💪 The Hairy Chin Newsletter #13

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Hello and Happy Monday to everyone!

The Hairy Chin is back after a wonderful week offline. And while it’s not officially summer yet (The Farmers’ Almanac says the Summer Solstice will be on June 20th), it is starting to get warm, sunny and humid (in the Northern Hemisphere, at least!) So, this week’s entry is packed with summer goodness! ☀️

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s edition:

• Your Advocacy Toolkit: How to Choose Your Best Sunscreen

• Body Talk 101: Cracked Heels: The Summer Sandal Saboteur

• Health Truths: What Really Happens When You Get A Sunburn (and Why Margarita Burn is a Real Thing)

• Told By Her: Welcome to ‘The Summer of Cellulite’

• On The Podcast: Excessive Sweating & Hyperhidrosis

Let’s get ready for summer, y’all! 💪

Spencer Moore
Founder, The Hairy Chin
(Listen to The Hairy Chin Podcast)
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How To Advocate For Your Best Summer Sunscreen

Sun protection isn’t just about avoiding burns, it’s about preventing long-term skin damage and lowering cancer risk. But not all sunscreens are created equal, and some popular ingredients come with hidden downsides.

Quick Pro Tip: When applying sunscreen, don’t forget to protect some often missed spots like your ears, feet, lips, fingers/fingernails (yes, fingernails!), your eyes and eyelids! You can read more specifics, here. 

What to Avoid in Sunscreens:

Ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate are absorbed into the bloodstream and linked to hormone disruption and environmental harm. You can read more about that in the article, The Trouble With Sunscreen Ingredients.

That's why many destinations - hello Hawaii, Key West, and parts of the Caribbean - have banned them to protect coral reefs. You can read more about these bans in the article, Countries That Have Banned Chemical SPF’s and Why.

And here might be an unpopular opinion while trying to protect slippery, wiggly kids at the beach: consider avoiding sprays and aerosol sunscreens. While sprays may seem the easier route, these aerosols can contain benzene, a known carcinogen. And also, studies show that sprays don’t apply even coverage for full protection.

But look, if you’re really into the spray sunscreens, check out this article from Allure, The Right Way To Apply Spray Sunscreen, which recommends safer spray options for keeping your skin, lungs and the environment protected.

And to learn more about benzene exposure and why you might choose to avoid it, read this article, Benzene, a Known Carcinogen, Has Been Found in Some Spray Sunscreens, Deodorants, and Other Products, from Consumer Reports.

What To Look For in Sunscreens:

Prioritize mineral-based sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which block UV rays rather than being absorbed.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends in their Sunscreen FAQS to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, which blocks ~97% of UVB rays. Higher-number SPFs block slightly more of the sun's UVB rays, but no sunscreen can block 100% of the sun's UVB rays.

Choosing the Right Sunscreen For You:

I can’t tell you exactly what the best option is for you, but I can point you towards some experts that can narrow it down. If you’re looking for your perfect match at the beach, check out this medically reviewed article, How To Choose The Right Sunscreen For You, from Health.com for some helpful advice.

Helpful Accessories To Consider: 

Doctors say no sunscreen is completely water- or sweat-proof, which is why they recommend reapplying it every two hours or after swimming. That can feel like a lot when you're just trying to relax at the beach. Enter the UV-detection sticker.

Products like SPOT MY UV stickers change color (turning purple) when your sunscreen starts to wear off. Clinically tested and easy to use, they're a helpful way to remind yourself (or your loved ones) to reapply while spending time outdoors. You can buy the Spot My UV stickers here on Amazon.

And finally, in case you didn’t know, there are tons of options for sun-protective clothing. This clothing has UPF ratings (ideally you want to choose UPF 30-50+) which can help you stay protected during those peak sun hours from 10am - 2pm. You can find some great options at the Naviskin store on Amazon.

The Bottom Line:

Choose mineral, broad‑spectrum SPF 30+, considering avoiding hormone-disrupting fillers and spray formulas, and back it up with UPF clothing and UV-detection tools. Your future skin (and health) will thank you! 💪 

Cracked Heels: The Summer Sandal Saboteur

Summer’s here, and with it comes the promise of cute sandals, fresh pedicures, and open-toed everything. But nothing ruins that moment faster than discovering cracked heels - those dry, sometimes painful splits that seem to appear just when your feet are ready for their debut.

It’s tempting to let your nail salon handle it with a quick scrub or callus shave, but cracked heels are often more than just dry skin. They can be a sign that something deeper is off - either in your skincare routine or your overall health.

Cracked heels happen when the skin becomes dry, thick, and less elastic. Pressure from standing, walking, or going barefoot (hello, summer) causes the skin to split. Hot showers, harsh soaps, and open-back shoes only make it worse.

But it’s not just about exfoliating or using a good lotion. Cracked heels can be linked to conditions like diabetes, thyroid disorders, or certain vitamin deficiencies - particularly low levels of vitamins C, B‑3, and E. Even hormonal shifts, like menopause, can dry out skin and contribute to the problem. You can read more about that here in the article, Can Cracked Heels Be Caused By A Vitamin Deficiency? from Healthline.com 

So, what actually helps? Check out this really thorough article, How To Fixed Crack Heels At Home, from Healthline.com with tips and tricks for healing your cracked heels.

But be aware, if your cracks are deep, painful, or show signs of infection, it’s time to see a podiatrist or dermatologist.

The Bottom Line:

Cracked heels aren’t just a cosmetic nuisance, they’re a signal. Whether it’s a call for a deep, salon-grade scrub, better hydration, a nutritional boost, or a deeper health check-in, your body is speaking up. Keep listening. 💪

You Should Really Know What Happens When You Get Sunburned

Sunburn isn’t just a surface issue, it’s a sign that your skin has been acutely injured. Here’s what’s really happening beneath the surface. (Sources: Mayo Clinic, SkinCancer.org)

Quick Pro Tip: Did you know handling lime juice (or other foods like celery, carrots or peppers) in the sun can trigger phytophotodermatitis? Often nicknamed “margarita burn,” it can cause blistering, dark spots, or severe burns on exposed skin like lips, hands, and arms. To prevent this, always wash your hands (and any skin that touched the food) before hanging out in the sun. You can read more about this, here and here.

What Causes Sunburn? Ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages your skin in two key ways:

• UVB rays burn the outer skin layers, causing redness, inflammation, pain, and sometimes blistering.

• UVA rays penetrate deeper into the dermis, creating oxidative stress that breaks down collagen and elastin, accelerating aging and long-term damage.

• You can get sunburned even on cloudy days or in shaded areas, especially near reflective surfaces like water, sand, or snow.

How Your Body Reacts: Your immune system responds with inflammation:

• Dilated blood vessels cause redness and heat

• Chemical signals from damaged skin cells trigger pain, swelling, and itching

• Peeling is your body’s way of shedding damaged skin and starting repair

• Severe sunburn may also cause fatigue, headache, fever, nausea, or eye irritation.

The Lifelong Consequences: Sunburn causes more than short-term discomfort:

• DNA damage increases the risk of skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma

• UVA rays lead to premature aging: wrinkles, sagging, and sun spots

• Immune suppression weakens your skin’s defenses, making it more vulnerable to infection and damage

The Bottom Line: 

Sunburn triggers a harmful chain reaction, from inflammation to lasting cellular damage. Protect your skin with broad-spectrum SPF 30+, wear protective clothing, seek shade, and reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, even when it’s cloudy. ☀️

The Summer of Cellulite Is Here. Are You And Your Shorts Ready?

In a really powerful article in Self Magazine called My Summer of Cellulite Is Helping Me Get Over Myself and Just Live, writer Anne Roderique-Jones shared her story of how she was done sweating through her jeans and hiding her legs out of shame. After years of avoiding shorts because of cellulite (thanks, toxic beauty standards), she made a bold move: declaring it her Summer of Cellulite and rocking every pair of shorts she owned — denim cutoffs, silk dress shorts, even a romper.

Spoiler: the world didn’t end. No one stared. In fact, people complimented her. The only person that was obsessing over her cellulite? Her.

Anne’s mission turned out to be freeing, and she wasn’t alone. Her friend Michelle joined in, choosing to focus on what her legs do rather than what they look like. They both ditched the self-criticism and started living like it’s hot - because it actually is.

With help from influencers and public figures like Lena Dunham and Ashley Graham, Anne saw that cellulite isn’t something to fix, it is something almost everyone has.

Anne doesn’t pretend to have it all figured out, but she ended her summer more confident, more comfortable, and wearing all the shorts. And honestly? That’s a vibe we should all get behind.

The Bottom Line:

Life is short - and hot - wear the damn shorts! 🙌 

Let’s Talk About Sweating

Are you sweating through your clothes? I’m talking armpits, underboob, your feet, your hands, your face - even your crotch. (Yes, I said it.)

If you’re constantly drenched and nothing seems to help (especially in the summer), you might be dealing with hyperhidrosis (aka excessive sweating) - and let me tell you, you are definitely not alone. (FYI: Hyperhidrosis affects around 5% of the population.)

In my next Chin Chats episode, I’m sharing my personal experience with hyperhidrosis. I’ll share what’s worked for me (and what hasn’t) and all the weird-but-worth-it tricks I’ve picked up along the way. If you’ve ever felt embarrassed, uncomfortable, or just over the sweating, this episode is for you! 💪

🎙️ Catch the episode this Wednesday at 9 AM EST on all major podcast platforms - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart and YouTube.

(And please don’t forget to hit subscribe wherever you watch or listen to the podcast - it helps more than you know! Many thanks 💛 )

Ok my amigas, that’s a wrap.

Self-advocacy has never been easier - from To-Do to TA-DA - just like that! 💪

Bravo for being here,
Spencer Moore

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