5 UPF Clothing Brands to Protect Your Skin from the Sun
Sometimes it feels as though sunscreen is never enough and reapplying it hour after hour can cause uncomfortable product build up and take you out of an otherwise carefree moment. This can be especially true when you live with vitiligo and your skin lacks natural protection from the sun’s rays. That’s where UPF clothing comes in.
What is UPF? Think of UPF as SPF for clothing. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website, UPF – or Ultraviolet Protection Factor – “indicates how much UV radiation (both UVB and UVA) a fabric allows to reach your skin. For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays.” What also makes UPF unique is that it measures both UVB and UVA rays, while SPF measures only UVB rays. Most clothing with UPF offers a minimum of UPF 50.
The good news? There’s an increasing number of brands that carry or even specialize in UPF clothing. With so many options on the market, you’re sure to find something to help you feel confident and safe in the sun. Here’s a round up of five brands that specialize in UPF clothing for sun protection.
Coolibar
Coolibar makes clothing for men, women, children and infants. Their versatile offerings include swimwear, sunhats and everyday clothing. According to their website, their goal is to design breathable clothing for seven main warm weather activities: swimming, golf & tennis, fishing & boating, fitness, travel, relaxing and garden parties (upscale occasion styles). Coolibar also has great information about their approach to UPF clothing on their website.
Shop our favorites:
Moderna Asymmetrical Sun Hat
Tempo Hoodie
Saint Lucia Tunic Top
Mott50
Mott50 makes clothing for men, women and children that includes swimwear, cover-ups and everyday clothing. You may already have seen their super chic clothing without even realizing it. Model, author and television host Chrissy Tiegen posed in matching Mott’s avocado print swimsuits with her firstborn child, Luna, on Instagram. The shot was also used in her 2018 cookbook, Cravings: Hungry for More. Mott50’s site offers everything from swimwear and coverups to flowy pants and button ups in stylish prints and patterns.
Shop our favorites:
Abigail Wide Leg Pant
Allison Longline Wrap Cover Up
Square Neck Swim Top
Luminora
Luminora makes resortwear and activewear for women in simple yet versatile designs. Featured in publications including Allure, Conde Nast Traveler, and the Huffington Post, Luminora was founded by husband and wife duo Azi and Dr. Ali Hendi. Dr. Hendi is a dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at Georgetown University. As a dermatologist, he and his wife were inspired by the effects of the sun they’d seen on his patients.
Shop our favorites:
Capri Maxi Dress
Perfect Long Sleeve Tee
High Waist Mesh Trim Leggings
Solbari
Solbari offers clothing, swimwear, and activewear for men and women. Bestsellers include their hoodies, hats and driving gloves. Australia is known for sun and surf, so we can’t help but trust this Melbourne-based brand.
Shop our favorites:
Loose Fit Long Sleeve Swing Top
Long Sleeve Maxi Dress
Swimwear and Active Jacket
UVSkinz
Family friendly brand UVSkinz offers sporty clothing for men, women, children and infants. On a mission to raise “awareness about the importance of sun protection through education,” UV Skinz was founded 16 years ago by a mother determined to protect her children from the sun’s damaging rays. Browse their website to read more about her story. U.S. residents get free shipping.
Shop our favorites:
Long Sleeve Half Zip Swimsuit
Classic Water Jacket
Active Sport Swim Capris
BONUS: Your Favorite Brand
Bet you didn’t expect this one, but many of your favorite clothing brands have started offering lines of UPF products too. Some examples include J.Crew, Lilly Pulitzer, Athleta, UNIQLO, and L.L. Bean. While you might have to look a little harder on their websites to find the UPF products you’re looking for, they’re a great option if you want to stick with a company you already know and love.
