because they are incredibly comfortable and I just love everything about them. They are perfect nearly all year long in Southern California, and they look great with just about any outfit! They are definitely beach-ready!

According to Birkenstock,

Available in an array of colors, this flip-flop is fitted with a molded footbed and topped with a Birko-Flor strap, cut from fabric with a leather-like finish. The toe piece is made of flexible resin, anatomically designed to fit comfortably between the toes, and the soft suede insole absorbs moisture and feels great against the skin.

Features:

Adjustable strap with buckle closure
Contoured footbed with arch support
Synthetic upper/leather and textile lining/synthetic sole

ATRAC Magnetic Bracelet Keychain in Black Vegan Leather ($27.00 from ATRAC): This ingenious magnetic keychain will prevent you from losing your keys, and you can wear it around your wrist or attach it to anything metal. It is truly multifunctional and very durable, and I am so happy because it has eliminated the stress of thinking that I lost my keys, or trying to figure out what to do with them when I don't have pockets or a purse on me (which is most often the case when I go for long walks on the beach, or just through my neighborhood).

According to ATRAC,

Stay hands free with this beautiful, soft, vegan leather ATRAC Mag Strap Mini | magnetic bracelet keychain. You will never have to dig for your keys at the bottom of your bag again, or stuff your pockets full of your essentials. Its sleek look, with high quality materials provides you with the convenience of staying hands-free. It’s famous for its heavy duty magnets that are built into the strap and make it easy to attract via the magnets through your bag, through your yoga pants or jean jacket, or simply secure the lobster claw hardware to the keyring and wear it as a bracelet. Connect your keys, wallet, lip balm holder, and any of your essentials so you can do what you love while we hold it all together for you.

Not only does the magnetic bracelet keychain have the durability to hold your items but it's fashionable and multifunctional. A simple accessory made better for just about everything you could ever need to carry.

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