Here Comes the Sun

Protect your skin in style. Here, three hot spots, three new innovative products.

Where: Playa Conchal, Costa Rica
What: Shiseido Ultra Sun Protection Lotion SPF 50+WetForce (100 ml, $49)
How: In another life, I most certainly had gills, so in or near water, preferably the warm and salty kind like that off Playa Conchal, is where you’ll find me in this part of the world. For this trip, I slathered on Shiseido’s latest lightweight lotion with WetForce. And while that may sound like a newfangled superhero, it’s actually the brand’s innovative formula with negative ion minerals that bond with positive ion minerals in water to actually boost UV protection. Sure enough, as I take an après-sea end-of-the-day dip in the resort pool – and a quick swim-by of the bar – the water still seems to be sitting atop the sunscreen “veil” I applied hours earlier. Effectiveness also enhances with exposure to sweat – perfect for the next day’s clammy, white-knuckled morning of treetop zip-lining.

Where: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
What: Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ (50 ml, $41)
How: Punta Cana-da, as the locals have affectionately coined it, serves as the destination for a multi-gen, multi-family getaway – we’ve even got in-laws of in-laws on the trip. I’m using Kiehl’s new daily moisturizer on my face, neck and chest. Its mineral-based filter makes the SPF perfect for sensitive types including the acne-prone and the chemical-intolerant – and chemical-adverse. And worry not about blocking those sunny rays: an Australian study showed that even daily sunscreen use doesn’t prevent us from synthesizing enough vitamin D. The lotion has a light feel and a subtle tint, flattering for all complexions and bestowing that sun-kissed glow – even if you’re following dermatologist’s orders, basking but in the shade. Muy bueno!

Where: St. Petersburg, Fla.
What: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mist SPF 50 (200 ml, $32)
How: Lying poolside with my partner, the words of Dr. Sonya Cook echo in my sundrenched head: “It’s an abuse of the product to lie in the sun with sunscreen” as it prevents us from feeling the burn and seeking shade, she explained. Guilty as charged. Cook, the director of Compass Dermatology, was advising journalists in Toronto this past winter during a preview for La Roche-Posay sun care. The French skin-care company has been perfecting its broad-spectrum protection (both UVA and UVB) for decades and, for 2015, customized the line by skin type: Blue (Comfort) for normal to dry skin, Green (Dry Touch) for combination to oily skin and Yellow (Ultra-light) for all skin types. The company also introduced a spray, which, Cook notes, is more effective if it goes on white, as the fine mist does, so you can see spots you miss. It’s also great for guys who, let’s face it, are a little application-adverse. Cook also noted that ears, nose, backs of the hands and the neck are “trouble spots” for men; areas more prone to skin cancer. Recalling this, I lean over and ask my partner, “Angel, did you get your ears?”