It’s time we finally talk about my Daft Punk Visor/Favorite Sun Protection Tool: my Bluestone Sunshield.
First, let me start off by saying this is NOT a sponsored post, not an ad, I am literally just in love with this thing. This sunshield is going to be your new favorite skincare accessory!
I am so freaking excited to talk about this with you guys. This is probably my most asked-about (and most loved) wellness accessory, and I have a lot. If you follow me on Instagram (and you should—I want to get to know you!), you’ve likely seen me roaming around San Diego wearing this.
You might say it looks weird. I say it’s CHIC. Skin is in!
I’m a little obsessive about protecting my skin from the sun.
Why? Well, we should all be, in my opinion.
I’ve been conscious about sun protection since I was a child. My uncle was/is a dermatologist, and when I was very young my mom asked him what to use to protect mine and my brother’s skin. His responses: Sunscreen + Retinol. I’ve been using both religiously ever since.
(My favorite sunscreen is Alba Botanica Cool Sport Refreshing Clear Spray SPF 50. Always choose one that is organic, eco-friendly reef-friendly, free of oxybenzone and octinoxate, obvs.)
Then, when I was a teenager, I helped my mom take care of my great-grandfather as he slowly died from melanoma (skin cancer). It left a dramatic impact on me. He had spent many hours working in the sun when he was young, and had massive moles and spots all over his body.
I’ve always been maybe a little extra (maybe? lol). As a teen my friends would make fun of me when I walked out for pool parties, because I’d SLATHER sunscreen on. I didn’t care if it made me look pasty white. I’ve never let myself get tan.
When I picture tanning in the sun, the image that pops into my mind is a turkey roasting in the oven. I know it’s very different, but the wrinkly, crinkled skin? Basically the same end result.
But when my face was badly damaged, I stepped my sun protection game UP.
In 2016, the day before I was supposed to go to the desert on a camping trip to celebrate graduating from yoga teacher training, I went to get a facial. I was having horrible breakouts and my skin was a mess.
The esthetician pressured me into getting a chemical peel. I told her the pain was unbearable, and she kept telling me to hold out for “just a little longer.” I left the office with a second-degree burn, all over my whole face.
It still makes me sick to my stomach to remember. I now get red in my face really easily, and it’s hard not to mourn the loss of my once-really-amazing skin. But I choose to see it as a lesson. A) to always trust MYSELF and B) to protect the fuck out of my skin and my health.
Now, even if you haven’t had a lot of damage to your skin, you’ve likely spent a lot of time out in the sun over the years, which is still damage, but slow, so it sneaks up on you. Even with all that diligence, I’ve got some sunspots on my hands and one on my cheek that I’m keeping an eye on.
The Bluestone Sunshield is the ultimate in face sun-protection.
We all know the sun-protecting standards: sunscreen all day, every day. A hat whenever possible. I also use driving gloves to protect my hands and have sun screens attached to my car windows.
But I was wondering how to step my game up a notch—after all, a hat only covers part of your face. What about your chin? Your neck?? Who wants to keep caking on layer after layer of sunscreen all day to reapply? It’s not even really an option with a full face of makeup. And hats are great but they ruin your hair.
Thankfully I found what I was searching for when the blogger Lauryn Evarts of The Skinny Confidential posted a Story of herself wearing a Bluestone Sunshield visor.
PART THE CLOUDS AND CUE THE ANGELS.
I’m going to get picky here and insist that you order the crème de la crème of the Bluestone Sunshield lineup. Because they do also make some super cute half-visors and others that only protect against some UV rays.
But if we’re doing this, we’re DOING this, right? 100% protection or bust, people.
This the Bluestone Sunshield visor I have:
Buy Sunshield on Amazon
From the Bluestone website:
Our Chrome Sunshield provides our best protection and clarity! Recommended by top dermatologists. Our anti-glare Chrome Sun Shield is perfect for in the car use or laying poolside. Heat resistant lens means you can keep your cool even during the hottest days.
The visor clicks into place to angle up or down. You choose whether or not anyone/the sun can see your face.
Benefits of the Bluestone Sunshield visor:
- Blocks 99% of UVA/UVB rays from the sun
- Slows down the aging process—that means reduced wrinkles + sun spots
- Ideal for recovering from any kind of facial procedure
- Protects against skin cancer
- Won’t mess up your hair
- Protects your eyes too, like sunglasses
- Keeps you cool, both literally and figuratively
- Fantastic conversation starter: spread the sun protection gospel!
- Protects you from the public eye (Are you a celebrity? Who knows? Nobody, when you’re wearing this. YOU MIGHT BE)
Now, since you were amazing enough to read all the way through to this point in my post, thank you, and I’ve got a special surprise for you! I reached out to Bluestone Sunshields and they gave me this insider DEAL to share with you if you want to buy a visor of your own:
Use the Promo Code Sunshield15 for 15% off your entire order.
Like I said, this post is not an ad, I’m not being paid and I don’t get paid if you buy one. But I would LOVE to start a secret Sun Health Warrior army of fabulous people loving themselves walking all over the world in these things. So please please treat yourself and join the Cool Kids Club.
No really—Bluestone Sunshields are, actually, getting a lot of attention, because even though you have to be willing to get some looks, the benefits are hard to beat. Also, I can’t be the only one who actually thinks they look really cute?
I’ll be 100% honest. I was nervous the first time I wore this thing out in public! But then I realized I loved it, and people actually didn’t really react negatively like I thought they would. I do get a few weird looks when I wear it, and sometimes someone will offer some unsolicited, brilliant commentary (“you look like you’re welding something!” har har har). But more often than not, I actually get stopped by older women who want to know where to get one. They say they wish they had worn something like it when they were younger. THAT is the feeling I’m trying to avoid: regret.
We now know too much about sun damage to not take action against it.
I now wear my Sunshield every single time I take my dogs for a walk. Taking a yoga class outside in the sun? This is ideal, because unlike a hat, it will stay on your head.
I think the Bluestone Sunshield is so fun—it reminds me daily to not take life, or myself, too seriously. While also taking sun protection very seriously.