We love the SUN and it is vital for healthy skin, it helps to regenerate the skin, it is a natural source of vitamin D, with an immense feel good factor BUT it can also be damaging!! There are two types of rays from the sun – UVA and UVB and they affect skin in different ways, although both can lead to skin cancer:-
UVA: Think A for ageing. UVA has a longer wavelength, travels through glass and damages collagen, speeding up the ageing process, the effects are not immediately visible but you pay the price later in the form of pigmentation, freckles and wrinkles.
UVB: Think B for burning. UVB is shorter, penetrates only through the epidermis and causes sunburn, even blisters and increase the likely hood of developing skin cancer.
“Choose a sunscreen that has broad spectrum protection against both”
Use a sunscreen with at least at SPF 15, will protect your skin from these harmful rays. I believe the higher the SPF the higher the chemicals and risk of allergies and prefer to reapply. The Number indicates how long you can spend in the sun, so if you measure how long you can stay in the sun without burning ie 15mins x that by your SPF number 15 = maximum exposure time!! At a seminar last year I heard that the Brits are the worse for reapplying in fact this Professor claimed we buy a tube and expect it to last a two week holiday instead of 2-3 days, does this ring a bell with you? Something I have been guilty of in the past!!
RAD SUNSCREEN SPF15
The sun filters and reflectants in this top-of-the range sunscreen provide SPF 15 while natural antioxidant vitamins increase sun protection and assist in fighting free-radicals.
Research has found that antioxidant vitamins are as important as sunscreens when defending skin from the aging and burning effects of damaging (UV) light and free radicals.
Dermalogica SPF 50
This water-resistant, broad spectrum sun protection, sheer solar protection treatment defends against prolonged skin damage from UV light and environmental assault. Lightweight formula helps neutralize damage and bind moisture to skin without a greasy after-feel and smells lush.
Five Top Tips – It’s not rocket science!
- Reapply: Take it with you and re-apply, remember water & sweat depletes the SPF factor.
- Apply enough: Don’t be stingy—make sure you’re applying enough to get the protection you want
- Antioxidant Ingredients: look for antioxidants in your sunscreen, vitamin c & e, avocado oil, green tea etc, it can help to reduce the damage that UV rays create in your skin.
- Eat Antioxidants: Fruit & Vegetables are a source of antioxidants, it all helps!
- Sunglasses: I wear mine all year round – great for protecting against fine lines around the eye area – might even think about a hat this year!!
“Wearing sunscreen daily saves your skin from years of visible damage later”
Thanks for reading Mary