MAY IS SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH - PRACTICE SAFE SUN.

PRACTICE SAFE SUN………..SO MUCH MORE THAN A PLAY ON WORDS

Here at beauty at 28 we always urge our clients to practice safe sun by ensuring that they take certain precautions to protect their skin and health in general, and not just when the sun is out!  As advocators of healthy skin, we feel it is our duty to ensure that you are all fully aware of the impact the sun can have on our skins all year round.

The secret to healthy summer skin is simple: Preparation, Protection, and Hydration.

We all love to bask in the sun and soak up the rays, but do we really, thoroughly prepare our skin for these times?  As the sun has now raised its head it need not be the enemy. Please set some time aside to think about and plan how you can best prepare and protect your skin as well as our whole body and avoid any unnecessary sun related damage.

Preparation

We spend a lot of time finding the perfect kaftan, having Bio Sculpture on our nails, and even having LVL lashes, but how much do we think about actually preparing our skin? It is essential that preparing our skin for the sun becomes part of the summer routine as sun exposure can lead to damage to our skin cells. By preparing the skin we can limit the amount of damage the sun can cause.

Exfoliation is the first and most essential part of the process. Exfoliating the skin helps to eradicate dead skin - this encourages new skin cell turnover. By doing this, we are improving skin tone and encouraging hydration, which is essential in the summer months as heat causes dehydration.

Protection

The sun care aisle in shops can be somewhat daunting; there are so many choices, all offering different degrees of protection while assuring glowing tans. When it comes to making this purchase too many of us tend to make a rash decision. We might have five minutes left on our lunch break or our youngest child in tow leaving us to pick up the first bottle we can get our hands on. However, this is one decision that really ought to be an informed one. So, here are some facts for you to help you practice safe sun!

There are two types of rays that we need to be aware of. The first type is the UVA ray, which we are most exposed to. UVA rays penetrate deep into our dermis and are the very rays that are to blame for causing signs of ageing.  They cause an over production of melanin in our skin causing brown spots and increases wrinkles by causing cell DNA Damage. We are exposed to UVA rays throughout the whole year, which is why it is advisable to wear at least an SPF15 every single day.

The second type is the UVB ray. This type of ray causes superficial damage, such as sunburn and prickly heat. Prickly heat happens when we have been exposed to UVB rays and our pores are closed, and our skin cells are unable to naturally desquamate (shed) causing a build-up of heat in our pores. The use of highly perfumed lotions increases this activity on the skin. Ideally, we should protect our skin against both of these harmful UV rays, but not all sun protection on the market will protect against both.

Hydration

Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies, made up for 70% of water. The dermis contains natural moisturising factor, which keeps our skin amply hydrated. When our skin is exposed to UVA and UVB rays this dehydrates the skin and the skins natural defences become impaired, therefore we need to replace any lost moisture lost in this process.

Here are some top tips to keep hydrated in the summer: ·

• Drink 2 litres of water per day
• Avoid too much alcohol as this is a diuretic and causes dehydration
• Use antioxidant rich products- Environ hydrating capsules and intensive super moisturiser
• Avoid the sun between 11-3pm in the summer months, this is when it’s at its hottest
• Use broad-spectrum sunscreen
• Repair, replenish and Rehydrated the skin with an Environ or Guinot facial.

We should all top up our sun cream at least every 2 hours, especially in times of direct sun exposure. As a rule, sun creams can be stored for up to 3 years, however, they must be stored in a cool environment. If they are opened and in a high temperature the ingredients aren’t as active, therefore you aren’t protected. Once opened it advisable to use the sun cream within 12 months providing it has been stored correctly. We should always use a broad-spectrum SPF, and always check the use by guidelines on the packaging. We should never use any sun protection after the use by dates, as they simply will not provide you with protection.

At beauty at 28, we recommend Environ RAD SPF15 and the use of a Skin Vitamin C supplement.

When exposed to UV rays our skin is also exposed to free radicals, which cause damage and ageing to the skin. The Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Vitamin C supplements protect cells against the increase in free radicals and also encourage collagen production. These prestigious Environ products have been developed by one of the world top plastic surgeons, Doctor Des Fernandes, while the supplements have been developed by Patrick Holford who is a leading British Nutritional. Sun care experts recommend that we use a broad-spectrum sun cream. Environ RAD 15 will offer sun filters which will protect your skin against both UVA and UVB rays this makes is a broad-spectrum protection. It is a none perfumed cream therefore it suits all and offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays, this is not offered by all sun care products. Exposure to UVB and UVB rays neutralises our natural Vitamin A receptors, which is the process of supporting cell growth and the communication between cells.

We stock Environ because its main ingredient is Vitamin A, ensuring all their products soothe and protect the skin against UV rays by replacing any lost Vitamin A during sun exposure. 

The Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin vitamin C supplements will provide your skin with the support and protection required to encourage collagen production, which is the ultimate secret to healthy - and glowing - skin!

The preparation and protection of our skin results in a longer lasting tan.  If we use the correct sun protection, we are avoiding damage to our skin, instead encouraging a natural glow to the skin. By keeping our skin moisturised prior to, during and after sun exposure, is the key to pro longing the life of our tan, ensuring we are replacing the moisture lost in long periods of sun exposure.

Go To Our Online Store

We also stock Guinot’s range of sun protection treatments and false tans available to purchase online.

Once we are open again, why not……

Treat your skin to one of Guinot’s anti-ageing facials - the Age Summun facial - which will both protect and hydrate your skin pre or post sun exposure. This exclusive Guinot facial will exfoliate to rid any dead skin cells, leaving your skin refreshed and nourished prior to the de hydrating rays of the sun. The epidermis is the only barrier we have to the sun and our deep layers of the skin. By removing dead skin cells, we are making this barrier the strongest it can be. The inclusion of a pro-collagen mask helps to protect your skin against the sun's ageing. UV light causes photo ageing, this presents itself in the form of wrinkles and coarse skin. This facial will help to instantly smooth the skin, hydrate and plump out wrinkles immediately.

Or alternatively try our Vita Liberata spray tan.  Tan without exposing your skin to the sun!