10 UV-blocking accessories you can use when sunscreen isn't enough

UV blocking golf umbrellas

Credit: Amazon Singapore

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Not all umbrellas are made equal. As it turns out, umbrellas don’t fully protect you from the sun’s UV rays – especially not if your umbrella is on the smaller, foldable side, and light-coloured. For example, a Uniqlo UV umbrella costs $19.90 but is on the smaller side.

You’ll need a dark-coloured brolly to receive 77% or so of UV blockage. Otherwise, you will need a proper silver or black lined sun umbrella with bigger dimensions to receive over 99% coverage.

And then, you have… golf umbrellas. These professional golfing umbrellas are often larger in diameter, and are properly designed with SPF50 UV ray blockage. They are the beasts of umbrellas meant to withstand scorching heat and pouring rain – the game must go on.

Here’s a heavy-duty 54-, 62-, or 68-inch G4Free golfing umbrella ($57 to $75) that’s double-lined with ultra-resistant fabric. It’s also windproof, and comes with automatic open functions.

House window tinting

Credit: Amazon Singapore

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You would have heard of privacy films for windows so your neighbours can’t peep into your house. You won’t really need that if you have curtains or blinds installed in your apartment.

Unbeknownst to most of us, there’s actually another type of window films called solar films which serve to block out infrared and UV rays from the sun. You can easily find many independent contractors providing such solar films and installation services online and via Carousell.

If you don’t mind spending, a set of branded 3M Solar Film with 99% UV rays blockage with installation (around 4 hours) will set you back by $1,300 – that’s for a new 3-room BTO flat.

Otherwise, you can find cheaper options from $22 for a generic roll of tinted film (from Amazon) that you can stick on yourself.

Watch out for your house plants, though! They might wither…

Car window tinting

Credit: Instagram @infratint

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Why do people tint their car windscreens and windows? Well, for cosmetic purposes… and UV protection.

The dark tints that you see on cars actually do block out harmful infrared and UV rays – protecting both the humans that are in it, and the car’s interiors from sun damage and any degradation such as colour fading.

And if you’re often driving – or in the passenger seat – you might want to get your windscreen and windows tinted.

Go to any car tinting workshop and you’ll find thousands of brands, shades, and choices available. Generally, you will be presented with mid-tier solar films with 60% to 70% UV protection, and a higher tier solar film with 99% UV protection. Where to go? Lazy to go around scouring through reviews? A reputable and popular tinter in Singapore you can head to without worries is Infratint.

Since Singapore regulates the tinting of car windows, you will want to let your car workshop know to ensure that your tinting is legally compliant. Prices typically range from $300 upwards to $1,000+ for the entire car with professional installation.

UV blocking jackets

Credit: Uniqlo

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One of the easiest ways to block out all that UV rays is to slip on a lightweight jacket that comes with UV protection. For instance, Uniqlo's UV Protection Utility Blouson with UPF50+ that is set to launch this month. Made with Nylon, the jacket also comes with a water-repellent finish so it comes in handy when it starts to pour and it features a stand collar, so you can pair it with more outfits.

If you didn't already know, Uniqlo has an entire range of UV protective clothes, ranging from jackets to leggings, cropped cardigans, innerwear, and accessories.

Slip your UV jacket on before you head out into the sun, and easily take it off after you’ve arrived in your office or shopping mall etc.



 

UV blocking ultra-wide brim sun hat

Credit: Solbari

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A regular cap or cute Prada bucket hat may not provide you with sufficient UV coverage, but a wide brim hat just like this piece from Uniqlo might just do the trick.

Designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the hat features a unique stitchwork and pre-washed finish to create a casual style. Aside from its size, the hat also has a UPF of 50 to protect you from harmful UV rays. UPF is the equivalent of SPF in sunscreens and skincare. However, UPF is specifically used for fabric materials, and it measures the amount of UV rays that can pass through or get blocked by fabrics.

This UV Protection Wide Brim Hat by Uniqlo offers you coverage past your neck and down to your shoulder line. You don’t want to end up with a patch of darker, tanned skin at the back of your neck. Well, most of us already do. It’s a pain to reverse it.

UV blocking sunglasses

Credit: Celine

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If your mum ever told you not to stare at the sun, she’s absolutely right. It’s not an old wive’s tale.

UV rays can leave irreparable damage on (and in) your eyes. We’re talking about damage to your cornea, onset of cataracts, and possible blindness.

What about the eyelids? Other than it being thinner than the rest of your face (and more easily tanned and darkened), the eyelids when exposed to UV rays do age faster. And that’s how you get your wrinkles, saggy skin, hyperpigmentation, dark spots etc.

You’d want to look for a pair of sunglasses with UV protection. More importantly, it should fit your face snugly else any stark gaps may allow errant UV rays to pass through.

A practical and stylish option that you can consider includes Celine's Triomphe XL 01 Sunglasses. Not only is it versatile but it also protects your eyes from UVA and UVB rays.

Thicker clothing

Credit: Love Bonito

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You’d be surprised, but the choice of fabric makes a difference to UV and sun protection!

For starters, our trusty dear ol’ cotton is actually a great UV blocker. However, you’ll want to opt for thicker types of cotton (nope, not the sheer, light linen that’s airy and resort-friendly).

If you’re looking for something that’s pretty trendy and office-friendly, try this Mayven Classic Button Down Shirt ($43) from Love Bonito. It’s cut slightly looser, which allows room for airflow. A classic shirt is pretty versatile as well – you could wear it with jeans ala Jane Birkin style, wear it loose, or drape it over your crop top.

Brightly coloured clothing

Credit: &OtherStories

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Flamboyant dressers rejoice! As it turns out, white, neutrals, and all the pastel baby pinks and lilacs etc. light colours are not great at keeping UV rays at bay.

Instead, darker or brighter colours are able to absorb more UV rays instead of allowing them to pass through the fabric to burn your skin. Think along the lines of intense and bright reds, and blues. Of course, the trophy colour that absorbs the most UV rays is none other than black.

So, embrace your colourful personalities and throw on your brightest dress. No reason to wear the boring blacks and whites just because everyone else in the office does so!

Looser fit clothing

Credit: Klarra

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According to SkinCancer.org, “Looser threads offer better protection than super-tight clothing! If a piece is too tight, that straining can cause fabric fibers to stretch or tear, allowing more UV to pass through the material.”

Oh, that makes so much sense… and is way more practical. Anyway, that’s good news for my stubborn post-partum tummy that could never fit into a Herve Leger bodycon dress ever again!

Here’s a linen classic button down shirt dress in a bright mustard hue ($99) by local fashion brand, Klarra.

Sun safety mobile apps

Credit: UV Lens iPhone App

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In China, there are social weather mobile apps that alert you to a high UV index. Moji Weather is one of these popular user-generated weather apps.

Over in Singapore, we seem to rely on weather.gov. However, there are mobile apps with widgets that will alert you to high UV Index, such as UVLens (free) with a cuter-looking user interface and a more trusted (but costs $1.48) weather and UV index app called Wolfram Sun Exposure.

This article was first published on Singapore Women's Weekly.