For Canadian riders, the spring and summer months are always eagerly anticipated. No more indoor arena! Hacking! Bathing! Show season! (well, this year not so much yet.) But an often-neglected part of a rider’s daily routine is sun care.
We should all know this by now, but it bears repeating: skin cancer is on the rise in Canada and the best protection is sunscreen with at least 30 SPF. And if the threat of skin cancer isn’t enough to make you slather it on daily, then know that sun damage is the main cause of aging skin! So, want to protect and look youthful? Apply it daily… even on cloudy days.
As riders we often spend most of the good weather in breeches and boots and not in a bikini. This may mean we place all the emphasis on a good face sunscreen. But our arms often get more sun than they should because we think, “Oh, I’ll only ride for 45 minutes,” or we forget about it altogether. There are many, many great products on the market that won’t leave you feeling sticky.
In addition to sunscreen, thankfully there are also technical shirts available with SPF built right in so you can zip up your neck and cover your arms as you ride. But please remember when you’re off the horse, don’t skip a sun hat, ballcap, or whatever your taste to shade your face and look stylish while hosing off your horse or watching ringside. Fellow equestrians, there is no excuse for sun damage.
To help, here are some suggestions for sun care for face and body.
For the Face
Neutrogena Sport Face Oil-Free Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 70+
This sunscreen does heavy-duty work if you’re riding multiple horses since it’s sweat-resistant. We love that it’s non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores that cause break outs – so if you have oily skin, this is your sunscreen.
Vichy Ultra-Fluid Mineral Tinted Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60
If you prefer a mineral sunscreen, this one by French skincare brand Vichy offers up a lightweight, non-greasy feel and up to 80 minutes of water- and sweat-resistance. It comes in a universal tint that is wearable for all skin tones.
Kiehl’s Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream SPF 50
If you’re a rider of a certain age you’ll love this product not only for its sun protection, but its instant skin perfecting texture that lets you skip heavy foundation. Formulated with Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant which is scientifically proven to even skin tone and fight free radicals, this lightweight formula can be layered to cover imperfections. Comes in 4 shades.
For the Body
Garnier Ombrelle Sport Endurance SPF 50+
This formula is hypoallergenic and fragrance, colour and oil free. Slather on arms and décolletage at least fifteen minutes before sun exposure to keep yourself protected and re-apply after 80 minutes.
Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 30
From the French luxury skincare brand, this spray formula is ideal for your horse show kit, because it can be used throughout the day to spritz your body and hair to offer full spectrum protection. Because it’s a spray, it is easily applied with no mess on the go.
Many equestrian apparel companies produce sun shirts and riders have snapped them up because of the SPF 50+ protection they offer alongside the cooling fabric that wicks away sweat. They look great, too! One of our favorites is this new edition from Arista, called “Beautifully,” a collaboration the brand has done with Canadian artist Elise Genest.
