Beyond the Sand: How to Stay Sun Safe While Driving

I am passionate about cars and I love taking good care of my BMW. Not so long ago, I installed an automotive carpet as I want my car to stay clean and well protected, however, I realised that I need to protect myself better while driving under the hot Australian sun. Recently, I was reading an article that was talking about the UVA and UVB rays.
Did you know that they can penetrate your car windows? While most car windows typically block out UVB rays, some studies show that they don’t fully block UVA rays. It got me thinking, so I decided to look for some ways to protect me and my family while on the road. Here is what I found out to be worth considering to limit your UV exposure and risk for skin cancer while driving.

Car Sun Shades

Auto window shade screens are a great way to stop the sun from entering the car. When light enters the car, some of it is reflected out as visible light and doesn’t impact the interior of your car. The rest of it is absorbed by the different materials and heats their surfaces until it reaches its maximum temperature because it can’t leave your car through the windows as the visible light can.
Car window shades are a great invention as they reflect more of the light than they absorb. The more light is reflected the less your car interior will warm up and more importantly, you can prevent yourself from the UV rays entering your vehicle. You can choose from a wide range of auto window shade screens and find the ones that match your car model.
I know some people that believe tinted windows can protect them from UV rays. But the truth is that some cars have as low as 50% UV blockage, including cars with tinted windows. Keep in mind that a car’s UV protection doesn’t necessarily depend on the cost as even some high-end car models may offer as little UV protection as more affordable cars.
Magnetic window shades are an excellent choice because each shade has strong magnetic clips that stick straight onto the window sills and can be rolled up and down once the car sun shade is installed. As I mentioned above, I like to take good care of my car and magnetic window shades are my favourite for a few reasons.
Not only do they protect my car interior from UV rays, but also, they keep the car cool in the summer and allow me to touch the steering wheel without feeling like I’d rather use oven mitts while driving. They are great for protecting the seats, the dashboard and the car audio electronics as well. Not to mention that they reduce glare and keep the car warm when the weather gets colder.

Sunscreen

Before getting in the car, I always make sure to apply my sunscreen. I usually do it before I leave home, however, I keep my organic sunscreen in the car because if it’s going to be a long trip, I will have to reapply it every 2 hours or so. Whether I am on the road alone or with family, having sunscreen in my car always helps.
Now, I’m not talking about only when the weather heats up. Wearing sunscreen all year round is a good practice as the harmful UV rays are there even when we don’t see the sun. Applying sunscreen regardless of the forecast is one of the most effective ways to protect your skin. Continuous UV exposure can cause many issues, including sunburn, skin damage and increased risk of skin cancer.
There are many different types of sunscreens to choose from and it might get overwhelming sometimes. You can choose organic sunscreen which works by providing a reflective barrier against sun damage using active blocking agents, such as zinc oxide or titanium oxide. 
It’s a chemical-free sunscreen as it doesn’t contain any chemical UV absorbers, benzoates, synthetic preservatives, artificial fragrances, petrochemical, artificial colours or flavours or other harmful chemicals. For me, as a person with sensitive and allergy-prone skin, this is a great choice as it keeps my skin calm. And safe, too, even though some of them might leave the skin with a white tinge, I don’t care.
You can find organic sunscreens with a full UV spectrum and SPF 30+ protection. However, it’s not only about protecting ourselves with chemical-free sunscreen, but also, it’s about minimising sun exposure as much as we can, wearing a hat, a shirt and raising awareness of skin cancer and the ways it can be prevented.

Water Bottles

Protecting your skin while on the road is important, but staying hydrated is a top priority. I am trying to get enough water throughout the day, even when away from home. In my family, each member has their water bottle, which helps us stay on track with our water intake.
As we all know, water is one of the most important elements for all living beings. It’s essential for supplying nutrients throughout the body and removing waste, maintaining blood circulation, body temperature and regulating some biochemical reactions. It can help with digestion and protect vital organs, which is not surprising at all as up to 60% of our bodies is made of water.
We live in a busy world and many people simply forget about their water intake throughout the day. It’s always a good idea to choose a water bottle that you will be carrying around with you, so it can help you keep track of your daily water intake. As I said earlier, it worked for me and my family. 
When you are on the road, one of the first and most important steps is to make water more accessible along the way, so you need to make sure you always have your bottle at hand. Glass water bottles are some of the most popular solutions as they hold a steady temperature, so your water will be refreshingly cold all way long.
Reusable water bottles are a must-have item when you are an adventurer who likes to hit the road as they can help you maintain good health and keep the planet’s health as well. Investing in reusable water bottles is an important first step that can address the problem of plastic waste. And remember to always stay hydrated, wherever you may go!