Sooo, you’re travelling soon to Southeast Asia now
Get ready for the fun 🍧
as well as the sun ☀️
This Indonesian girl will teach you how! 😎🪭
Having been simmered in the tropical sun for my 29 years of life has taught me lessons on how to protect myself from burns. For me, it was never always about anti-ageing as much as people on TikTok were too concerned with, but tiny, little me and my peers were much more concerned with how to not let our skin get any darker (burnt).
Back then, like the norm imposed on most SEA women here, having pale white skin was the most important factor of beauty. Not that I agree with it, but when your nosy aunties keep bringing it up to your face or when you got bullied at school for that, can’t blame us girlies doing something about it 🤷🏻♀️
I’ve worn sunscreen since I was little, worn long-sleeved shirts and pants, and never tanned—I thought I did everything right.
Until I moved to Australia, where I learned how to really level up my sun protection game.
I found out how the Aussies really take sun protection seriously ever since they were children. It isn’t surprising, as Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world. With the “slip, slop, slap, seek, slide” method, Australians know that good sun protection goes beyond sunscreen—it’s about habits, clothing, and environment too. Read more about it on the Melanoma Institute Australia website here.
So, sun protection isn’t just about applying SPF—it’s a multi-layered approach. Think of it like armour: sunscreen is just one piece. You also need physical barriers like hats, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing, as well as behavioural strategies like seeking shade and avoiding peak UV hours.
UV Index and Sun Protection Forms
I saw somewhere the girlies in Korea and Japan are even more next level with their sun protection. They even have stickers, powders, etc. Which I thought was also super awesome and creative.
But, personally, I don’t think I will go further to that level. In fact, you can actually adjust how much protection you need to add on depending on the UV index.
Go to your weather app and see what the current UV index is, and if it’s below 3, you may get away under the sun safely. But at index 3 to 7, you may need to put on more sun protection, such as a hat or a pair of sunglasses. Additionally, when the UV index is at the higher rate, such as 8 to 11, you should avoid being outside and add even more sun protection than before!
Without further ado, I’m going to share my top 5 tips and best purchases to protect from the hot and humid weather, inspired by the multi-layered approach Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide from Australia to the similarly hot and humid SEA countries!
1. SLIP on a shirt
Find a good, airy shirt that offers UV protection while also keeping you cool. I use the UNIQLO AIRism UV Protection Crew Neck Long-Sleeved T-Shirt when I need to stay under the sun for a long time. The fabric is opaque but allows ventilation for the air to flow. Choose brighter colours instead of black because black absorbs heat more, making us feel hotter (and not in a good way).
“But, I wanna wear my cute, short-sleeved top!“
I hear you boo. As an option, you may wanna try UNIQLO Pocketable UV Protection Parka or the AIRism UV Protection Full-Zip Hoodie, which allows you to put on outerwear to protect your skin when the heat gets messy. I owned both of them in light grey. Unlike jackets for colder conditions, these two did not stuff me out. They are light and airy as well. Bonus points: when you wanna show your vacation outfit again, you can take it off and put the parka one into a small pocket that fits enough in your purse.
2. SLOP on a sunscreen
My favourite sunscreen that I have been using since 2016 until now is Biore UV Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++.
I think I have run through bottles and bottles all of these years. Even when I moved to Australia, I brought like 4 bottles with me to get through the days just because I cannot live without it. It’s just that good. I even went to three derms at separate times, and they all agreed on this one 😂
No white cast, non-oily, non-comedogenic, and wears beautifully under makeup. This sunscreen is a cult favourite among people with oily skin for a reason. It does not make me look shiny but is not drying as well.
“But is it waterproof enough for water-based sports? I wanna swim at the beach on my holiday!”
The blue bottle one is more suitable for normal daily wear, like when you’re going to work or school. For more intense outdoor activities, I used and recommend its sports counterpart, Biore UV Athlizm Protect Essence SPF 50+ PA++++. It is slightly thicker in consistency in my opinion, but still comfortable and non-greasy on my oily, acne-prone skin.
3. SLAP on a hat
A wide-brim hat is the one many recommend, as its shape can protect you from all angles, including the back of the neck. As much as I love using it, sometimes it can look “too much” on me 😅, so a more casual alternative is to wear a bucket hat. Mine is (again) a bucket hat from UNIQLO. It’s in black because the other option was beige, and it looks sad and weird when I put it on.
I wanted to try brighter colours such as green or purple, though. Do you have any recommendations? Let me know in the comments if you have one!
“But I only have a baseball cap. Can I just use that one?”
Yes, of course. I think having any protection is better than not having any at all. I always encourage effort rather than perfection, because perfection doesn’t exist. Sometimes I also use my NY Yankees baseball cap too because the blue shade is just too good.
4. SEEK a shade
It is always a good idea to seek shade or shelter when it’s very hot outside. Besides avoiding the sun, it will also help us from heatstroke. But if you couldn’t find one, or maybe you’re walking to go somewhere, you can use an umbrella as a shade.
A UV protection umbrella not only protects you from the rain but also from the sun’s rays too. I bought mine from Amazon AU in yellow back when I still lived in Brisbane, but I think there are a lot of similar options in Singapore. It is quite wide but also portable. The umbrella also opens in just a click, which makes it easy to use as compared to ones that require us to slide it to the edge.
This umbrella is particularly useful, especially when waiting for the traffic lights at midday or while waiting eternally for the bus to come.
Alternatively, you can also check out the UV Protection umbrella from Decathlon. But I haven’t tried it myself, so I don’t know if it’s wide or cool enough to give you shade.
5. SLIDE on a pair of sunglasses
The midday sun in Southeast Asia can be quite bedazzlingly terrifying. After being outside for some time, I often feel dizzy from the light. A nice pair of sunglasses can protect your eye area, providing a shield from direct sunlight. This is a step that most people don’t care about, but the fact that many people often miss using SPF on their eye area can make things worse if not protected. Sunglasses can help give a layer of protection.
I recommend buying the ones with polarised lenses, as it will help to have lenses that reduce glare from reflective surfaces like water, snow, or shiny objects by filtering out horizontal light waves that cause it. This leads to clearer vision, reduced eye strain, and improved contrast, especially in bright conditions.
Sadly, I lost mine last week when I went outside for lunch, and I couldn’t find them anywhere 😭 I got mine from Ray-Ban but I think there are similiar options out there
Bonus: SOUGHT a fan 😂🪭
And finally, bring a fan, guys. Honestly, it helps me to cool down faster than without one. Be it a battery-powered portable fan or a simple hand fan, it can do. I once cried because of how hot it was, and we needed to keep walking outside to a bus stop, and I really wished I had a fan with me.
And those were my tips and recommendations to help us get through the sun and humidity! What are your tips or product recommendations for summer? Let me know in the comment down below!
Next, I will post about my version of top humidity-proof and sweatproof makeup that has been tested on my oily AF skin 😂 So stay tuned, and see you soon.
xx
Soda Syrup
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