So it's that time of the year again where all booking our summer holidays and get our bikini bodies into shape, but are we thinking about protecting our bodies from the harmful uv rays?
Us girls all love to lay by the pool all day, soaking up the lovely sun and topping up our tan but we also need to consider our sun tan lotions. So I take it we've all heard about avoiding the midday sun and reapplying your sunscreen every two hours but there are other things that you need to bear in mind.
1. Never rely on SPF.
Your sun tan lotion may have SPF but if there is no mention of 'broad spectrum' or high UVA protection' then it's no good. It will help to shield your skin from harmful UVB rays but not from ageing, cancer-causing UVA.
2. When it comes to SPF; Go for factor 30, this is recommended both by the FDA and EU. It filters 97% of UVB rays, while SPF50 filters 98%. The latter can give a false sense of security and can be so chalkyyou may no reapply it every two hours like you should.
3. Some people believe that your fine as long as you don't burn which is so untrue, DNA damage is what activates the tanning process so the moment you start to bronze, your skin is under seige. Invest in a sunscreen that contains antioxidants, such as vitamin C, plus DNA-repairing ingredients such as endonucleases.
What sunscreen should i use?
La-roche-posay anthelios range are really great. A little bit pricey but well worth the investment. I personally use lancaster sunscreen products. but ideally you want to look out for a sunscreen with SPF 30, something that is waterproof or highly water resistant, look out for the word 'photostable' on the packaging plus the words 'broad spectrum' or an indication of high UVA protection
What about 'tan accelerating' creams?
Nothing you apply to your skin can speed up the process of your tan, but taking a daily 25g beta-carotene supplement can. However it doesn't mean to say that you can use less sunscreen.
Also remember that fake tan offers no sun protection!! This is an often misconception.
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