2019-04-01 Allure

My definition of “fun”: editing a feature about the benefits of

being outdoors while the New York region is in the white-knuckled

grip of a polar vortex. I have eczema that flares up in the cold and

asthma that's triggered during biting, gale-force winds. That means

the beach is my happy, healthy place. So where do I go when I need

the tender caress of summer but the only thing within reach is the

slap of Old Man Winter? A salt cave. Wait, a salt what?

Salt caves are exactly what they sound like: tunnel-like places

where the floors and walls brim with hand-harvested salts. A series

of small studies have shown that salt therapy (also known as halo-

therapy) may help soothe skin disorders, ease congestion, and even

help promote better sleep.

The concept has spread from Europe to the States, and lucky me,

one of these salty outposts just happens to be five minutes from my

home in suburban New Jersey: Nature’s Salt Cave & Float Pod features

wall-to-wall bricks of Himalayan salt crystals and, on the floor, coarsely

ground crystals that mimic sand. Infrared-beam heat lamps warm the

room and help transport the salt crystals into the air.

You can book a private room, but I decide to soak up the salt in a

group where beach chairs are arranged in a circle. The experience

feels part nightclub (the salt walls glow with hypnotic neon colors)

and part seashore (a steady white-noise hum that mimics the

ocean). The salty air makes me nod off 10 minutes into the 45-minute

session. But when I wake up a half hour later, the eczema patch on

my elbow feels less irritated, my breathing feels deeper, and my hair

looks thicker (thanks, salty air). It takes the sting out of facing the

polar vortex—just a touch. —THERESA O’ROURKE

SALT OF THE EARTH

Sun, Blocked?

There are few unimpeachable
truths: The earth is round.
Drinking water will make you
feel better. And three people a
day will tell you that sunscreen
is the most important part of a
beauty routine. Skip it, and you
will regret it when the wrinkles—
or cancers—come for you.
This last truth attracted a
frenzied second look after a
2016 study, led by Richard
Weller, a researcher and
dermatologist at the University
of Edinburgh, questioned
whether sunscreen application
is preventing vitamin D from
reaching us. Weller suggested
that “sun avoidance may carry
more of a cost than benefit for
overall good health.”
So should you skip
sunscreen? Absolutely not, says
David Leffell, a professor of
dermatology and surgery at
Yale School of Medicine.
“People should not rely on the
sun for vitamin D—there might
be a limit on how much your
skin can produce—and should
be taking vitamin D
supplements if needed.”
Of course, there are positive
effects to basking under that
yellow orb besides boosting
vitamin D. “Sunlight can
influence mood, through its
effect on hormones, such as
serotonin and melatonin, that
affect the circadian rhythm,”
Leffell says. But you can get
those benefits without damaging
your skin. The American
Academy of Dermatology
recommends daily application of
SPF 30 or above both to protect
against sunlight that can cause
aging, says Leffell, and to avoid
preventable burns, the latter of
which is “directly responsible for
skin cancer.”
Apply sunscreen 15 minutes
before going out, every two
hours after that, and anytime
you get in the water. Four
formulas we recommend:

Serum: Coola Full Spectrum 360º

Sun Silk Drops SPF 30

This sunscreen feels and acts like a

primer for skin and makes adding SPF

to your everyday routine seamless and

grease-free, even if your plan is just to

walk from your car to the door.

Lotion: Coppertone Pure & Simple

Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

For sensitive skin, this zinc-oxide-based

formula uses calming sea kelp and

lotus extracts. Read: Slather it all over

without worrying about irritation.

Stick: Shiseido Clear Stick UV

Protector WetForce SPF 50+

This sunscreen has a ChapStick-style

dispenser and is water-resistant

(though don’t skimp on reapplications).

Spray: Soleil Toujours Extrème Face

+ Scalp Sport Sunscreen Mist SPF 50

A soothing face mist with sunscreen.

This blend protects and calms your

face and scalp (a prime spot for burns)

without making you soppy.

§

By 2050, 68 percent of

the world’s population

is expected to live in

urban areas, according

to the United Nations.

In the U.S., as cities

have grown more

dense and congested,

some, like Austin, are

working to protect their

green spaces.

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