When most people hear the word denim, they think of a hot, heavy fabric that they should steer clear of in the summer. Nine times out of ten, they equate the word denim with thick, sturdy blue jeans. However, denim is used to make endless garments and accessories. With denim on denim being such a huge trend this season, it’s practically everywhere, and I’m loving it! This unique fabric, which relies on a special type of weaving, is not only for the casual American and the fashion-obsssesed. It’s for any and everyone who wants to protect their skin from the sun.
With summer comes those harmful UV rays that we can’t seem to escape (especially if you live in Los Angeles). Most of us love our sun, but let’s face it, the sun doesn’t love us. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one out of five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, and the majority of those cancer cases are associated with UV radiation from the sun.
So what does this have to do with denim?
Denim packs some serious UV protection, and the darker the wash, the more the fabric absorbs the sunlight, keeping the sun’s harmful rays from the skin. The more tightly woven the denim, the more protective. Some denim garments even list an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UVF) to disclose how well the item shields from the sun.
Denim alone won’t save your skin from those UV rays. You will also need to wear sunscreen. Just be conscious of when you can incorporate denim into your summer wardrobe for more UV protection. For instance, if you’re an Uber or Lyft driver, try driving in a denim shirt, not only to keep “the driving arm” from tanning three shades darker than the other, but also, to provide your skin with some much needed preventative care.
Denim & Lipstick 