The sun has been brutal lately.
Getting some sun outdoors can be great—hello, vitamin D and a better mood.
But sitting in a car for a long time while UV rays pour in? That’s where trouble starts—your skin takes a hit, and your eyes can suffer too. Best to avoid it if you can.
- UVA: speeds up skin aging—loss of elasticity and more wrinkles
- UVB: DNA damage, sunburns, and higher skin-cancer risk
The magnetic sunshades I bought
I picked up a set of three—a mix of large and small.
Shipping isn’t free, so I stocked up to avoid another order later.
Two foldable magnetic shades with a zebra-style pattern, plus one in a colorful design.
The biggest one fits an SUV perfectly.
Stick the printed side facing in, and the top magnets snap right onto the window frame.
When the sun hits at an angle—see the back seat?
Light sneaks through a small gap and lands right on the kid’s legs.
I could cover the passenger side too, but I leave that clear for visibility and safety while driving.
Still, it fully covers the face and upper body—huge relief.
Before & After the shade
Before, even with the A/C blasting, one side of my face felt like it was getting scorched.
After putting the shade up, the UV cut makes a real difference—cooler overall and way less sting on the skin.
And remember, UV doesn’t just tan you. UVA ages the skin (wrinkles, spots, sagging), and UVB burns and damages DNA, which can raise skin-cancer risk.
Long UV exposure can also lead to cataracts and vision issues, so blocking direct sunlight in the car is absolutely worth it.
Driver’s seat tip
I wasn’t planning to use one on the driver’s side because of visibility, but on long drives the sun roasting the left side of my face is rough. In those moments, I cover just half the window with a small shade.
Caption: Magnetic shade with a giraffe print partially covering the window—outside view still visible.
Wow—total lifesaver.
As long as it doesn’t block your view, you can stick it on and pop it off as needed—keeps your skin happy without compromising safety.
Sunshade vs. Window Tint—what’s better?
There are two main ways to cut UV while driving: install window-tint film, or use a removable option like these magnetic shades.
Pros & cons of window tint
Tint works around the clock—cuts UV and heat all the time. That angled sun that toasts one cheek? Good tint knocks it way down.
It also helps protect your interior from fading/cracking, and in a crash it can help hold shattered glass together—nice safety bonus.
Downsides: good film isn’t cheap, and the front windshield legally has to stay over 70% VLT, so you can’t go super dark even if you want to.
Over time, film can discolor or bubble, meaning a redo down the line.
Pros & cons of magnetic sunshades
Shades are budget-friendly and dead simple—buy, stick, done. They’re removable, so use them only when you need them and pull them off if they get in the way.
They’re also flexible—you can block just the angle the sun is coming from.
Not perfect, though—UV can sneak through gaps, they don’t always look tidy from outside, and if placed wrong they can block your view. Use with care.
Bottom line: get baseline protection with tint, then use magnetic shades as needed for extra coverage.