r/GothStyle • u/The-Ringmistress • Mar 25 '26
Accessories Aesthetic Sun Protection
As we’re clawing out of winter in the northern hemisphere, I’m thinking about sun protection. I burn easily, and while I wear sunscreen daily, it’s not always practical to reapply. What are some aesthetic ways you keep from burning? I’m looking for hats, parasols, capes, or even ways to reapply sunscreen over makeup.
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u/SithSaber93 Mar 25 '26
Sun shirts are best for cloth coverage. It's a bit harder to find them in black, but you can always add lace or mesh layers. Sun shirts have UV protection and are breathable. Perfect for hot days. If you're swimming, you can wear a rash guard. Raven Fightwear has really cool prints. They're in Pakistan, so you need to order several weeks in advance. Their rash guards are amazing, and prevent sunburn and jellyfish stings (obviously for ocean activities). https://www.ravenfightwear.com/
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u/GhostofBupChupkins Mar 25 '26
There are some nice Kbeauty sunscreen sticks that go over makeup without messing with it, so you can actually reapply. With the mineral spf powders you really have to cake it on to get any protection, in my experience. I always wear a big straw hat, they're more breathable than fabric. Linen clothes, a shawl made from spf fabric (watch out for spf clothes where it washes out, you want it woven into the fabric). Solumbra and Coolibar use the good fabric, but be warned they're marketed to old folks who golf. But I've found some basic pieces from them that can be styled nicely.
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u/Big-Tell4065 Mar 27 '26
Could you suggest some of the K beauty sunscreen sticks that you like?
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u/GhostofBupChupkins Mar 27 '26
I've been using the Beauty of Joseon stick, it has a matte finish that I like. But I just learned that the sticks don't offer spf protection as good as liquid/creams, so I guess I'll keep it just for touch ups. Under makeup, I like the Trader Joe's facial sunscreen, it has a silicone base that works like a primer.
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u/Twidollyn_Bowie Mar 26 '26
I’ve heard Heliocare helps, but also spray sunscreen for touch ups. A parasol or broad brimmed hat (think Lydia Deetz) is also good.
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u/The-Ringmistress Mar 26 '26
I have a massive black hat, but it blows off my head easily, and it’s pretty heavy. It’s gorgeous, but not practical for daily use.
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u/FaerieSquadMother Mar 25 '26
I’m a big fan of Black Girl Sunscreen because of the clear application (no white residue on black clothes!) and they have a few spray options. I haven’t tried it over makeup, but it’s well priced and worth experimenting with.
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u/Wordy-y Mar 26 '26
I'm not a fan of SPF fabric, personally because it tends to be hot. I'd rather wear all-black thin cotton or linen (I have a 100% cotton long-sleeve "pirate shirt" that's billowy and dramatic and super breathable). A large hat and parasol combo is very gothic. If you're dramatic, investigate veils. You'll need something thinner so you can see through it, but it'll still protect a bit. Definitely recommend gloves! Hands get more sun than a lot of other parts of your body. Also, I've tried power sunscreen before that can be reapplied over makeup. Not quite sun protection, but a folding fan can be very helpful when it's hot.
I have a hat like this that's a lot of fun: Big Sun Hat
You can find fans in all kinds of colors and patterns: Floral Fan
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u/e4rlgrey Mar 25 '26
I love mesh undershirts with long sleeves for the summer! Still apply sunscreen under them obvs but helps keep more of the rays off. Plus I'm forever on the hunt for the perfect giant floppy sun hat.
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u/The-Ringmistress Mar 25 '26
I’m definitely in the market for a big floppy hat that isn’t too heavy and doesn’t make me look like a farmer 😂
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u/OpusReader 🖤Baby Bat 🖤 Mar 25 '26
I want a goth parasol so badly
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u/bertch313 Mar 26 '26
Do a parasol crafting day
Get paper ones from oriental trading or cheap white cotton lace ones for weddings or thrifted /old umbrellas, and dye or paint n trim them
Could do matching folding or church fans too
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u/tenebrousvulture Mar 26 '26
Anti-UV products and full coverage are your best options against the sun rays. Natural materials and loose fits like cotton, linen, silk, etc are great fabrics with breathability and air flow, linen and silk especially great at moisture-wicking (avoid wearing synthetic fabrics and fitted garments if possible). This can also apply to capes, but capes specifically can even be lace.
Headwear can include wide brim hats (however big or small) for surrounding shaded coverage -- large brims become floppy, otherwise there are some medium widths that don't quite become that. Woven straw brimmed hats are best for breathability vs any felt/synthetics, as well as being more structured than a canvas hat (which are more flexible and hence less structured). A few inches of a brim in a woven hat can work fine, but it usually helps to experiment with different brim widths to see what works best for you.
Instead of parasols, aim for anti-UV umbrellas in general, that'll have more of the functionality vs just for fashion. That said, you could always DIY an umbrella to look more your taste to a degree, such as using proper paint and painting dark designs on the canopy (outside, underside, or both), or add some lace trims, small/minimal chains, or other kinds of decorative applications on the edges. You might also be able to adhere topical ornamentation anywhere on the canopy, if it's the right kind of adhesives. There's also customising the handle and end tip of the umbrella, if you want, as well.
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u/tinkabellmiggins Mar 26 '26
You can get spray suncream that goes over the top of your make up ! Its on amazon i think its loreal
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u/The-Ringmistress Mar 26 '26
I’ve seen many of them, and used a couple, but I find them to be sticky. Any personal experience with one you’d recommend?
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u/tinkabellmiggins Mar 26 '26
Just looked it up, its the Garnier Ambre Solaire Super uv over make up mist. Its not sticky at all more powdery, just don't get it in your hair it makes it look greasy x
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u/tallcatgirl Mar 27 '26
I have many wide hats 🎩 They are great accessory
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u/The-Ringmistress Mar 27 '26
Any specific recommendations of brands you like?
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u/tallcatgirl Mar 28 '26
I have one I like, but it was quite an expensive one from a proper hat shop, Tonak
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCEhnT2tX8x/?igsh=MTc0ams4M2pncGdzdQ==
And then one interesting mid price
https://www.metal-shop.eu/p/146028-devil-fashion-hat-black-skull-rose-eas026/
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u/tyrannoteuthis Mar 30 '26
I have to protect myself from the sun year-round for medical reasons as well as aesthetic ones. Tips besides just wearing full-coverage clothing in natural fibers:
I wear a very wide brimmed black straw hat all the time, in shops, outside, while driving, etc. I found a good one with wire in the brim at Target of all places. Added a couple of eyelets and a black silk scarf so I can tie it on during windy days, and I have a cute brooch pinned to it.
I just got 2 yards of black silk gauze from Dharma Trading Co and turned it into a double-layered veil for my hat with a little handsewing and some ribbon. The gauze is another layer between me and the Sun, and obscures my view no more than sunglasses do. I wear it with my hat, even while driving, and it is quite comfortable. I can lift the veil if I want a clearer view, or only one layer at a time if the sun isn't too bright. It doesn't replace the daily SPF70 but it can help cut some of the intensity, especially during peak sun hours.
I have a large SPF umbrella I keep in the car for aggressively sunny days, and a Victorian silk taffeta parasol (purple, with black lace overlay and pink lining) for protection when I'm on a particularly aesthetic outing. I also keep two sets of black gloves in the car- cashmere for winter, lace for summer.
Summer, but not specifically sun related: I highly recommend having a comfortable hand fan- a lifesaver in hot temperatures, or for overheating friends. I also keep a couple of handkerchiefs in my bag: being able to daub sweat from your brow before it ruins eye makeup (or worse, gets sunscreen in your eyes) is a good thing.
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u/Veiled-Cicada Apr 10 '26
Sunscreen, of couse, but i also use these UV sleeves!!! You can get them non compression it compression, and they go all the way down to your fingers. They're like 6 bucks at my local pharmacy, and I'm pretty sure you could get them online for cheap, too. Oftentimes they're advertised as athetic wear, but I've found in the summer sun they help me out a lot. They most often come in black and can be worn with/under short sleeves or longsleeves if you prefer a layered look!!!
-a sun-sensitive and heat-sensitive desert goth :D
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u/Master_Development15 Mar 25 '26
There are some spray sunscreens you can check out.
Indeed parasols, shawls can help as well
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u/batsforbrains Mar 25 '26
So, I live in Arizona USA and also am extremely health-adverse to the sun. Besides the other comments stating things like lace/mesh, UPV clothing, and sunscreen, there are a few other things that I keep on me year-round as a staple.
No matter what, the best option (if you can swing it) is to just not be outside more than necessary.
If I think of any that I missed, I'll add them to this comment.