9 Beauty Secrets from a Pro Surfer

9 Beauty Secrets from a Pro Surfer

Surf pros like Tatiana Weston-Webb, Alessa Quizon, and Leah Thompson have beauty habits that work as hard as they do in the water. As you can imagine, the long hours surfers spend in saltwater and sun take a toll on their hair and skin. Just like riding a steep wave, they have a science to how to cope with the impact. From their SPF product choices to their hairstyling secrets, here are a few of their favorite beauty tips that will make you want to skip them on your next summer adventure.

Whether you're putting up with the possibility of swell or don't know how long you'll be in the sun that day, using a water-resistant SPF is essential; SPF provides long-lasting protection from the sun's harmful rays while you're splashing and sweating. (3]

Weston-Webb explains to choose a sunscreen that absorbs quickly and is non-slip (because a slippery SPF makes it harder to grab a board). It blends comfortably into the skin and withstands sweat and water for up to 80 minutes.

To avoid sun damage, pay close attention to the places most often forgotten: ears, lips, and eyelids. Thompson says, "The area around the eyes is more sensitive than the rest of the face, so if you don't apply sunscreen, the burn can be quite painful." If you don't apply sunscreen, it hurts a lot," Thompson says. 'I use a sunscreen stick around my eyes for extra protection.'

Australian Gold Face Guard SPF 50 (opens in new tab) is a solid stick option for around the eyes and ears, and layering the brand's SPF 30 Lip Balm (opens in new tab) ensures lips are protected, too. For cutouts, between straps, and other easily neglected areas of the body, we recommend applying Ultra Cool Sunscreen's Sport Spray Gel. In addition to its hardcore sunscreen effect, it provides an instant cooling sensation to overheated areas.

Word of the Day: oxybenzone. Take a quick look at the ingredients in sunscreen products to make sure they don't contain this chemical, which can damage coral reefs. Says Weston-Webb, "Surfers are trying to make the toxicity of oxybenzone more known so that the sunscreens we use don't impact the environment."

Products labeled "reef-safe" may be an indicator of formulations that do not harm marine life, but the term is not strictly regulated, as the industry is still working out a universal definition of the term.

So, for now, we should properly examine and avoid using oxybenzone or any formulation that contains the equally nasty octinoxate. Australian Gold's Extreme Sports Lotion (opens in new tab) is one of our favorite SPFs that omits both. Instead, it contains vegan ingredients like vitamin C-rich kakadu plum and tea tree oil.

Abrasions are caused by friction with the skin in the water, which can occur during prolonged wading in the ocean or pool. Wearing a rash guard or other protective clothing is effective, but it is important that the garment be neither too large nor too small, and that it fall within the Goldilocks zone.

"Usually, chafing is caused by moving around a lot or using a bikini or wetsuit that is a little too big," Quizon says.

"Check the size and fit, and make sure it's not too tight, that there's nothing where water could get in."

The three professionals also agree to apply Aqua Hole Healing Ointment to prevent further irritation to the chafed areas. Says Weston-Webb, "Use it where there are chapped lips, cuts, scrapes, rashes or abrasions." Apply it to areas where chafing is expected, as a shield against chafing, and to inflamed areas to moisturize and soothe.

One might think that to make up for time spent in saltwater, one would need a cocktail of products to restore moisture to the skin. Thompson uses only one product to rehydrate her complexion, Botanicals' Rosehip Seed Daytime Face Cream (opens in new tab).

Weston-Webb relies on natural jojoba oil. Applied all over the body, especially on chafed areas, it provides moisture, relief, and a healthy glow. 'Most surfers don't like oil,' he says. My routine is to leave it on overnight after showering, then rinse it off the next morning before surfing."

While the ultimate goal is to avoid sunburn, it can happen to even the most diligent of us, and Quizon, Weston-Webb, and Thompson agree that three things are necessary to soothe burns: aloe, hydration, and rest.

"If you get a bad sunburn, definitely stay out of the sun for the next day or two and cool down with aloe," says Kizon. 'Moisturizing the skin is important to aid in recovery, so if I'm not going outside, I use coconut oil to restore moisture.' If you do go outside, she adds, replace the coconut oil with a soothing lotion to avoid aggravating the burn.

Before entering the ocean, wet your hair with water from the sink or shower to prevent your hair from becoming stiff from the saltwater.

Despite her busy surfing schedule, the blonde's hair retains its elasticity.

The fact of the matter is: Depending on your hair type, repeating the cycle of getting in the water, lathering, and rinsing every day can strip your hair of some of the natural oils it needs. Weston Webb eliminates shampooing after swimming, taking care to keep his hair moist. He says, "Because I surf, my hair doesn't produce a lot of natural oils, so my routine is to rinse out all the salt water and then moisturize with a conditioner to get rid of all the knots."

After a day at the beach or pool, you are itching to wash your hair. On shampooing days, don't forget to rehydrate your hair with an emollient leave-in conditioner.

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