The Secret to a Sunny Miami Beach Vacation

You’ve finally arrived in Miami Beach and your itinerary is packed with sun worshipping activities. You’ll spend an entire day lounging on the bow of a boat and soaking up the sun on Biscayne Bay. A cushy lounge chair at your South Beach hotel pool calls your name every morning, followed by a dip in the salty Atlantic Ocean. Later in the afternoon, a stroll down Lincoln Road for lunch and shopping is apropos. 

No matter what you’re planning to do in Miami Beach, you’ll definitely be spending lots of time in that famous sun. All that exposure means there’s extra reason to wear sunscreen and go above and beyond your typical skin protection routine. We all know that too much sun is dangerous and can cause long term damage. Fortunately, it’s easy to follow some simple sun care rules that go a long way in protecting your body’s largest organ -your precious skin. 

Sunscreen Recommendations & Tips

The sun can cause both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Too much sun exposure can prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkles, sun spots and sagging. Short term, prolonged exposure to the sun without sunscreen can ruin an otherwise amazing vacation with a nasty sunburn. Just ask anyone who’s had a beach vacation tainted by the painful redness, swelling and peeling of a sun burn or worse, sun poisoning. The good news is, all of this pain and suffering can be avoided by simply applying the right sunscreen and reapplying throughout the day. 

Whether or not you think you’re at risk for some of the more serious side effects of sun exposure, you should wear sunscreen when you’re out in the sun and enjoying the beach. Actually, you should wear it no matter what activity you have planned for the day while you’re visiting because Miami Beach is one sunny town. Even on an overcast day, UVA rays penetrate the clouds and still have an effect on your skin. 

The American Cancer Society recommends applying sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside so that your skin can properly absorb it, but you’re not done there. Pack your sunscreen in your bag and make sure you reapply every two hours. If you’ve been swimming or sweating heavily, reapply as soon as you can. Pay extra attention to your face’s delicate skin and reapply sunscreen more frequently there. It’s also smart to wear a hat, sunglasses and seek refuge in the shade. 

As for that tricky question on the right SPF for you, the American Cancer Society recommends SPF 15 or higher for normal daily activity and SPF 30 or higher for extended use or outdoor activity. The brand and formula is up to you.

Miami Beach is Here to Help

The City of Miami Beach is here to help keep your skin radiant and healthy during your stay in Miami and beyond with their new MB sun care line in partnership with Destination Brands International, LLC. This product line of sun care essentials is designed to keep your skin protected, hydrated, nourished and looking its best in Miami while you’re on the beach, on a boat or by the pool. 

The product line includes sun care protection products, such as the SPF 15 Salt Water Sport Sunscreen Gel, SPF 30 Triple Action Sea Kelp Sunscreeen Lotion and SPF 50 Sport Spray Sunscreen. There’s also the SoBe Nights Sunless Bronzer line so you can get that South Beach glow without damaging UV rays. Indulge in bath products, like a daily exfoliating wash and a foam wash. 

You can purchase these MB sun care products at Bed, Bath & Beyond, CVS, Ulta and Walgreens, or purchase online at MiamiBeachSun.com. In an effort to keep Miami Beach beautiful, a portion of all proceeds will go to local beach clean up efforts. Slather on these products that Miami Beach’s lifeguards wear every day. After all, they know a thing or two about quality sun protection. Remember, protect the skin you’re in - and head to the beach.