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Beauty & Skincare

Beauty & Skincare — No Comments
8
Nov 10

Dark Under-Eye Circles: How did I get them and how can I get rid of them? -Guest Post: Ali Donato

One of the worst things to be told is, “You Look Tired.” We’ve all had them at one point on our lives- dark under eye circles. Most people think they are caused by a lack of sleep. There are actually many other reasons why we get these dark circles. Causes of dark under eye circles include:
- Allergies
- Heredity
- Lifestyle Factors (smoking/drinking)
- Nasal congestion
- Sun exposure

One way of ridding yourself of dark circles is going down the surgical route, but most of us would like to avoid that if possible. Here are some things that you can do at home to reduce the appearance of the circles.

Eat right: The key to great skin is a balanced diet. Avoid salty foods, as this causes your body to retain water, which contributes to bloating and puffiness under your eyes. Along with this, you need to make sure you drink a lot of water, to flush out toxins in your body.
Use a cold compress: A cold compress or even cooled, used teabags will temporarily reduce swelling and discoloration.
Sleep: A lack of sleep makes you look paler, hence displaying your circles more, so make sure you get a good amount of sleep and keep your head elevated so fluid doesn’t pool up in your lower eyelids.
Saline spray: Nasal congestion could cause you to have under eye circles. An over-the-counter nasal spray can help prevent blood vessel dilation.
Concealer: Finding the right concealer to cover up your under eye circles can be a tough task. Go to Sephora or a department store and test out different shades and types of concealers to find which best suits your face. A rule of thumb is to choose a concealer one shade lighter than your foundation. If you have very dark circles, you can even go two shades lighter. Be careful though, because a concealer that is too light will give you a “raccoon” look!
Vitamin K: Find an eye cream that contains Vitamin K. These will help strengthen capillary walls so the dark circles will be less visible.

Although getting completely rid of your under eye circles is very difficult, there are things you can be doing at home to change their dominance on your face so they are less noticeable, which is ultimately what you want! Here are two products that I personally like:

Lancome’s EFFACERNES – Waterproof Protective Undereye Concealer that covers dark circles and the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles.
Korres Evening Primrose Eye Cream – A great eye cream with Vitamin K.

Another way to distract attention from dark circles is to make your whole face brighter and more radiant overall, which reduces the “You Look Tired” comments. Try JUARA Skincare’s Sweet Black Tea and Rice Facial Moisturizer. The JUARA Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask is also a good one to give you an overall glow (while it detoxes and purifies.) An extra bonus – since Turmeric is such a great antioxidant, to that theme, we’re donating 10% of sales of this mask to support Breast Cancer Awareness to Cancer & Careers through December 2010. It’s an organization that helps women in the workplace with cancer so let’s support them!

Do you have special tricks, tips, or products you love that help with dark under-eye circles? Do share!

Turmeric: The Ancient Wonder Ingredient – Metta Murdaya

Tasty and Good for you!

So there’s this ‘new’ ingredient that’s popping up in the US in health supplements, skincare, and exotic dishes that’s raved about as uber healthy with anti-cancer properties: Turmeric. We often nod “oh, yes, that plant.” But what is it, and why is it so awesome? Oh, let me count the ways. For one, it’s one of Indonesia’s most revered spices/ingredients used in its herbal medicinal tradition and beauty rituals for centuries, but that’s not all. Hopefully this brief overview will leave you the most interesting person at your next dinner party when you can quip up on the wonders of this spice – and leave people wanting to try it out!

What is it? Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) is a 5000 year old herb in the ginger family, and is known to grow wild in Southern Asia including India (oldest origin), Indonesia, Indochina, nearby Asian countries, and even in Hawaii. It is less fibrous than ginger, and has a nutty, slightly funky herbal/gingery smell to it and a nice, peppery and warm flavor.

What is it used for? Many things. Its roots are used in cooking as a spice, medicine, and even dye to color fabric/food. Known for its bright yellow color that can stain, turmeric has been used as a food colorant and dye for cloth historically as a less expensive alternative to saffron. Indonesian and Indian cuisine frequent this ingredient, especially in curries, because it is not only yummy but healthy! In Indonesia, we use Turmeric in hundreds of healthy concoctions from a princess spa ritual to brighten skin to drunken medicines to help cleanse blood and liver. In Bali, a traditional healer mixed turmeric with sandalwood and water to create a paste he massaged in my sprained ankle to help reduce swelling and induce rapid healing! (For those of you who saw Eat, Pray, Love, yes – those healers do exist, I can personally attest to it!) Turmeric is also widely used in Indian Ayurvedic systems, most widely used to purify blood.

What’s the magic ingredient? Curcumin is the power ingredient in Turmeric that has many of the anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and blood purifying properties. Though studies conducted are still in the early stage, curcumin has shown positive effect on preventing cancer through its ability to suppress the proliferation of a wide variety of tumor cells and to inhibit harmful molecules and enzymes. Topically, like in our Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask, the curcumin in our turmeric complex brightens skin and naturally fights discoloration and age spots naturally. It gives your skin a natural glow – just try it! 15 minutes and you’ll notice a difference.

What does it do, in a nutshell? Overall, turmeric is an amazing antioxidant, thanks to an ingredient in it – curcurmin. Turmeric can detoxify the liver, reduce cholesterol, brighten skin complexion (see our Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask), is naturally antiseptic and antibacterial, and does a whole lot more. So take your dose or turmeric – in capsules like a health supplement, fresh, or in a spice powder, in Jamu (Indonesian tonics), or in our JUARA Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask. Enjoy!

Beauty & Skincare / Health & Fitness / Lifestyle — No Comments
1
Oct 10

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: JUARA partners with CEW Foundation’s Cancer & Careers

When I was in my 20s, I would barely notice as October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month come and go. When you are young and blessed with good health, you feel invincible, especially if your peers close to you are healthy too. Then, a former class mate of mine from grad school fell ill suddenly with breast cancer. She was in her early 30s, a normal healthy mother to 2 adorable little kids… no family history of breast cancer or any other known risk factors what-so-ever. Fortunately treatment was successful and she remains cancer-free so far, but that’s when it hit me that breast cancer, as well as many other common forms of cancer, is quite random: Any woman, young or old, risk factors or not, can get it. That’s why it is so important for all of us help raise awareness and help in the fight against breast cancer. As entrepreneurs we believe in self-empowerment and in taking charge of our destiny. The notion of empowerment is key in the fight against breast cancer as well, so we are very excited to announce that JUARA has partnered with CEW Cancer and Careers.

From October through December 2010. JUARA will be donating 10% of their proceeds from sales of the Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask on JUARA’s online boutique www.juaraskincare.com to Cancer and Careers.

JUARA’s Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask is a wet clay mask that strengthens skin’s defenses and brightens skin with a unique Turmeric complex that acts as a powerful antioxidant and is clinically proven to be effective. Over time skin will become brighter, stronger, and healthier. We chose this mask for Breast Cancer Awareness Month because Turmeric is such a key ingredient in Indonesian herbal medicine to maintain health and well-being.

Cancer and Careers’ mission is to empower and educate people with cancer to thrive in their workplace by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events. To learn more visit www.cancerandcareers.org.

- YOSHIKO ROTH

Beauty & Skincare / Health & Fitness / Products — 2 Comments
23
Sep 10

Treating adult acne the natural way – Yoshiko Roth-Hidalgo

When you are past your teens and still or again battling break-outs, you are in good company. One in five women between the ages of 25 and 40 suffers from adult acne. Adult acne is not different from teenage acne in that the same key factors are involved: Hormonal activity which has an effect on our oil glands, blocked pores, acne bacteria and inflammation. What makes adult acne tricky is that the skin of a person in his/ her 30s or 40s is different from teenage skin. Some people suffering from adult acne may not have oily skin, their skin might be more sensitive, and they are likely concerned about fighting skin aging.

One way to fight adult acne is with over-the-counter medicated products, but there are also a number of natural remedies that can effectively prevent and treat break-outs. Whether your skin is too sensitive to chemical acne-fighting agents or you are simply interested in alternative options, here are some tips and product recommendations for how to fight adult acne the natural way.

Nature’s solutions
A number of natural and botanical-based ingredients help with the causes and symptons of acne, including:

Naturally antibacterial and antiseptic: Willow bark, tea tree oil, ginger, green, white and black tea extracts.

Reduces redness and inflammation: green, white and black tea extracts, aloe

Exfoliates and free blocked pores: Manuka Honey, alpha hydroxyl acids from milk (lactic acid), fruit (fruit acid), apple (malic acid) and sugar (glycolic acid)

Reduces excess oil production: Avocutine, derived from avocados as well as pumpkin seed oil curbs sebum production in the pores.

Cleansers: Keep it gentle
Contrary to a stubborn myth, acne is NOT caused by dirty skin, so stay away from harsh cleansers that strip skin. In fact, dehydration can prompt your skin to produce even more oil and at the same time exacerbate the appearance of roughness, lines and wrinkles. Here are some good options:

Avene Cleanance Soapless Cleanser, 6.76 oz, $17: Contains Pumpkin Seed Oil to reduce excess sebum.

ARCONA Raspberry Acne Bar, 4 oz, $38: Contains lactic acid and fruit enzymes to exfoliate and free pores.

Toner/ Treatment: Look for multi-taskers
Be good to your skin by targeting breakouts as well as aging and other skin issues. If you use a toner, stay away from alcohol-based formulations that unnecessarily strip and dehydrate skin. Here are some good options:

Juara Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner, 4.75 oz, $27: Contains green, white and black tea extract to combat acne bacteria and well as provide antioxidant benefits and reduce redness.

Boscia Willow Bark Breakout Treatment, 0.5 oz, $25: Contains natural antibacterial willow bark as well as Vitamin C and E for antioxidant protection.

Hydrate and fight aging
It’s tempting to not moisturize when you see pimples, but it’s important to keep skin hydrated, no matter what your skin type, even if you have break-outs. If you are concerned oiliness, choose an oil-free moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, which draws vital hydration to the skin without adding oil, while plumping lines and making skin supple.

Juara Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Mattefying Moisturizer, 2 oz, $48: Anti-aging & oil-control benefits in one. Contains fermented sweet black tea to reduce signs of aging, ginger to purify, hyaluronic acid to hydrate and avocutin to reduce excess sebum.

Astara Blue Flame Oil-Free Moisturizer, 2 oz, $42: Hydrates with hyaluronic acid and totara tree essence to purify, while soothing with aloe.

Put break-outs on the spot

Juice Beauty Blemish Be Gone, 0.27 oz, $15: Multiple natural alpha hydroxyl acids free blocked pores while Coenzyme Q10 helps fade discoloration from past breakouts.

Jurlique Blemish Cream, 0.5 oz, $28: Contains tea tree oil for antibacterial benefits. Plus the slightly tinted formulation helps cover up existing blemishes and redness.

bareMinerals RareMinerals Blemish Therapy, 0.07 oz, $28: A unique powder formulation applied with a makeup brush, that treats break-outs with tea tree oil, helps absorb excess oil and covers redness and blemishes.

Any natural acne products that you swear by? Let us know!

Beauty & Skincare / Health & Fitness / Uncategorized — 2 Comments
15
Sep 10

Cleanse your Skin, Not your Moisture Barrier – Jill Sung

Why should I clean my face, you ask? I just use water, some say. What in fact do I need to clean? Your skin collects oily soils, dirt, sweat, and sebum (natural skin oils) throughout the day. And in fact, just using water removes only about 65% of the dirt and oils; it’s not even effective for removing makeup. Cleansers are designed to remove the dirt, grime and sebum from skin through the action of surfactants.

What Washing Does…

So when we wash our face, we’re really washing the top layer of the epidermis of our skin. That layer is composed of fat and protein structures that create the waterproof moisture barrier of the skin. But while this skin moisture barrier is protective, it also is great at trapping pollutants, smoke, bacteria, cellular debris, sweat and cosmetics. Unfortunately, washing off the embedded dirt with some cleansers also removes some of the outer protective film which can irritate skin.

Why not Soap?

So you use soap, not just water. If it’s worked for hundreds of years, why stop now? In fact, soap works by making fat and oil water-soluble (emulsifies) to be easily removed by wiping or washing. They reduce the surface tension of your skin with negatively charged agents that can act as possible irritants. These anionic molecules affect the natural moisturizing factors and remove the fat and protein structures of the epidermis which disrupt the protective barrier, irritate, and decrease skin smoothness. But also, soap salts are alkaline causing your skin to become more neutral in pH (which can happen with age as well), making your skin a better place for bacteria to live.

When I was a child, I used to always use soap because I didn’t know better, but I definitely saw the results of drying and decreased smoothness in my skin. How about you? Any previous soap users with bad stories? Next we’ll discuss what options we have besides soap…especially as the drying fall and winter months inch forward.

Beauty & Skincare / Health & Fitness — 1 Comment
12
Aug 10

Masks for Oily Summer Skin – Louise (JUARA intern)

Summer is almost everyone’s favorite season. People love the beach, the heat, the tans… but I just think of the humidity! As someone who has oily skin, the summer means one thing for me- acne. All the humidity increases oil production, which is bad news for oily skinned gals. One important thing is to wash your face every night to get rid of all the makeup and dirt your face has collected all day.

But sometimes just washing your face with a normal cleanser isn’t enough. Using a mask a few times per week is one of the best ways to thoroughly cleanse your skin and draw out all the impurities. There are tons of different brands who sell great masks. The best thing to do is to try different products and see what works best for your skin.

But while looking for a mask, make sure that it contains ingredients like Salicylic Acid which help keep pores clear, Kaolin clay which absorbs oil, or Benzoyl Peroxide which kill bacteria which causes acne.

Clay masks are also great for oily skin because it removes excess oil, clears up blackheads, and deep cleans your pores. I have two favorite masks that I’ve been using this summer:

The first is Lancome’s Pure Empreinte Masque. This mineral mask with white clay mask hardens after about 5 minutes and removes oils and reduces the appearance of my pores.

The other mask I’ve recently become obsessed with is the JUARA Milk & Red Sandalwood Mask. It absorbs oil and reduces redness. The mask comes as a powder and you mix it with any type of liquid into a thick paste. After about 15 minutes, I wash it off and I’m left with cleansed skin. Many masks leave my face feeling super dry and tight. But this mask leaves my skin feeling great and super soft.

As much as clay can be purifying, it can also be drying if left on for too long. I always use an oil-free moisturizer or JUARA’s oil-free, alcohol-free Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner, which gives just the right amount of moisture to negate the potentially overdrying effect of clay.

A lot of people like to make their own masks. Check out this website with different mask recipes and try to make your own at home!

Some recipes that look great are:
*Cucumber Yogurt Mask – ½ cucumber, 1 Tbsp plain yogurt – Puree cucumber in blender and mix in yogurt. Apply to face and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse well. Yogurt can soften skin and exfoliate gently, while the cucumber tones the skin. How relaxing!

*Apple Zinger Facial Mask – 1 medium size apple, 5 tbs. honey – Grate the apple and mix the honey well. Smooth over skin and let sir for 10 minutes. Rinse off with cool water. Honey is antibacterial and skin softening, while apple can exfoliate.

*Honey Mask – High quality honey – Massage a small amount of slightly heated honey onto skin and leave it on for 10 minutes. Honey is a powerful antibacterial agent and it does not cause unpleasant side effects such as dry skin, itchy skin or allergy.

Do you have favorite masks for oily skin?

Beauty & Skincare — 4 Comments
21
Jul 10

Tips for summer pimples

Summer is here and it’s time to enjoy the warm weather and the long days of sunshine. But for pimple sufferers, summertime also means oily skin, blackheads and breakouts.

Why do we get more pimples during the summer? Sudden change in temperature and extended exposure to the sun can damage the skin. Also, sweat may exacerbate acne when salty sweat mixes with dirt and oil on skin which can irritate and clog pores. Only one or two days of hot weather can lead to pimples. A few changes in your skin care routine can ensure that acne will stay away.

1. Control oil by washing your face: Oil glands overwork with heat and humidity. To control oiliness, wash your face thoroughly with a foaming facial cleanser to get rid of the dead cells and dirt. Keep the cleanser gentle so it doesn’t overstrip and irritate skin, making it overproduce more oil. I love the JUARA Rice Facial cleanser which is sulfate and oil free, takes away makeup, dirt and oil but keeps skin super soft with the rice starch.

2. Choose the right sunscreen: Using a daily sunscreen is a must to avoid sun-damaged skin. But sunscreen may contain oil which is just as bad for the pores as sebum. Go for a noncomedogenic, oil-free sunscreen of at least SPF 15 (SPF 30 is even better), and make sure you put enough on! Check for UVA protection ingredients such as Avobenzone or Mexoryl. A fave: La Roche Posay’s Anthelios has a nice oil-free, light textured, water resistant sunscreen. Or try Paula’s Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15

3. Lighten up your moisturizer: During the summer, go for a light-weight moisturizer, noncomedogenic and oil-free. Also, moisturizing lotions can be a good switch as they’re much lighter than creams. As an oil-free moisturizer alternative, try the JUARA Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner – an oil-free, alcohol-free toner serum that hydrates skin, giving it a drink of water – and feels like silk!

4. Don’t wipe after you sweat, wash! Refrain from wiping your face frequently as you’re sweating because it can irritate acne, as dirt accumulates on your skin. Sweat should be washed away gently with a non-drying acne wash or with lukewarm water. Also, shower after working out or after you’ve been sweating.

5. Reduce sun exposure: Many people believe that the summer sun is good for their skin since it tends to burn off pimples, but prolonged exposure to UV radiation is dangerous for your health. Keep in mind that the sun simply burns the topmost layer of the face skin and doesn’t deal with the true causes of acne.

6. Eat more fruits: Try to eat at least 2 fruits a day to keep your skin healthy. Strawberries, Watermelons, and Mangoes are examples of fruits rich in vitamin A (control of skin cells) and C (protects collagen). Make sure your fruits are fresh to keep their antioxidants intact.

7. Drink 8 cups of water a day: A good hydration plays a major role in keeping your skin away from acne. Water also helps cells move nutrients in and toxins out.

8. Honey: Rubbing honey on your skin can help to get rid of the pimples. Honey is a powerful antibacterial agent and it does not cause unpleasant side effects such as dry skin, itchy skin or allergy. Choose a high quality honey, warm it, leave it on your pimples for 10 minutes and watch the results!

Summer is the season when our skin is the most vulnerable. The strong UV rays and sweat give your skin a hard time, which needs extra care.

So be sure to protect your skin and have an enjoyable pimple-free summer!

Products Recommended:

- Juara’s Rice Facial Cleanser

- Paula’s Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15

- JUARA’s Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner

- La Roche Posay’s Anthelios SPF45 or Anthelios XL

Beauty & Skincare / Lifestyle — 3 Comments
13
Jun 10

Easy ways to stay sun safe (from excuses we always make!) – Metta Murdaya

This JUARA Girl was bad bad bad! Never do this.

Despite all we know about UV protection and taking care of your skin from the sun’s damaging rays, we all goof up and get burned. I admit, (see pic) that I did. On one vacation a while ago, I got a pretty horrific burn, so I implore to you – don’t lose to bad judgment like I did, and fall for the (common) excuses people make to procrastinate putting on protection. Have you fallen victim or used any of these excuses? Well don’t. If a picture tells a thousand words, may the photo of me here be that one. Ouch.

“I’m only in the sun for like, 2 hours. No biggie” Wrong. I was only out in the sun for 2 hours too when I got this burn.

“It’s cloudy out. I don’t need protection, I won’t burn.” Wrong. UV rays still pass through the atmosphere, rain or shine. Plus, burning isn’t the first sign of sun damage, it’s usually the 3-alarm fire point as the damage started much earlier.

“I already got the tan, I won’t burn.” or “My skin is darker, I won’t burn.” But you’re still getting the same amount of damage whether you burn or not! And yes, you still can burn! (Had enough of my ‘you can burn!’ jingle yet?)

“I’ll have another drink on the beach, please…” Sounds like the dream vacation, but be careful with that one – if you get burned, dehydration commonly comes with it. When you drink alcohol, you can become dehydrated and it can exacerbate the sunburn. I was at a wedding the evening before, and was dehydrated the next afternoon when I went to the beach. Plus, I was in the water for almost 2 hours – a double whammy of UV rays + dehydration seriously leaving me open to bake – an added risk for beach swimmers.

So – help yourself protect yourself. Many of us DO apply sunblock – just not enough, nor often enough. So here are some tips to keep you on your sun protection game more easily:

1. Carry a small tube of sunblock in your purse in an often visited pocket so you have no excuse not to apply, or reapply every few hours. Get a higher SPF than you think you need, because chances are, you’re not applying enough so your SPF won’t be as effective for as long as you think it is. (Ie: Too little of the SPF 50 might work more like an SPF 30… Too little SPF 15, and it might not work at all…) My personal favorite sunscreen brand: La Roche Posay. Also, they’re having a “Save our Skin” campaign, raising awareness about sun protection and reducing skin cancer here. Join the cause of SOS from La Roche-Posay, and they will make a donation, and to organizations like the the Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS) and The Skin Cancer Foundation, that also educate the public regarding proper sun safe behavior.

2. Wear a hat, or carry one with you when you go in the sun. Too bulky? Check these rollable visors out, poppable in your bag and they’re not cheesy! Not a replacement for sunscreen, but it’s convenient added protection with fashionable benefits.

3. For you product junkies out there, try different sunscreens that you know are good and keep them in often visited locations – and keep sampling! It makes applying sunblock fun, like you’re shopping for your favorite sunscreen! (Did I like the one in the office better, or the one at home? Hmm, need to try again, and again…) I flip between my Garnier, La Roche Posay, and ROC, compare scent, texture, feel, it’s fun.

4. Take the remembering out of reapplying – set daily alarms on your phone/blackberry/iphone for several times a day to remind you to put on sunscreen. You can get creative with your messages, “For eternal youth, reapply sunscreen NOW!” And with that tube in your bag, should be no problem. Or do it via post-it notes in places you visit often before leaving a building (medicine cabinet at home, office computer, work locker, etc.) You can also make fun notes for your friends/family that way too

5. Pass this to a friend – make a pact when with friends to commit to helping each other stay protected! When you reapply that you email/text/call them to remind them to do the same. Don’t you all want to stay youthful looking?

Note: Beachgoers need to reapply more often, especially if you go into the water. And for every colorful alcoholic drink you have, make sure to drink several glasses of water to rehydrate!

Side note: I also get asked “Do you have anything that can help my burn?” The answer is YES – The Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner is an excellent cooling and hydrating, (oil free!) serum to soothe and calm burns). That was my savior!

Any tips you have to make staying sun-safe fun?

Beauty & Skincare / Family & Friends / indonesia / Lifestyle / Products / Videos — No Comments
28
May 10

Meet Vanessa, Indonesia’s JUARA Ambassador – Metta Murdaya

Meet Vanessa, who has been a JUARA fan and advocate in Indonesia and loves spreading the word. When I was just in Indonesia this last month, I took a few minutes with her to share why people across the world like it, especially from where our line is inspired from. Different cultures, different climates, different seasons – but it looks like we all have some things in common, ladies!

If you are or have friends who are from a different country, what skincare products or treatments do you/they like? Do share, we love learning new things!

PS – We have a FREE SHIPPING on ALL ORDERS Special this Memorial Day Weekend. Friday, May 28 through Monday, May 31, 2010. Happy Shopping at JUARA!

Beauty & Skincare / Health & Fitness — 10 Comments
24
May 10

Sun protection for babies: Need-to-know’s for new mothers – Yoshiko Roth-Hidalgo

We all know that babies have sensitive skin. As a new mother to a 4-month-old, I make sure I don’t get anything harsh, chemical or overly perfumed near my daughter’s skin. In fact, my motto so far has been “less is more”. Now that the sun is getting stronger and temperatures are rising, I slather sunscreen on my own face and body daily, but realized after a recent stroll with my daughter that I didn’t really know much about how to protect my baby skin from the sun. Here are the most important need-to-know’s:

1) Keep babies out of the sun whenever possible

Babies have thinner skin and underdeveloped melanin (the body’s own defense against the UV rays) and therefore have to be kept out of the sun whenever possible, especially during peak times 10 AM to 4 PM. This is even more imperative since babies should not use sunscreen before they are 6 months old. Plus babies can’t regulate their body temperature the way adults can and can overheat much more easily and quickly – one more reason to keep them out of the sun.

2) Use protective clothing and umbrellas

Look for clothing and hats with a built-in UPF of 30 or more. A light, white cotton T-shirt is not enough to shield baby’s skin adequately from UV-rays. Thicker fabric is more protective, but you also want to make sure that your baby won’t overheat under thick clothing.

3) Sunscreen before 6 months

Sunscreen, especially chemical sunscreen is a big no-no for babies under 6 months. However, if there is no way to stay out of the sun, sunscreen can be applied in small doses at 3-4 months, but it has to be baby-appropriate sunscreen (read below). For example, your baby is mostly covered by clothing and stroller canopy, but the feet are still exposed. In that case, it makes sense to apply a sunscreen to the exposed areas, as long you also keep an eye out for any skin irritation. Avoid putting on too much sunscreen on the hands. Babies will inevitably put their hands in their mouth and rub their eyes.

4) Choose the right sunscreen

Sunscreens that are safe for toddlers may not be safe yet for infants. Look for sunscreens that rely solely on non-chemical sunscreens like Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, and if you are not sure, speak to your pediatrician, dermatologist or pharmacist. Chemical sunscreens may not only irritate baby’s delicate skin, they are also absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin. This is a problem for babies, since they have so much surface area, i.e. skin, relative to their body mass. So relative to their weight, babies can absorb a lot more chemicals through their skin than adults can. I consulted with my pharmacist in Germany to pick the right formula for my 4-month-old daughter. Initially I was interested in La Roche Posay’s Anthelios Dermo-Pediatrics SPF50+ but was advised against it. Even though good for sensitive skin, Mexoryl (which is the sunscreen agent in all Anthelios products), is a chemical sunscreen and therefore not appropriate for baby skin. My pharmacist recommended Eau Thermale Avene’s Sunscreen SPF50 instead, which literally looks like pure zinc paste on my daughter’s skin. Another popular sunscreen for babies is “Blue Lizard Australian Sunscream Baby, SPF 30”.

5) The Vitamin D connection

We all need some sun for the body to make Vitamin D for strong bones and for our immune system, but do babies get enough Vitamin D if they are kept out of the sun? New research shows that infants that are exclusively breast-fed may not get enough Vitamin D. This does not mean that you should expose your baby to the sun – the risks outweigh the benefits by far. But rather, it is recommended to give baby a Vitamin D supplement of 400 I.U. My pediatrician prescribed Enfamil’s Tri-Vi-Sol Drops with Vitamins A, C & D. This should be continued until baby is able to drink at least 32 oz of Vitamin-D fortified infant formula per day. Formula-fed babies seem to get adequate amounts through the fortified formula.

My question to my fellow moms: Which baby sunscreen product and other sun protective items do you recommend?

Learn About Natural Skin Care and Health in JUARA Skincare’s BlogJUARA Skincare founders talk about life, work, and the musings of running a skincare company.