There’s nothing more satisfying than beautiful sun-kissed skin. However, remember the human skin was not designed to be ‘baked’ in the sun, and so it is good to know what you are exposing yourself to, and how to achieve a glowing colour – safely. Remember, a tan simply means that your skin has been damaged and has produced extra pigment cells to try and absorb further UV radiation. So, here are our top ‘tan’ commandments to staying safe in the sun:
1. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. If you are fair in colouring, you are more susceptible to the sun’s rays and should use a sunscreen with a higher SPF. But remember, NO sunscreen, no matter how high the factor, can offer 100% protection.
2. Cover your whole body. Remember those areas that can be easy to forget, such as your ears, lips, nose, hands, feet, the top of your head and even your eyelids.
3. Choose sunscreen labelled “broad spectrum,” meaning that it protects against two types of harmful rays: UVA and UVB. UVA rays are commonly known as the ‘Anti Aging’ rays, and UVB rays are know as the ‘burning’ rays.
4. Use waterproof sunscreen to make sure it stays on longer, even if you perspire or get wet. Always aim to reapply – you can never use too much!
5. ‘Stroke’ products onto your skin rather than ‘rubbing in’ which can reduce protection.
6. Seek shade or avoid the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The sun is strongest during those hours, even on cloudy days.
7. Wear a hat with a wide brim to help shade your eyes, ears and head. Wear wrap-around sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection to safeguard your eyes. UV rays can enter your eyes too, so make sure contact lenses, and reading glasses have a built in UV filter.
8. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that protects a larger area of your skin, such as long-sleeve shirts or long pants. Tightly woven fabrics in dark or bright colours are best.
9. Tan gradually. Build your colour by making use of pre-tan sun preps. These not only help prevent premature ageing, but can also help your tan last longer.
10. Stay Hydrated!! In climates such as the UK, you should drink approximately 1.2 litres (6 to 8 glasses) of fluid every day to stop getting dehydrated. In hotter climates the body needs more than this.