A few tips on how to prepare your skin for sun exposure
Summer is just around the corner and we are already counting down the days until vacation and lounging on the beach, right? But we all know all about the harmfulness of skin exposure to the sun, so we must prepare it and protect it from drying out, which is very common during the summer days.
With a few of our little tricks and tips, we will help you keep your skin healthy and beautiful, but also to get an evenly tanned bronze complexion :-)
To shine this summer, we bring you a few simple tips on how to best prepare your skin for sun exposure.
Consume foods rich in antioxidants, it is recommended to take supplements of MSM or beta carotene to prepare the skin for sun exposure. Foods rich in beta carotene repair damaged skin, prevent premature aging and maintain a healthy appearance.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is a very important step before sun exposure because exfoliation removes dead cells from the surface of the skin that accumulate and prevents its even tanning, thus encouraging the growth of new healthy cells. Your body sheds cells almost every minute of every day. If you do not remove them yourself, they will only settle on the skin, giving the skin the appearance of a dry, gray and lifeless complexion. But keep in mind that exfoliating the body and face with coarse granules can cause scratches and damage to sensitive skin. Since exfoliation removes the surface protective layer of the skin and makes it more vulnerable to harmful UV rays, it is very important to use a cream with a protective factor before sun exposure.
We recommend that you do not exfoliate just before sun exposure, as well as waxing. Exfoliation is enough to do once a week and in this way we allow the skin to "breathe" and absorb moisturizers. So grab your body scrub and take a shower! Do it once or twice a week throughout the year to have beautiful and glowing skin.
The function of exfoliation is to remove old, dead skin cells to prevent congestion and improve skin hydration by applying creams and moisturizers.
It is best to do it in the morning before applying a mask, moisturizer, SPF or makeup. Don’t forget: After you’ve done the scrub, apply moisturizing body milk or face cream to ensure enough moisture.
Hydration using moisturizers
Although such a cream does not protect us from UV radiation, it helps keep our skin healthy. A good moisturizing cream should not contain parabens, silicones, petroleum products, etc. You can read more about this topic on our blog 'How to choose the right hand cream' in which we briefly describe which ingredients to avoid because such ingredients create a "film" on the skin which gives you a feeling of smooth skin, when in fact such ingredients do not nourish the skin from the inside at all.
The use of moisturizers is very important even after sunbathing, to nourish the skin and prevent sun damage.
Using a cream with a protective factor
Creams with a protective factor play a key role when it comes to protection from the sun, i.e. UVA and UVB rays. To avoid sunburn and allow the skin to darken evenly, we recommend short-term sun exposure and avoiding sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during hot summer days.
Let’s start with the face that is most exposed to the sun. Apply protection all over your face, neck, cleveage and body, but NEVER rely on BB, CC or any basic moisturizer. In the summer months, you should use a slightly higher protection factor of 30 or 50 on the face, while a factor of 30 is enough for the body, unless you are a total fan of sunbathing and you are exposed to it all day - which we do not recommend. As you darken, switch to creams with a lower protection factor. When overexposed to the sun, UVA and UVB rays cause redness, dehydration, cell mutation, cell damage, hyperpigmentation…. SPF must be applied regularly every few hours and if you apply it only once a day, this protection will not be enough for you during the whole day in the sun. You should use a new sunscreen every year and use it exclusively that season.
It is not enough to apply sunscreen only once a day, you have to repeat the procedure every time you get out of the sea or take a shower.
The amount that would need to be applied to the face is approximately 1 teaspoon for the face. For the body, about as much as it would fit in an open palm.
The degree of protection against UV radiation is marked with SPF (Sun Protection Factor), and we recommend using a cream with a protection factor of 30 (children 50+) to protect the body from the sun's rays. It is also very important to protect the face, which is more sensitive than the skin of the body. Since we cannot feel UV rays, we often turn black even when we are not directly exposed to the sun because the clouds transmit more than 80% of UV radiation. When you are on the beach, cuddle every 2 hours because we remove the layer of cream from the skin with water, sweat and a towel (and when it comes to waterproof cream!)
If you have extremely sensitive skin, stay in the shade. Skin prone to rosacea, eczema or sensitive skin, reacts very easily to temperature changes. Rosacea (which causes excessive redness, weakening of the capillaries and / or minor clogging of the skin) can get worse if the skin overheats causing even more dilation and rupture of the tiny capillaries. The heat also causes increased evaporation and loss of moisture from the skin which in turn causes eczema. Sensitive skin can be even more irritated by excessive heat, and atopic dermatitis (a rash caused by skin irritation or allergy) can itch more intensely.
In addition to the face, the skin of the lips is also very sensitive, so we must protect it from harmful UV radiation by using lip balm with a protective factor.
We definitely do not recommend using a variety of home made preparations right at the beginning of sun exposure. After you get a little color, we have our Beach BABE ready for you - a multi-purpose butter oil with shimmer / sequins. It is enriched with hyaluronic acid, which gives the skin moisture, care and elasticity, and oils and butters, in addition to speeding up the tanning process of the skin, provide it with incredible care.
What if you overdo it and get burns? If they are not extremely strong, you can make the means for faster recovery at home. Highly soothing creams, lotions and cooling gels can prevent peeling, reduce redness and inflammation. Ordinary yogurt can also be used for first aid :)
It is necessary to increase the level of hydration of your skin with masks, gels, creams and lotions. It is necessary to apply them several times a day and avoid the sun.
Aloe vera-based gel is very pleasant and skin-friendly, but pay attention to the ingredients on the packaging. The percentage of aloe vera must be high if you want to soothe your redness and burns. Aloe vera gel will extremely hydrate the skin and will restore lost moisture. Each sunburn doubles the risk of melanoma - don’t forget to do an annual skin check-up and do a self-examination once a month to detect signs on the skin that may indicate melanoma.
Diet
In addition to all of the above, a very important role is played by diet, but also the amount of water we take in during the day (especially during hot summer days when we have to drink more fluids)! At least 8 glasses of water a day are needed. If possible, carry a bottle of water and remember to drink at least every 30 minutes. Water not only helps you feel fresh, but it also prevents dehydration and helps flush toxins out of the skin. High temperature, wind and being outdoors lead to dehydration, which can result in headaches and dizziness!
Eight glasses of plain, water a day helps maintain a critical balance of moisture in the body and skin, and helps detoxify. If you drink coffee or carbonated juices rich in caffeine, you need to triple the amount of water you drink!
It is important to increase the intake of foods containing vitamin C and E (nuts) up to a few weeks before sun exposure. You will find vitamin C in citrus fruits, kiwis, strawberries or peppers, while vitamin D is found in nuts. You can also consume vitamin C and E through capsules that you can buy in pharmacies and herbal drugstores. Foods rich in calcium and omega-3 fatty acids, etc. can improve UV protection, but also reduce inflammation and skin irritation. Thanks to its antioxidant properties, foods rich in beta-carotene can improve the protection of your skin from UV radiation. Foods rich in beta-carotene are carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, zucchini, broccoli, mango, apricots, kale, peas, tomatoes and melons. An easier way to get beta-carotene may be through supplements or dietary supplements. You can find beta-carotene capsules in pharmacies and drugstores, but don't forget to start consuming the capsules on time or a few months before the summer. You will find vitamin C in citrus fruits, kiwis, strawberries or peppers, while vitamin D is found in nuts. You can also consume vitamin C and E through capsules that you can buy in pharmacies and herbal drugstores.
Consumption of these foods does NOT replace creams with a protective factor, so their use is MOST IMPORTANT.
La PIEL recommendation for the summer months
For incredibly soft, nourished, smooth and fragrant skin, we recommend one of our three scrubs. This time it’s Matcha BABE which is enriched with shea butter, oils like jojoba, almond, wheat germ and has fragrant notes of green tea, lemon, mandarin and bergamot.
To hydrate the body, there is Hydra BABE body milk enriched with hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10, oils such as argan, jojoba, evening primrose, almond, grape seed, olive and carrot. And a mandatory protection factor that you can find in our Sun BABE sunscreen with protection factor 30 in which a combination of different oils creates a natural protection factor - it contains mango, almond, carrot, coconut, mandarin and olive oil, but also shea and cocoa butter. Also at your disposal is Sun BABE face spf 50, the perfect formula and texture for all skin types. The cream is not too heavy or too thick, it spreads easily and does not leave a greasy or white mark on the face. Waterproof, allergen-free, odorless and light texture.
In our formula, in addition to extremely effective UV filters, the combination of different oils such as mango, almond, coconut, olive and macadamia, create a natural protective factor. In addition to oil, shea and cocoa butter give extra care and extreme hydration to your facial skin.
For accelerated tanning in the sun: Beach BABE (contains oils such as argan, coconut, walnut, carrot, and shea and cocoa butter. It contains a bronze-gold pigment that immediately gives the skin a darker surface appearance, with the addition of small sequins).
P.S. wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your eyes from direct sunlight :)
Follow our tips and enjoy this summer as well. <3
