As British Summer Time approaches, it’s time to start thinking about how to protect our skin from the sun’s strong rays.
Sun-damaged skin isn’t pretty. Over time it can lead to wrinkles (premature ageing), dryness and age spots – depending on how much we’ve lain on the beach or a lounger. Even walking around in every day sunshine can cause havoc on our skin. That is unless we’ve already thought of ways to protect it.
A high SPF sunscreen (SPF 30 or above) can provide a barrier on our skin to stop the sun’s rays from coming through and damaging the skin. But this must be applied regularly; otherwise it will melt into the skin and disappear. Another way to save the skin is to simply avoid the sun – especially during the warmest time of the day, around noon, when the rays are at their strongest.
Apply vitamin C first thing
A good plan is to apply vitamin C serum to your skin first thing before you even step outside the door. Alumier EverActive C&E™ + Peptide is ideal. A serum with an active 15 per cent of the vitamin C complex, it’s clinically proven (a study by in-vivo) to reduce wrinkles after just 56 days when used daily.
As well as using vitamin C and a strong sunscreen during the day, many skin care experts also advise using make-up with inbuilt SPF properties. Jane Iredale Mineral Make-up has a range of five foundation types, from SPF 15 to SPF 25. Just choose the one that best suits your skin colouring and apply it over sunscreen. That way, you’ll get flawless coverage and protection from the sun’s rays.
Use retinol at night
When you go to bed at night, use a moisturiser or serum which contains retinol. This plumps up your skin, making it smoother and fuller. But never use a retinol product while out in the sun. It’s recommended that a strong SPF sunscreen be used the following day since, as a strong exfoliant, retinol can cause the skin to be extra-sensitive. Therefore, it should be applied slowly (twice or three times a week) until your skin can tolerate it.
@ClevelandClinic: “Retinol has many skin-clearing and anti-ageing benefits. It increases the thickness and elasticity of your skin, slows the production of melanin, reduces inflammation and prevents clogged pores.”
For those worried about hyperpigmentation, using a product with tyrosinase inhibitors is a good idea. Hyperpigmentation can result in patches and uneven pigmentation. The cause is excess melanin forming on the skin. This can happen when there’s no sunscreen protection. It can also be caused by hormone imbalance and allergic reactions. The lightweight serum Alumier Eventone can help combat this while, at the same time, giving your skin a lovely glow. Their Intellibright Complex has a similar effect.
Get in touch
Make sure your skin doesn’t suffer any damage this summer by booking an appointment with our expert team here at Vale Laser today.
