Still using last year's sunscreen? Maybe you shouldn't bother -- sunscreen expires, and once that date has passed, it's no longer effective.

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For the guys out there who are looking to turn the ladies' heads this summer, it may take more than sporting abs like Matthew McConaughey -- it may take matching his skin tone.

Citing a recent study from the University of Missouri, Men's Health reports that a light brown skin tone is considered most attractive to women. Not George Hamilton brown and definitely not Carrot Top light (or sunburned) -- light brown. Think Derek Jeter or Indiana Jones.

Get your bronze on without exposing yourself to harmful UV rays by applying a tinted moisturizer. If primping of this kind makes you feel a little less than manly ... well, it sure beats the hell out of having to nurse a sunburn for three days and increasing your risk of skin cancer.

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Summer presents the wonderful opportunity of being able to exercise outdoors almost every day. Save for the occasional thunder storm or dangerously high temperature, most times you are able to put in your roadwork with no issue.

However, outdoor workouts present their own unique set of challenges, especially during these hot summer months. The last thing you want is to be sidelined with an injury or health complication. So, try the following tips to keep the summer sun from taking you out of the race.

• Stay hydrated. Aim for four to six ounces of water for every 15 minutes of exercise.
  
• Try moisture-control or moisture-wicking fabrics to keep sweat away from your skin. You may also want to dress in layers if you're starting out early in the morning.
• Protect your feet with properly-fitting sneakers and moisture-wicking socks.
• Keep the sun from taking a toll on your skin with copious amounts of sunblock, as well as a hat and a pair of shades to protect your eyes.
  

There's nothing like being able to head out every day and take a spin through nature. But, regardless of where your workout takes place, the goal is to continue doing it. Take the few extra minutes to follow these safety steps to help ensure that this is the case.

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When things get hectic and crazed around my house, my old stand-by dinner is invariably whole-wheat spaghetti and marinara sauce with added veggies. It's quick, easy, always a hit with my son, and passable nutrition-wise. It turns out my "old faithful" dinner also has benefits for the skin.

Researchers have determined that antioxidants in tomatoes help protect the skin against UV rays. Lycopene, one of the antioxidants found in tomatoes, has previously been linked to a reduction in prostate cancer risk. The skin benefits are just the icing on the cake... or the sauce on the spaghetti. Participants in the study ate up to 55 grams of tomato paste daily. In addition to the UV protection, lycopene may also be linked with anti-aging properties.

Lycopene is found in many other red fruits and vegetables including watermelon, guava, and pink grapefruit.

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Now there's a soap that gets you squeaky clean and protects you from the sun's harmful rays. The all-natural soap provides an all-over layer of SPF 10 protection.

SPF 10 isn't enough for a day at the beach or for when you're spending prolonged periods of time in the sun. But I think a soap that provides a good base layer of protection is a great idea. It's also a perfect low-level protector for days when your exposure to the sun is minimal. You can purchase the soap online for $8.

Despite our knowledge about the importance of sun protection, sunburns seem to be on the rise. The numbers of reported sunburns in the US rose roughly 2% from 1999 to 2004. Check out the gallery for additional ideas on how to protect your skin from the sun. And don't forget to go to AOL Body for more sun safe tips.

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When I read about Nike Maxsight contacts today I thought it was especially interesting since I had just read this article on sunglasses versus UV contacts a few days ago. UV contacts are made to filter UV rays, but Nike Maxsight lenses take it one step further and throw a sunglasses-like tint into the lenses so you get all the benefits of wearing polarized shades but without the inconvenience of glasses that can fall off or get in the way during sports or athletic activities.

Available in two colors (grey/green for golf, running, training and amber for sports like tennis, baseball, football, and rugby), Fitsugar has some good pictures of what they look like compared to regular contacts if you're curious. And Nike is offering a free trial so you can see how big of a difference they make before committing -- I for one can't wait to try them!

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I wear glasses and contacts, and I remember years ago thinking it was so awesome when I got my new box of contacts and noticed the little "UV blocking" logo on the corner. So do they work just as well as UV blocking sunglasses when it comes to protecting your eyes from harmful rays? The answer is NO, contact lenses don't provide enough protection to completely substitute them for sunglasses. In studies contacts were 10% less effective than sunglasses at blocking UV rays, and even that level of protection varied greatly from contact to contact. But contact lenses do have one thing that sunglasses don't: they cover your entire pupil and protect your eyes from light from all angles, including the sides.

Bottom line: Your best bet is to wear both -- combine UV blocking contact lenses with UV blocking sunglasses for the best protection.

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