Brown, Chocolate, Caramel, Golden, Bronze; the hues undertoned by a range of reds, oranges, and yellows and the hues that have a natural glow when underneath the sun’s immense rays. Skin full of pigment and melanin which allows for it to be strong enough to shield itself from obvious sunburn, yet still sensitive enough to age the skin and to make it prone to skin cancer & hyperpgimentation. Being a brown girl under those yellow lights does still come with many risks that must be well understood. Here’s a Modern Girls Guide to being a Brown Girl On The Beach!

Before laying out in your favorite bikini it’s important that you first put on a Sunscreen that is at least SPF 30! And don’t miss a spot, get everywhere from between your toes to behind your ears! And for you thong bikini wearers, don’t forget to cover those buns with a layer or two of sunscreen! According to my favorite South Florida Dermatologist, Heather Woolery-Lloyd, in Elle’s Online Beauty Segment, Sunscreen is the most important product a woman could own. “People come in with uneven skin tone, and the first thing I ask them is, “Do you use sunscreen every day?” and at least 50 percent of them say no. Antioxidants are also very important: I think that within five years, every sunscreen will contain them. An SPF 30 will block 97 percent of UVB, and an antioxidant will prevent free-radical damage from the 3 percent that gets through. I tell patients to layer an antioxidant like green tea or vitamin C serum under their sunscreen every morning”. Don’t sleep on Sunscreen because the sun won’t sleep on you. Add sunscreen to your everyday skin care regimen and watch your skin flourish!

Getting your hair in shape before getting it in the water is the best thing for your tresses. Healthy hair is strong hair and strong hair can withstand the wear and tear that comes about when the harsh waves throw you under the water. Before getting to the beach it’s okay to add a small amount of leave-in deep conditioner from your scalp to your ends. Not only does it act as a temporary coat that protects your hair from salt and chlorine but it also allows for the product to marinate in your hair. Like any hair treatment, adding heat allows for the product to “cook”. Let Mother Nature be your stylist and don’t forget to rinse your hair as soon as you decide that you are done getting in the water for the day.

Although it burns your eyes and tastes the worst, salt water does have it’s perks! Salting helps decrease inflammation, eases aches and pains, helps treat acne, eczema, and psoriasis, and eliminates toxins. Don’t be afraid of it, embrace it! And give yourself a shameless scrub while playing like a dolphin in it! A day at the beach is not only therapeutic but it’s also healing.

Kimberly

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Arlenis Sosa by Carter Smith for Elle US Nov 10′