Top tips for sun safety this summer

The chill in the air is finally on its way out, and the sun is back in full force! We’re down to single layers, the shorts are on, and the whisper of cocktails is on the breeze - happy days! However, with that, comes the ever-impending rise of start-of-summer sunburns. With roughly 1/3 of Brits sunburning every summer, and 51% of Brits not checking their SPF expiry dates to ensure the best protection possible, let’s make 2022 the year this changes.

Did you know that allowing skin to burn can have many serious side effects? Sun burn leads to skin damage, premature ageing, and can result in future skin damage. Severe sun burns can also result in heat exhaustion and heat stroke which can be serious. With this in mind, sun cream should be a must in everyone’s day-to-day skincare. This should be an essential during summer, but also in the winter, thanks to its photo-ageing protection, which is a year-round risk.

How to work out the expiry of your product

The pot and lid symbol demonstrates you have 18 months from opening your product for it to work to its full potential. Although you can still apply your SPF after this time period, the active ingredients won’t be as strong. Ultimately, this will result in the SPF number on the bottle not being indicative of the strength of the formula inside. Sun safety tips As we have already established, sun burn can have serious consequences to your future skin’s wellbeing. Therefore this is something that must be avoided at all costs.

Check out below some of our top tips to help avoid overexposure and burning this summer!

1. Use a high factor, especially at the beginning of summer.

We always recommend starting the summer with a higher factor and lowering throughout the season, as your skin gets more accustomed to the warmer weather. A higher factor should also be used if spending prolonged periods of time outdoors - a day at the beach? Out skiing in the winter? The higher the better for a full day in the sun.

2. Apply 20 - 30 minutes before sun exposure

When applying your SPF, make sure to put this on prior to going outdoors to avoid burning whilst the active ingredients in your products get to work. By applying 20 - 30 minutes prior to going outdoors, you ensure you are fully protected as soon as you are outdoors.

3. Reapply sun cream every two hours as a minimum.

As per NHS advice, sun protection should be reapplied every two hours as a minimum. This should be increased if swimming, sweating or towel drying to ensure the best protection possible.

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4. Covering up is cool Feeling like the heat is getting a bit much?

Taking to the shade, putting on a coverup or sun hat are all sensible ways to deflect some of the sun’s heat. Always listen to what your body is telling you. If it’s getting too much, don’t continue to spend time in the sun, else you are risking overexposing yourself. This is most important between the hours of 11 and 3, when the sun is at its strongest.

5. Take extra care with kids

Make sure you’re not taking any chances with little ones. Sun burn at a young age can have serious consequences in their future. We recommend using SPF 50, such as our Little Joey’s lotion.

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6. Get to know your skin

Understanding your skin type is necessary for knowing how you will react to spending time in the sun. Fair skin? It’s essential a high factor is worn. Darker skin? There is a lot of misunderstanding that sun cream should only be worn if you’re likely to sunburn. Although tanners with darker skin tones have a higher level of melanin and therefore a stronger natural sun protection than those with a fairer complexion, this does not mean that sun cream should be forgone. Regardless of skin tone, you are susceptible to the effects of ageing, sun burn as well as skin damage when you overexpose.

Unsure what your skin type is? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT!

7. Don’t forget easily missed areas

Have those areas that are always at a higher risk of reddening over the summer? Give them the attention they deserve, apply a higher factor or reapply more often. Here are some of the most forgotten areas that you should make sure to cover:

• Nose
• Tops of feet and hands
• Back of the neck
• Ears and behind the ears

Sources:

https://www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/home-and-away-brits-getting-sunburnt-in-the-uk-and-abroad/ https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2017/05/16/almost-quarter-brits-dont-use-sun-cream-summer