Your Summer Sun Care Guide

Summer is here and soon you’ll be stepping out and soaking up the sunshine; from family picnics, beachside fun, and sunshine strolls. However, this means a lot of sun exposure and a higher chance of sun damage for your skin.  Follow our savvy tips for a sun safe summer…

 YOUR SUNSCREEN SHOULD PROTECT AGAINST UVA & UVB 

Spending time in the sun can lift your mood and give you more energy, however excessive sun exposure can cause sunburn, skin damage, premature ageing and contribute to skin cancer. That’s why it’s essential to take sun protection measures like applying sunscreen daily all year round.

 

Benefits of sunscreen : when used as directed

  • Helps prevent sunburn
  • Helps prevent premature ageing caused by the sun including wrinkles, sagging & age spots
  • Decreases your risk of getting skin cancer
  • Helps prevent hyperpigmentation like melasma and sunspots

 YOUR SUNSCREEN SHOULD PROTECT AGAINST UVA & UVB 

Spending time in the sun can lift your mood and give you more energy, however excessive sun exposure can cause sunburn, skin damage, premature ageing and contribute to skin cancer. That’s why it’s essential to take sun protection measures like applying sunscreen daily all year round.

 

Benefits of sunscreen : when used as directed

  • Helps prevent sunburn
  • Helps prevent premature ageing caused by the sun including wrinkles, sagging & age spots
  • Decreases your risk of getting skin cancer
  • Helps prevent hyperpigmentation like melasma and sunspots

Make sure to choose a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection to effectively protect against UVA & UVB rays. The rays in sunlight that are most damaging to your skin are called ultraviolet (UV) rays:

UVA rays (Ultraviolet B): Accounts for up 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the earth. Often found in tanning beds, this radiation penetrates the skins second layer causing sun damage, visible signs of ageing, allergies, and a breakdown in collagen.

UVB (Ultraviolet B) rays: Make up the rest of the 5% of ultraviolet radiation. They affect the outermost layers of your skin and penetrate deeper than UVA Rays. They have more energy, causing sunburnt skin, blistering in severe cases and play a role in the formation of some skin cancers

Blue Light:

Another potential skin agressor is blue light which penetrates more deeply than UV rays. Blue light, also known as HEV (High Energy Visible) light is emitted from electronic devices like our smartphones, tablets, and TVs  and can lead to premature skin aging and skin damage. HEV light is also found in the sun's rays and can cause melasma and hyperpigmentation. You can minimize blue light damage by limiting your exposure to electronic devices and preparing your skin with products that combat its effects. Physical sunscreens (which contain ingredients like zinc oxide) form a protective film on the skin’s surface to reflect rays of light, making them ideal for combatting blue light damage.

Make sure to choose a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection to effectively protect against UVA & UVB rays. The rays in sunlight that are most damaging to your skin are called ultraviolet (UV) rays:

UVA rays (Ultraviolet B): Accounts for up 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the earth. Often found in tanning beds, this radiation penetrates the skins second layer causing sun damage, visible signs of ageing, allergies, and a breakdown in collagen.

UVB (Ultraviolet B) rays: Make up the rest of the 5% of ultraviolet radiation. They affect the outermost layers of your skin and penetrate deeper than UVA Rays. They have more energy, causing sunburnt skin, blistering in severe cases and play a role in the formation of some skin cancers

Blue Light:

Another potential skin agressor is blue light which penetrates more deeply than UV rays. Blue light, also known as HEV (High Energy Visible) light is emitted from electronic devices like our smartphones, tablets, and TVs  and can lead to premature skin aging and skin damage. HEV light is also found in the sun's rays and can cause melasma and hyperpigmentation. You can minimize blue light damage by limiting your exposure to electronic devices and preparing your skin with products that combat its effects. Physical sunscreens (which contain ingredients like zinc oxide) form a protective film on the skin’s surface to reflect rays of light, making them ideal for combatting blue light damage.

YOUR SUNSCREEN SHOULD BE AN SPF 30 OR HIGHER 

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The SPF number on your sunscreen bottle indicates how long the sun’s UV radiation would take to burn the skin when using the product exactly as directed as opposed to the amount of time without any sunscreen. For example, with an SPF of 30, it would take 30 times longer to burn if you weren’t wearing sunscreen. Make sure to choose a water- resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 which blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays.

YOUR SUNSCREEN SHOULD BE AN SPF 30 OR HIGHER 

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The SPF number on your sunscreen bottle indicates how long the sun’s UV radiation would take to burn the skin when using the product exactly as directed as opposed to the amount of time without any sunscreen. For example, with an SPF of 30, it would take 30 times longer to burn if you weren’t wearing sunscreen. Make sure to choose a water- resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 which blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays.

SUNSCREEN SHOULD BE WORN DAILY, EVEN ON CLOUDY DAYS 

Up to 80% of UV rays can still penetrate through the clouds which means you can also get sunburn on an overcast day. Therefore, it’s essential to wear your sunscreen every single day to give your skin all day protection, regardless of the weather. Daily and consistent use of sunscreen also helps to prevent premature skin aging caused by the sun which include wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin over time.

SUNSCREEN SHOULD BE WORN DAILY, EVEN ON CLOUDY DAYS 

Up to 80% of UV rays can still penetrate through the clouds which means you can also get sunburn on an overcast day. Therefore, it’s essential to wear your sunscreen every single day to give your skin all day protection, regardless of the weather. Daily and consistent use of sunscreen also helps to prevent premature skin aging caused by the sun which include wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin over time.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SUNSCREEN FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE 

Wearing sunscreen daily is essential no matter your skin type. Finding the right sunscreen for your skin type is helpful to avoid skin irritation as well.

  • Normal/ combination skin: Choose sunscreen that feels comfortable to wear on your skin. If you are looking to experiment, try a tinted sunscreen.
  • Dry skin: Sunscreens enriched with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerine or ceramides will provide a boost of hydration while protecting your skin.
  • Oily skin: A lightweight water- based sunscreen or gel formulas with matte finishes that won't clog your pores
  • Acne-prone skin: Avoid sunscreens that contain harsh ingredients, likely to aggravate inflammation like alcohol and preservatives.
  • Sensitive skin: The least irritating sunscreen is mineral sunscreen with ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to physically block UV rays. Look for labels like “non- comedogenic” and “sensitive skin” on the packaging.
  • Mature skin: Look out for a chemical or physical sunscreen that has a high SPF but is also hydrating and antioxidant rich to prevent visible signs of ageing.
  • Kid’s skin: Choose sunscreens with extra gentle formulas that have a minimum SPF of 30, have no known harmful ingredients and are relatively easy to apply.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SUNSCREEN FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE 

Wearing sunscreen daily is essential no matter your skin type. Finding the right sunscreen for your skin type is helpful to avoid skin irritation as well.

  • Normal/ combination skin: Choose sunscreen that feels comfortable to wear on your skin. If you are looking to experiment, try a tinted sunscreen.
  • Dry skin: Sunscreens enriched with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerine or ceramides will provide a boost of hydration while protecting your skin.
  • Oily skin: A lightweight water- based sunscreen or gel formulas with matte finishes that won't clog your pores
  • Acne-prone skin: Avoid sunscreens that contain harsh ingredients, likely to aggravate inflammation like alcohol and preservatives.
  • Sensitive skin: The least irritating sunscreen is mineral sunscreen with ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to physically block UV rays. Look for labels like “non- comedogenic” and “sensitive skin” on the packaging.
  • Mature skin: Look out for a chemical or physical sunscreen that has a high SPF but is also hydrating and antioxidant rich to prevent visible signs of ageing.
  • Kid’s skin: Choose sunscreens with extra gentle formulas that have a minimum SPF of 30, have no known harmful ingredients and are relatively easy to apply.

APPLY YOUR SUNSCREEN GENEROUSLY 

You should apply at least two fingers’ worth of product (using your index and pointer fingers) to your face, hairline, ears, and neck. For your body you can use approximately the volume of a regular shot glass for each application. Apply your sunscreen about 30 minutes before heading out, as the last step of your skincare routine, to give it time to fully absorb into your skin.  After intense activity that could remove sunscreen, such as swimming, or excessive perspiration and rubbing, reapplying is necessary every two hours. Your lips can also get sunburnt so make sure to use a UV-protective lip balm. Sunscreen loses its effectiveness over time and shouldn't be used for longer than one year.  Discard and replace any sunscreen if it’s passed its expiry date, has a different texture, odour, or colour from when you first opened it.

APPLY YOUR SUNSCREEN GENEROUSLY 

You should apply at least two fingers’ worth of product (using your index and pointer fingers) to your face, hairline, ears, and neck. For your body you can use approximately the volume of a regular shot glass for each application. Apply your sunscreen about 30 minutes before heading out, as the last step of your skincare routine, to give it time to fully absorb into your skin.  After intense activity that could remove sunscreen, such as swimming, or excessive perspiration and rubbing, reapplying is necessary every two hours. Your lips can also get sunburnt so make sure to use a UV-protective lip balm. Sunscreen loses its effectiveness over time and shouldn't be used for longer than one year.  Discard and replace any sunscreen if it’s passed its expiry date, has a different texture, odour, or colour from when you first opened it.

INGREDIENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN A GOOD SUNSCREEN 

Sunscreen includes active ingredients that help prevent the sun’s UV radiation from reaching your skin. Here’s how the two types of sunscreen ingredients work for you:

Physical (mineral) sunscreen ingredients (like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) block and reflect the sun’s rays, like a shield, before they penetrate your skin. They’re typically safer for sensitive skin.

Chemical sunscreen ingredients (like avobenzone and octisalate) absorb UV rays, like a sponge, before they can damage your skin. 

While physical sunscreens may be less likely to cause skin irritation than chemical sunscreens, both types are safe and effective. Many advanced sun protection products available today combine both types of ingredients.

INGREDIENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN A GOOD SUNSCREEN 

Sunscreen includes active ingredients that help prevent the sun’s UV radiation from reaching your skin. Here’s how the two types of sunscreen ingredients work for you:

Physical (mineral) sunscreen ingredients (like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) block and reflect the sun’s rays, like a shield, before they penetrate your skin. They’re typically safer for sensitive skin.

Chemical sunscreen ingredients (like avobenzone and octisalate) absorb UV rays, like a sponge, before they can damage your skin. 

While physical sunscreens may be less likely to cause skin irritation than chemical sunscreens, both types are safe and effective. Many advanced sun protection products available today combine both types of ingredients.


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