Best sunscreens for your family this summer.

The calendar says it’s not officially summer yet, but our brand new freckles and bright pink tank top “tan” lines seem to disagree. To keep ourselves from achieving full lobster status before summer even gets here, we talked to Vicki Keppel, the manager of the Skin Secrets Store at Dermatology, Laser and Vein Specialists of the Carolinas. Vicki gave us the 411 on SPF, and her top recommendations for the best products to keep our skin safe for the next few months. Here’s what she said:

Scoop: How much sunscreen do we need? Back in the day, women’s magazines used to say we needed to use a full shot glass of sunscreen every time we apply. Is that still the case?
Vicki: We recommend that you use enough sunscreen to generously coat the skin. Different body sizes naturally will determine the amount to use, which is why a shot glass full may cover more or less for different body types. Be generous when using.

Scoop: How often should we reapply?
Vicki: It is recommended that you reapply your sunscreen every two hours. Even though 90 percent of the sunscreen in the Skin Secrets Store is water-resistant, you will want to reapply after swimming or excessive sweating.

Scoop: Is my sunscreen from last summer still good this year?
Vicki: The way I see it, if you have a bottle that is still left over from a year or so ago, then you are not using it regularly. When in doubt, I would throw it away. Most of the sunscreens in our store have an expiration date on them, and they are always fresh because we reorder frequently. If you buy a sunscreen that has no expiration date, most estimates are that the effect is still good up to three years.

Now for the fun part — picking a product. Here are the best the Skin Secrets Store has to offer:

Best for children

Vicki recommends that kids use a physical sunscreen containing a high amount of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide with no chemicals like EltaMD’s UV Pure SPF 47 ($24 for a 4-oz. bottle). This is one of the Skin Secrets Store’s top sellers — a full physical water-resistant sunblock that’s fragrance-free, oil-free, dye-free and noncomedogenic (won’t clog pores).

Another good option for kids is the MD Solar Mineral SPF 40 stick, which is great for little faces and around the ears. It’s brand new to the Skin Secrets Store and isn’t available online yet, but call Vicki at 704-973-3646 to find out more.

Best for athletes

Elta Sport SPF 50 ($22 for a 3-oz. tube) is great for swimmers, runners, golfers and other athletes because it’s water-resistant so it won’t rinse off in the pool or drip in your eyes and sting after you sweat. It’s also got antioxidants to combat skin-aging free radicals.

MD Solar’s water-resistant mineral cream in SPF 50 is another good option for athletes because even though it has a high SPF and is incredibly water resistant, it still has a “barely there” finish (no more bright-white lifeguard noses). Call or visit the Skin Secrets Store to order.

Best for those with sensitive/acne-prone skin

Even people with super-sensitive skin can use EltaMD’s tinted SPF 41 ($29.50 for a 3-oz. tube) which offers physical protection from the sun without fragrances, parabens, chemicals or other ingredients that can cause skin inflammation.

If your skin is acne-prone, try EltaMD’s UV Clear 46 ($32 for a 1.7-oz. pump), which contains Niacinimide and antioxidants to help calm the skin. Vicki also suggested EltaMD’s UV Shield SPF 45 ($25 for a 3-oz. tube), because it’s oil-free.

Best makeup with sunscreen

Vicki says you still have to use a sunscreen under your makeup, even if your foundation has SPF included.

The Skin Secrets Store carries Jane Iredale’s Mineral Pressed Makeup with SPF 20 as well as MDSolar’s Mineral Beauty Balm, a BB Creme with SPF 50. Visit the Skin Secrets Store for more info and to find your perfect shade match.

Vicki’s picks

As manager of the Skin Secrets Store, she comes in contact with hundreds of different high-end skin products with sunscreen. So what are her favorites?

Revision’s Intellishade SPF 45 has won multiple beauty awards and after you try it just once, you’ll see why. It has a slight tint and comes in either Original Formula ($56 for a 1.7-oz. tube) for a dewy look, or Matte Finish Formula ($56 for a 1.7-oz tube). Vicki loves it because it’s full of anti-aging ingredients such as antioxidants and moisturizers to help prevent wrinkles.

Vicki says everyone needs at least one Sunforgettable SPF 30 ($57). It’s a loose powder sunscreen in a brush applicator, which comes in a clear or tinted. This physical sunscreen provides on-the-go protection and is great for reapplication throughout the day. Vicki has one in her makeup bag, her beach bag and her car. “As the sun is beating in the car window on my drive to and from work, I pull it out and brush on my face, chest and hands,” she says. It also boasts one of the Skin Secrets Store’s highest content of zinc oxide at 24%, with titanium dioxide at 23% (those are the ingredients that physically shield your skin from the sun).

Bonus: Vicki’s drugstore pick

If you’re at the beach and nowhere near the Skin Secrets Store when you run out of sunscreen, don’t despair. Head to your nearest drug store to pick up La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Face Dry Touch Sunscreen, SPF 60, which helps absorb oil to keep you shine-free.

Want to learn more?
Visit www.carolinaskin.com, email info@carolinaskin.com, call 1-800-626-6257 or visit the Skin Secrets store at:
Midtown Medical Plaza
1918 Randolph Road
Suite 550