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Sneaky Ways to Squeeze in Extra SPF

Help kick skin cancer to the curb with these sun-protecting steps
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Accessorize Like Grace Kelly
Make like your favorite Old Hollywood actresses and don oversize sunnies and a wide-brimmed hat while outdoors. Or grab a parasol to shield yourself from UVA/UVB rays. (Yes, we really are trying to bring back the parasol.) Believe it or not, the eye is a common spot for skin cancer, and shades can help. Hats are great for protecting your face, and there are lines -- like Solartex -- with extra-high SPF.

Not ready to rock a hat? New York City dermatologist Gervaise Gerstner M.D. says, "Don't forget SPF on the scalp and part line!" While pulling the hair back to cover up your part helps, it's still important to spray sunscreen over the hair, as the scalp is one of the most common areas people overlook when applying sunscreen.

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Drive Safely
Sure, you may reach for a pair of sunglasses when you get in the car, but you may not realize just how much sun exposure you get while driving. While glass blocks UVB rays, and your windshield is designed to block UVA rays, your car's side windows let in about 63 percent of UVA rays, according to Graf.

Because UVA rays are longer and travel deeper into the skin (making them responsible for wrinkles and other signs of aging), it's important to wear sunscreen when driving -- yes, even in winter -- or apply clear, UV-protective film to your car windows.

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You Are What You Eat
Eating healthy is not only good for your waist line -- it also helps protect your skin from sun damage. Antioxidants like beta-carotene (found in carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach), catechin (found in green tea, dark chocolate, berries and apples), lycopene (found in tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit) and sulforaphane (found in broccoli, kale and brussel sprouts) help your skin prevent, and repair itself from, sun damage.

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Pop a Supplement
Sunscreen in a pill? Well, sort of. You can sneak in more sun-shielding antioxidants by taking a dietary supplement like Heliocare, $16.99. Dermatologist Vivian Bucay, M.D., calls it "a multifaceted approach to protecting yourself from the sun." Heliocare contains Polypodium leucotomos, a fern native to South America that has been used for centuries to treat skin conditions like sunburn, eczema and psoriasis. "Take it in the morning, and then if you're going to be outside, take it again a few hours later," says Bucay. Just remember that it's a good complement to wearing sunscreen, not a substitute for it.

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Sun-Fighting Skin-Care Ingredients
Just like in the foods you eat, antioxidants found in the products you apply to your face are effective sun protection. Dr. Graf likes Glytone Antioxidant Anti-Aging Serum, $120, whose skin-saving ingredients include vitamins C and E. We also like Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Defense Serum, $62, which combines stabilized grape seed polyphenols and vitamin C to fight sun damage and protect the skin. Layer one of these under your moisturizer and sunscreen.

BY MARISSA DESANTIS | MAY 20, 2014 | SHARES
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