From Japan to Your Steering Wheel: The UV Trend Beauty Editors Are Obsessed With

Let’s be real—most people don’t think about sun protection when they’re behind the wheel. But at HELLO SHADE we’ve been shouting it from the rooftops: your hands and  arms get more UV exposure than you think—especially while driving.

Allure Magazine gets it too.

In a recent piece, beauty editor Sarah Kinonen shared how a trip to Japan completely shifted her view on sun care. While she thought her once-a-day sunscreen routine was solid, she quickly realized she was missing a huge piece of the puzzle: sun protection as a lifestyle.

“Those differences—using an umbrella on hot and rainy days, wearing UPF clothing, and actively reapplying sunscreen in different formats... honestly made me feel a little embarrassed.”

Same, girl.

After seeing the norm in Japan—where UPF clothing, hats, and gloves are part of the daily routine—she started incorporating hats into her own day-to-day. And next on her list? UPF gloves. Yes, even a beauty editor is ready to make the leap.

Why Gloves? Why Now?

Dermatologists have been saying it for years: your hands age faster than your face. Why? Because they’re constantly exposed to the sun—especially when you’re driving. As board-certified dermatologist Dr. David Kim puts it:

“Wearing UPF gloves when driving would be a great habit to develop. Our hands constantly get sun-damaged while driving, and this is an easy, quick habit to adopt.”

In other words, it’s not a luxury. It’s skincare.

HELLO SHADE Was Built for This Moment

While the beauty world is just waking up to this trend, we’ve been here, sleeves on, sun out. At HELLO SHADE, we designed our UPF 50+ sun sleeves and UV driving gloves to be:

  • Fashion-forward

  • Chemical-free

  • Easy to slip on and go

  • Stylish enough to wear even if you’re not in the car

Because sun protection shouldn’t feel like a chore—it should feel like a fun accessory that you actually want to wear.

Final Take: This Is Just the Beginning

The beauty world is starting to get it: protecting your skin isn’t just about SPF—it’s about everything else you do (or don’t do) in the sun. And as gloves, hats, and sleeves become everyday essentials, HELLO SHADE is already ahead of the curve.

So go ahead—beat the beauty editors to it. Wear the gloves. Block the rays. And #KeepItShady.

🔗 [Shop Sun Sleeves & Driving Gloves Now]


Read the full Allure article on Japan’s approach to sun protection here.

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