By Anna Soref

In addition to slathering on sunscreen, you may want to start taking antioxidants for extra protection from the sun’s rays. Mounting research shows that when taken internally, certain chemicals found in plants work like sunscreens, fighting the free-radical damage caused by the sun and filtering harmful UV light. Researchers at this year’s Annual American Chemical Society conference reported that chemicals found in grape seeds may help prevent skin cancer. Mice given grape-seed extract and then exposed to the sun’s damaging UV rays had 25 to 35 percent fewer skin tumors—and tumor size was up to 78 percent smaller—when compared to mice not given the extract.

Two additional antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin (found in green leafy vegetables and egg yolks) may also provide sun protection from within, according to a recent study in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. When women took a lutein-zeaxanthin combination for two weeks, the supplements gave them four times more sun protection. An added bonus—the subjects’ skin was about 50 percent more hydrated after taking the antioxidants. Now your skin won’t feel so dry when you soak up some summer sun.