You鈥檙e probably careful about protecting your skin聽when you鈥檙e at the beach in the summer, but do you take the same precautions when you鈥檙e skiing? You should, because聽skiing at elevation actually puts you at greater risk for sun damage than when you鈥檙e summering at sea level.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e actually experiencing higher exposure to harmful rays because of the higher altitude and thinner atmosphere,鈥 says Doug Grossman, a Salt Lake City-based dermatologist聽who practices at the . The institute recently partnered with the聽聽to raise awareness among skiers and snowboarders about the importance of protecting your skin on the slopes.
鈥淲ith every thousand feet of elevation gain, you鈥檙e experiencing 10 percent more sun exposure,鈥 Dr. Grossman says. 鈥淪o here in Salt Lake, if you鈥檙e skiing on the mountains, you鈥檙e getting twice as much sun exposure than when you鈥檙e in the valley.鈥
Dr. Grossman recommends adding a mineral-based sunscreen to your ski bag so you never forget to apply it to your face before you hit the lift. We鈥檙e taking it a bit further and recommending five different skin-care products to help keep your face from getting weathered this season.
Original Ski Balm ($13)
Mineral-based sunscreens are best because you don鈥檛 have to reapply them as often. 聽is an all-natural salve with SPF 40 sun protection, and it forms a protective layer against harsh winds.
Beyond Coastal Lip Balm ($3)
All of 鈥檚 lip balms have SPF 15 sun protection聽and聽are made with all-natural ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, and vitamin E to help moisturize your lips. We like the coconut聽flavor.
Brickell Men鈥檚 Daily Essential Moisturizer ($35)
Your skin takes a lot of abuse, even if you use sunscreen regularly. A daily moisturizer helps hydrate and heal the damage done. 聽is all-natural, vegan, and consists聽mostly of shea butter and jojoba oil. It鈥檚 a nongreasy formula, so you won鈥檛 leave behind residue on your gear or your pillow.聽聽
Rugged and Dapper Daily Facial Cleanser ($25)
foams and exfoliates to strip away all the grime your face has collected throughout the day. It鈥檚 all-natural, organic, and full of things like rose-hip oil and aloe, so it moisturizes while it cleans.
Honest Amish Beard Balm Leave-in Conditioner ($12)
Your beard needs just as much attention in the winter as your face does.聽 hydrates it聽with聽natural oils like avocado and pumpkin seed as well as shea and cocoa butter. Put it on after a long day in the sun and wind to soften and condition your battered beard.