Summer is here, and honestly? I am thrilled about it. The longer days, the warm evenings, the excuse to finally wear that linen dress that’s been sitting in your closet since April. Summer is one of life’s great gifts.

But here’s the thing: summer also means more UV exposure. A lot more. And as someone who built an entire brand around UV protection for nail appointments, I think about this a lot, not just in the context of the salon, but for everyday life.

This post is not a lecture. I promise. I’m not here to make you afraid of the sun or guilt you out of your beach days. I’m here to share some of the products and habits that let me enjoy summer to the fullest while also taking care of my skin for the long haul. Because looking good and staying protected are not mutually exclusive. In fact, with the right choices, they’re the same thing.

Think of this as your summer glow-up guide with a little science sprinkled in.

1. Polarized Sunglasses: The Accessory That’s Actually Good for You

Let’s start with the most stylish item on this list, because polarized sunglasses are genuinely one of the best things you can do for your eye health and they happen to complete every summer outfit effortlessly.

Here’s what makes polarized lenses different from regular tinted lenses: regular tinted sunglasses reduce the overall brightness of light, but they don’t do much about glare. Polarized lenses have a special filter built into them that blocks horizontal light waves, the kind that bounce off reflective surfaces like water, sand, roads, and car hoods. That’s the glare that squints you up and leaves you with a headache by 2pm.

But beyond comfort, UV-protective sunglasses are protecting your eyes from cumulative UVA and UVB damage that can contribute to cataracts, macular degeneration, and even growths on the eye’s surface. Your eyes need SPF too, just in the form of good lenses.

What to look for:

• 100% UVA and UVB protection (labeled UV400 or ‘blocks 100% of UV rays’)

• Polarized lenses (look for the ‘polarized’ label on the tag)

• Wraparound or oversized frames for maximum coverage around the eye area

• Lens colors that suit your lifestyle: gray lenses are great for true color accuracy, brown or amber lenses enhance contrast, and mirror coatings reduce glare on the water

The good news: polarized sunglasses exist at every price point. From luxury to drugstore, the key specs are what matter, not the brand name on the arm.

Summer styling bonus: A great pair of sunglasses is the easiest way to look polished even on a casual beach day. Invest in a shape that suits your face and wear them every single day you’re outdoors. Your future eyes will thank you.

2. Hats: Your Most Underrated Sun Protection Tool

I am firmly in the camp that hats are having a moment and should never stop having one. Beyond looking effortlessly chic on a rooftop or at a farmer’s market, a good hat is doing serious UV protection work.

Your face, scalp, ears, and neck are some of the most UV-exposed areas on your body, and often the most neglected when we’re applying sunscreen. Hats solve that problem in the most stylish way possible.

The hat guide:

• Wide-brim hats (3 inches or more): The gold standard for sun protection. A wide brim shades your face, neck, ears, and décolletage, the areas most prone to UV-related aging and sun damage. A floppy raffia hat on the beach is not just a vibe, it’s smart.

• Baseball caps: Great for protecting your forehead and eyes. Less great for ears and neck, so pair with sunscreen in those areas.

• Bucket hats: The comeback kid of summer accessories and genuinely solid all-around coverage. Also crushable and packable, which makes them perfect for travel.

• UPF-rated hats: Some hats are specifically rated with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) number, similar to SPF but for fabric. UPF 50+ means the fabric blocks 98% of UV radiation. Look for this rating if you’re spending extended time outdoors.

Don’t overthink it. A hat you’ll actually wear is always better than the “perfect” hat sitting at home. Keep one by your door, one in your car, and one in your beach bag.

3. UV-Protective Clothing: Style That Works as Hard as You Do

This is the sun protection category that has genuinely transformed in the past few years, and I could not be happier about it. UV-protective clothing used to conjure images of unflattering rash guards and fishing shirts. That era is over.

UPF-rated clothing is now available in everything from lightweight linen-look tops to gorgeous cover-ups to everyday shirts that you’d never identify as ‘sun protective’ unless someone told you. The tech has caught up with fashion.

Why UPF clothing matters:

A regular white cotton t-shirt has a UPF of about 5, meaning it only blocks 80% of UV rays and lets 20% through. A wet white t-shirt offers even less protection. In contrast, a UPF 50+ garment blocks 98% of UV radiation. For extended time outdoors, that difference is significant.

What to look for:

• UPF 30 (blocks 97% of UV) at minimum; UPF 50+ is ideal for high-exposure days

• Tighter weave fabrics (hold them up to light: less light through = more protection)

• Darker or more vibrant colors tend to offer more UV protection than very light pastels

• Long sleeves for arm coverage: especially relevant for driving, outdoor dining, hiking, or any extended outdoor activity

Brands like Coolibar, Solbari, and Columbia have made sun-protective clothing genuinely stylish and wearable. But you don’t have to go specialty: a dense-weave linen shirt or a dark cotton cover-up is offering meaningful protection even without a UPF label.

4. Sunscreen: The Non-Negotiable, but Let’s Make It Enjoyable

I know. You know about sunscreen. But I want to talk about it anyway because I think the conversation around sunscreen has been so fear-heavy that it’s made people feel guilty and annoyed rather than genuinely motivated. Let’s reframe it.

Sunscreen is not punishment for being outside. It is the single most effective anti-aging skincare step you can take. Full stop. Every dermatologist, every research study, every beauty editor who has ever spoken about skin over the age of 40 lands in the same place: consistent broad-spectrum sunscreen use makes the biggest difference. More than serums, more than treatments, more than retinol.

If that’s not motivating, I don’t know what is.

The basics, quickly:

• Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher: Broad-spectrum means it protects against both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays. SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays. SPF 50 blocks about 98%. Both are great; the key is applying enough and reapplying.

• Apply generously: Most people apply about 25 to 50 percent of the recommended amount, which significantly reduces effectiveness. For your face, use about a nickel-sized amount. For your body, about one ounce (a full shot glass).

• Reapply every two hours: Or immediately after swimming or heavy sweating. Sunscreen breaks down with UV exposure and sweat. No product is all-day.

• Don’t forget the easy-to-miss spots: Ears, back of the neck, tops of hands, the part in your hair, and your lips (SPF lip balm is wonderful).

The best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually use. Experiment with textures until you find one that feels good on your skin. There are beautiful tinted mineral sunscreens that double as a light foundation, silky chemical formulas that disappear completely, and everything in between. This is not the era of white cast and greasy skin.

5. UV-Protective Gloves for Gel Manicures: Yes, This Is a Thing and Yes, You Need Them

You knew I was going to get here eventually. And I’m going to make the case with enthusiasm, not alarm.

If you get gel manicures or shellac manicures regularly, your hands go under a UV or LED nail curing lamp every single appointment. That lamp emits UVA radiation to polymerize (harden) the gel polish. This is simply how gel manicures work, and it’s what makes them long-lasting and beautiful.

The issue is that UVA radiation is cumulative. Each individual appointment’s exposure might be brief, but if you’re getting gel manicures every two to three weeks over months and years, that adds up. Research published in Nature Communications documented that UV nail lamps can cause DNA damage to skin cells after repeated exposure. This isn’t a reason to stop getting gel manicures. It’s a reason to get them smarter.

That’s exactly why I created NO/UV. Our fingertipless UV-blocking gloves are designed specifically for use during gel curing. They’re open at the fingertips so your nail technician has full access to your nails for polishing and curing, while the rest of your hand is completely shielded from UVA and UVB radiation. Third-party tested to block 99.99% of UVA and UVB rays. Compact enough to keep in your purse for every appointment.

Gel manicures are one of the best things to happen to nail care. They’re beautiful, long-lasting, and a genuine treat. There’s no reason to give them up. There’s just every reason to add one small, simple layer of protection while you enjoy them.

Now, I'll tell you the easiest way to protect your hands at your next gel appointment. You guessed it! Bring a pair of NO/UV fingerless gloves. Keep them in your bag so they're always there when you need them.

Putting It All Together: Your Summer UV Protection Checklist

Here’s the thing I want to leave you with: none of this has to feel like effort or restriction. The summer UV protection toolkit is just a collection of great products that happen to also be good for you.

• A pair of polarized, UV400 sunglasses you love wearing

• A wide-brim hat for beach days and outdoor hangs

• A few UPF-rated or tightly woven tops for extended outdoor time

• A broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen you actually like wearing

• NO/UV gloves in your purse for every gel manicure appointment

You can be the person who loves summer AND takes care of their skin. You can get gorgeous gel manicures AND protect your hands from cumulative UV exposure. You can spend long afternoons outside AND be doing your skin a favor.

These things coexist beautifully. That’s the whole point.

Go enjoy your summer. Wear the sunscreen. Bring the hat. Keep the gloves in your bag. Oh, and send me a photo of your summer nails.

Stay glowing. Stay protected.