Your Holistic Guide to Sun, Skin & Radiance in the Tropics

As summer and high season approaches, here’s my advice on how to enjoy the sun at the same time as caring for your skin

Living in Santa Teresa, the sun is part of our lifestyle. It shapes our days, our energy, our mood, and our connection with nature. And as a holistic esthetician, my approach has never been about fearing the sun or hiding from it. The sun carries life-giving nutrients, warmth, joy, and vitamin D that our bodies genuinely need.

But tropical sun is powerful. It can nourish us… and it can damage our skin if we’re not mindful.

You can enjoy the sun fully and still care for your skin. It’s not one or the other.

It simply comes down to intention, timing, and choosing the right kind of protection.

Holistic Sun Philosophy: Don’t Fear the Sun - Work With It

Traditional estheticians often recommend staying covered or protected at all times, even indoors. But I know my clients live here to be in the sun - surfing, walking on the beach, driving around town, running errands, living their Costa Rican life. I would never tell anyone to hide from something that brings so much joy and vitality.

Instead, I focus on receiving the sun in a balanced, holistic way:

1. Get your nourishing sun during “golden hours”

Early in the morning or around sunset, sunlight offers the most benefits with the least intensity. These are the times to enjoy:

• Natural vitamin D

• Mood-enhancing light

• Gentle warmth that supports your circadian rhythm

• Sun exposure that benefits the body without damaging the skin

This is your healing sunlight, not your damaging sunlight.

2. During peak hours, protect your skin mindfully

From late morning until late afternoon, UV levels in the tropics are extremely strong - stronger than most people realise. Even if you’re not “sunbathing,” the sun you get while driving, walking, working in front of windows, or going back and forth from beach to home all counts.

This is the sunlight that leads to the most common forms of sun damage I see every day in facials:

• Hyperpigmentation (brown sun spots, melasma patches)

• Fine lines and deeper wrinkles

• Loss of elasticity

• Rough or uneven texture

• Dehydration and inflammation

• A dull or tired-looking complexion

You can still enjoy your day out and about - just support your skin at the same time.

My Favourite Holistic, Clean Sun Protection

I’ve personally tested around 20+ facial sunscreens over the years because I want to offer my clients products that feel beautiful, look natural, and genuinely protect in the tropical climate.

Here are the ones I truly recommend and trust:

Solara Fortune Teller SPF Serum (lightly tinted)

This has quickly become my No.1 daily facial SPF.

Why?

• It feels like a skincare serum, not a sunscreen

• Contains natural zinc SPF for clean, mineral protection

• Lightweight, nourishing, breathable

• Slight tint gives a natural glow, blurring pores and evening skin tone

• Works beautifully for daily wear, even for people who “hate sunscreen”

• Won’t clog pores or feel heavy in humidity

Sun Spectra Papaya Zinc (surfers’ favourite)

A thicker, long-wearing natural zinc blend ideal for:

• Surfers

• Ocean lovers

• People who sweat a lot outdoors

• Anyone who needs durable, water-resistant coverage

It stays on incredibly well, even after long surf sessions. I only stock products that actually perform here.

Bask Skincare (the ‘feel-good’ sunscreen)

Beloved for:

• Lightweight texture

• Non-aerosol mineral spray

• Clean, reef-safe formulas

• Easy application for the whole family

Perfect for beach days and everyday reapplication. The spray bottle is especially handy for parents who need to chase their children around the beach to apply, as it doesn't require rubbing in.

Laurel Sun Serum: Antioxidant support from within

This is a best seller in Skin & Soul Holistics and I have seen amazing results. It is not a sunscreen - it’s a whole-plant antioxidant treatment that:

• Helps your skin repair from UV stress

• Supports your barrier function

• Reduces inflammation and oxidative damage

• Enhances resilience to sunlight over time

A beautiful daily ritual for those who want skin that stays calm and bright even with regular sun exposure.

NUD Capsules (internal sun support)

These supplement capsules do not replace sunscreen, but they help the skin harmonize with the sun from within.

They contain Polypodium Leucotomus, a powerful antioxidant derived from microalgae/moss-like marine organisms, known to:

• Reduce UV-induced inflammation

• Help prevent pigmentation

• Support Repair of Sun Damage

• Improve skin hydration & elasticity

A Facial Ritual Tailor made for sun loved skin

If you come in for a facial with me, I can completely tailor your treatment to support, protect, and repair skin that receives a lot of tropical sunshine. I work with whole-plant Laurel Skin serums, balms, and masks that are specifically formulated to help reduce inflammation, brighten the complexion, and gently fade hyperpigmentation caused by UV exposure. These botanicals deliver deep nourishment while supporting your skin’s natural repair processes. I also offer LED Red Light Therapy, a powerful, non-invasive treatment that helps stimulate collagen, calm sun-induced inflammation, and accelerate cellular healing - making it incredibly effective for improving sun damage over time. Every facial is designed to meet your skin exactly where it is and guide it back to balance, radiance, and resilience.

The Reality of Living in the Tropics: The Sun Finds Us Everywhere

Even if we’re not intentionally sunbathing, sun exposure is inevitable here. Most pigmentation I treat doesn’t come from hours spent on the beach. It comes from:

• Driving

• Walking around outside

• Sitting near windows

• Doing errands

• School pickups

• A “quick surf check” that turns into 40 minutes

• Everyday outdoor life

This is why mindful protection matters. Not fear - just awareness and good habits.

You Can Love the Sun and Protect Your Skin

Holistic skincare is about balance, not restriction.

You can:

• Receive the nourishing benefits of sunlight

• Enjoy ocean days and tropical living

• Keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and radiant

The key is finding a rhythm that honours both your wellbeing and your complexion.

If you’d like personalised recommendations for your skin type or lifestyle, I’m always here to help you choose the right combination of topical and internal sun protection.

With love,

Katie