SUN CARE TIPS FOR THIS SUMMER
We all love a sunkissed glow to our skin, especially in the summer months. But its true excessive sun exposure can cause skin damage and accelerate the ageing process.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your skin.
In sensible small doses, sunlight helps the skin’s natural defences, activates it’s melanocytes, promotes skin growth and heals damaged skin, as well as stimulating our ‘happy’ hormone (serotonin), contributing to an overall sense of wellbeing. We need sunlight to create vitamin D which is key to attach calcium to the bones.
Get your glow on without doing damage – follow our top 12 tips to protect your skin from the sun’s harshest rays:
1. Sit in the shade at lunch
Avoid being out in the sun as much as possible from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the hottest part of the day and the most damaging time for your skin.
2. Drink lots of water
Most sun creams protect and hydrate at the same time, but it’s vital to also drink plenty of water while out in the sun. Hydrated skin is better skin and it’s easy for the skin to become dry and parched during the summer months.
3. Air conditioning dehydrates skin
When in an airconditioned environment make sure you cover the skin that is exposed, especially when on an airplane. Make sure you regularly moisturiser to keep your tan looking good and your skin hydrated.
4. SPF Protection is vital
SPF is the Sun Protection Factor. Its rating measures how long you can stay in the sun before getting burnt by the sun’s UVB rays. For example, SPF 10 will block 90% of UVB and 70% of UVA. The SPF has to be chosen depending your skin type. Dependant on where you are in the world, you may need to apply cream every hour, the hotter it is the more regularly you should apply.
5. Cloudy days can still cause damage
Remember you can still get sun damage on a cloudy day. So using a moisturiser with an SPF in makes sure you are always protected.
6. Preparation is key
When planning to get out in the sun, a general rule, it is best to apply sunscreen at least 15 to 20 minutes before sun exposure.
7. Head to toe coverage
You must use sunscreen on any part of your body that will be exposed to the sun, such as your hands, neck, ears, and chest, don’t forget the bottoms of your feet while sunbathing! Sun damage is also one cause of skin ageing, the daily use of a good sunscreen can really help keep skin youthful.
8. Summer calls for a new routine
Change your skin care routine to be ‘summer specific’. In the summer many women don’t change their skin care products, so they still use a heavy moisturiser which isn’t necessary. You may need to change to lighter products like serums and an exfoliating cleanser as the weather gets warmer.
9. For the perfect tan, scrub beforehand
Using a scrub prior to heading out into the sun will allow your tan to develop on fresh new skin and therefore give you an all over better and more prolonged tan. Always use aftersun after any sun exposure, this repairs, hydrates and restores your skin’s natural balance, as well as prolonging your tan.
10. Use a good toner
Their importance isn’t communicated strongly enough, a good toner will help keep the skin hydrated, cool and is especially good for those with redness and any inflammation.
11. Remember sun reflection
About 75% of harmful rays are reflected back from snow, 15% from sand, 10% from concrete and 510% from water (depending on how choppy it is). Also if you’re skiing, remember the higher the altitude, the more dangerous those sun’s rays are.
12. Store your protection in a cool place
Do not store your sunscreens in very hot places as extreme heat can ruin their protective chemicals. Make sure they are accessible but in the shade.
Sunshine is great for us. It boosts our Vitamin D levels, makes us smile and can bring on that all important feel-good factor. Even though, you have to stay careful with the sun and don’t hesitate to follow these beauty expert sun care tips this summer.
