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May 20, 2026 |
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Morning! Summer is the season to spend as much time outdoors as possible. While you’re out there enjoying the sunshine, there are easy steps you can take to protect your skin from damage. This includes sunscreen—as well as smart lifestyle habits, internal support, and adequate recovery. I believe a holistic sun care plan is the best route to truly enjoying your time outdoors and keeping skin healthy.
That’s why I spent all May covering the topic in our Healthy Summer Skin series. Forward it to anyone who could use the info (we all could, TBH).
PS: if you’re receiving this email because someone sent it to you and you want to stay in the beauty loop, subscribe here. |
xx take care of yourself,
Alexandra Engler
mindbodygreen beauty director |
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Can you do anything about sun damage?One survey found that almost half of adults regret their prior exposure to the sun.¹
From vacation burns to tanning marathons, all that accumulated sun exposure will eventually catch up to you. If you’re lucky it's just in the form of dark spots, wrinkles, and crepey skin—because the alternatives (like melanoma) are much worse.
The best thing you can do is to protect your skin—so start doing that going forward. And while you can’t fully undo the past, you can help the skin repair itself.
- Retinoids have decades of research behind them for treating photodamage. They work by increasing cell turnover, stimulating collagen production, and even addressing UVB-induced DNA damage.²
- Photolyase is a DNA-repair enzyme that helps correct UV damage, supporting the skin’s own repair mechanisms after sun exposure at the cellular level.³
- Fractional lasers can reduce wrinkle depth and improve texture. Just one session of a fractional laser is also shown to reduce a person's skin cancer risk by 50%.⁴
You can't erase sun history, but you can shift your skin’s trajectory. Daily SPF, paired with targeted repair strategies, goes a long way.
+Damage control
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Glowing Recommendations: Sunscreen ☀️ |
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 Image by Kike Arnaiz / Stocksy |
Most mineral SPFs rely on zinc oxide for sun protection. The active ingredient is photostable and blocks both UVA and UVB rays (most chemical sunscreens need a blend of filters).
But zinc oxide isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some brands opt for nano zinc because it sheerer and reduces that infamous white cast.
Non-nano, on the other hand, uses larger particles (i.e. over 100 nanometers) that sit on top of skin and are less likely to be absorbed.
So, how do you find non-nano zinc that still feels good on your skin? Our editors share their top SPF picks:
Apply about 15 minutes before sun exposure. Then be sure to reapply every 2 hours or after getting wet.
+ Sunscreen 101
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Beauty Break: Healthy summer skin |
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 Image by mapodile / iStock |
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Skin snacks: TomatoesWe’re in tomato season and it’s a good thing: Research shows that lycopene, the carotenoid behind their red hue, has strong photoprotective qualities.
While tomatoes won’t replace SPF (duh), they can absolutely strengthen your skin’s natural defense system from the inside out.
- Eating a lycopene-rich diet not only improves levels in the blood, but also the skin.⁵
- Once there, lycopene plays a role in protecting the dermis from UV radiation.⁶
- Fascinatingly, ingestion of tomato paste daily for 10 weeks protects against UV light-induced erythema, or visible skin redness after sun exposure.⁷
Research also shows that it’s one of the antioxidants most quickly depleted upon exposure to solar radiation.⁶ So if you’re spending time outdoors, it's important to eat plenty of those delicious juicy tomatoes to compensate.
+ In season
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Hope you enjoyed this little break—have a beautiful rest of your day.
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Want more from mindbodygreen? Find us here: |
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Alexandra Engler |
Senior Beauty Director |
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Forwarded this email? CLICK HERE to subscribe for free! |
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*These statements haven’t been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Just a heads-up: Everything in this newsletter is for general info only—not medical advice. We always recommend checking in with a healthcare professional before making any health decisions. Our product picks and reviews reflect our editors’ opinions unless we say otherwise. We sometimes link to other sites, but we’re not responsible for their content. |
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