Fashion Accessories That Double As Skincare Allies

Hats, gloves, scarves, and bonnets are often worn as fashion accessories, but they are more than just that. These items also help protect your skin from damage caused by the sun and environmental pollutants, such as dust and smoke. Some are even designed to nourish your skin. Take silk scarves, for example: besides protecting you from the sun, they help retain your skin’s moisture and prevent irritation with their smooth, soft texture.

Skin-Friendly Accessories to Try

When shopping for fashion accessories, check whether they are also built to protect your skin from damage.

UV Protection Hats

Trying on different styles, colors, and designs of hats can be exciting. But when shopping for hats, consider their UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) in addition to how well they suit you. For shielding your face and head from UV radiation, look for options with a UPF of 50 and above. Hats with this rating will be able to block at least 98% of harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Next, ensure the hats you’re considering have a full, wide brim. To protect your face, ears, and neck from sun damage, the brim should be at least 3 to 5 inches wide. While shortlisting sun protective hats for seniors, also pick those made of densely woven fabrics, such as nylon, polyester, and tightly woven straw. These materials block larger amounts of UV rays from impacting your skin.

Silk Bonnets

If hats seem too difficult to wear or carry, a silk bonnet is a great alternative to protect your skin from UV rays. A silk bonnet is a soft, close-fitting head covering made from natural silk fibers. People wear these bonnets while napping to protect their hair from damage, retain moisture, and reduce frizz and tangles. The smooth and silky surface of these fabrics is highly breathable, minimizing friction with pillows and helping to maintain hairstyles.

From a skincare perspective, these bonnets primarily serve to retain the skin’s moisture. Typically, they are worn indoors, but certain styles can also be worn outside.

Gaiters

Gaiters are coverings typically worn on the lower legs during outdoor activities, such as hiking and running. These coverings protect your legs and boots from cuts and scrapes in harsh terrain. They also prevent debris, such as mud, snow, and rocks, from entering and soiling your legs. Furthermore, they are incredibly effective in keeping water, insects, and small plants out when passing through muddy terrain.

You can also find neck and face gaiters that protect against sun exposure, windburn, and other environmental elements. Some of these are made from materials with special ingredients, such as aloe vera, to hydrate the skin. Certain brands also sell products specifically designed for sensitive or inflamed skin conditions.

Gaiters, like silk bonnets, are highly distinctive in terms of appearance and design. You can choose from a variety of gaiters for different terrains or occasions. For instance, you can wear lightweight ankle gaiters for trails, waterproof full-length versions for mountaineering and snow, and riding gaiters for equestrian use.

Protective Gloves

When you venture outdoors in extreme weather, you need to cover as much of your body as possible to protect it from harmful external elements. Protective gloves or mittens help keep your hands warm in freezing temperatures. The skin tends to dry out during winter, and protective gloves help prevent this. Additionally, they protect your hands from sun radiation and potential burns during extremely hot afternoons.

Wristbands

When you use your fingers to scoop out creams and lotions from a container, your wrist can sometimes accidentally come into contact with the product, contaminating it with germs. Wristbands help prevent this by acting as a barrier between your hands and your skincare containers and applicators. Using them, you can confidently dispense your creams, serums, and masks without worrying about cross-contamination.

Skincare products like moisturizers and serums can also accidentally transfer onto your clothing during application. A wristband helps protect your sleeves from potential stains and, subsequently, bacterial growth on your clothes, which can ultimately affect your skin.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are among the very few accessories that focus on safeguarding your eyes. Shades protect your eyes from the harsh glare of the sun during scorching summer days. More importantly, they protect the skin around your eyes from sagging and developing wrinkles due to UV exposure. Pairing your sunglasses with a good sunscreen (with an SPF rating of 30 or higher) is ideal for protecting your eyes from UV radiation and keeping the skin on your face vibrant and healthy.

Skin Safety Fashion Tips

Besides investing in stylish sun protection gear, there are other ways to protect your skin.

• Invest in high UPF fabrics as they protect your skin from UV radiation that can cause wrinkles and sagging.

• Wear dense, tightly woven fabric to create a solid shield between your skin and environmental elements.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to protect your body from pollutants and UV radiation.