There’s no denying it: getting that perfect sunkissed tan can go a long way to making you feel and look a little fresher and glowier.
Most of the time, we’re happy to hit the bottle (of fake tan) and opt for a faux glow in place of spending hours baking in the sun, but when you’re by the pool in St. Tropez or on the sandy beaches of Dorset, there’s nothing better than reading a good book and soaking up the sunshine.
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However, the sun’s UV rays can be seriously damaging for your skin. From painful sunburn to hyperpigmentation (not to mention the obvious skin cancer risks), which means it’s incredibly important to be vigilant about being safe in the sun.
We caught up with the skincare pros to find out the best way to avoid the dreaded post-tan peel, exactly how often you need to apply SPF to keep yourself protected plus a cheat sheet on self-tanning.
How does tanning work?
We all know that if you sit in the sun for long enough your skin will either burn or tan, but what actually makes your skin change colour? ‘Tanned skin is caused by UV radiation,’ says Dr. Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist at SELF London on Harley Street.
When sun rays or artificial UV rays (such as the ones emitted by sunbeds) beam down on your skin, melanin production is triggered as part of a protective mechanism process to prevent further damage. ‘UV radiation affects different skin types due to the amount of melanin already present in some skin tones. The darker your skin is, the more melanin you have present in your skin,’ explains Dr. Mahto.
What are the risks of tanning?
As much as a bronzed glow looks attractive on the surface, the risks of skin damage associated with sitting in the sun for too long are serious.
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‘Prolonged UV-radiation rapidly ages the skin much faster than we realise. It does this by causing DNA-damage which leads to wrinkles, sunspots and sagging skin. It also contributes to hyper pigmentation,’ says skin-focused doctor, Dr Kemi Roni.
Is there such thing as tanning safely?
Experts collectively agree that staying in the shade is the best course of action for skin health. ‘But from a personal standpoint and as someone who loves the hot weather, I think there are measures one can take to ensure they’re staying safe in the sun,’ says Dr. Mahto.
While she does prefer patients to use a self-tanner as it is safer than basking out in sunshine, she notes that even with religious application of sunscreen, you can still achieve a subtle tan – just follow the easy guidelines below to stay safe.
How To Protect Your Skin In The Sun
- Always Re-Apply Your SPF
If there’s one step to getting a tan you SHOULD NOT skip, it’s applying sun protection. As tempting as it is to whack on a bottle of the nearest cooking oil, the best and safest way to get a super even tan is by applying SPF and taking your time.
Heed Dr. Mahto’s advice and re-apply your sunscreen every two to three hours. Make sure to top up your SPF after every swim sesh too (or if you’ve sweated it off). Generally, derms recommend using a shot glass amount of product for your whole body and a teaspoon for neck and face; adjust accordingly to your stature. ‘You want to create an even layer across your entire skin surface and ensure it is properly rubbed in before you head out in the sun,’ says Dr. Mahto.
2. Shield your face
Now that you’ve got your SPF sorted, give your complexion extra protection with wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses to shield your scalp (a scalp SPF is a useful addition) and delicate under eyes. It’s worth keeping a lip SPF in your tote too, because the last thing you need on holiday is painful sunburnt lips.
3. Avoid peak hours
The sun is at its most intense from 12-2PM, so take that margarita under the shade during those hours if possible.
4. Apply After-Care
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Avoid the dreaded post-tan peel with generously applied after care. ‘The most essential aftercare for tanned skin is moisturiser or after sun,’ says tanning expert James Harknett. ‘The beach and the pool will dehydrate your skin and the combination of those with the sun can leave the skin taught and feeling dry.
‘After a warm or cool rinse, pat dry the skin and apply tan enhancing after sun. Drink a good litre or more of Evian too.’
Our top tip? Put your go-to hydrating body serum in the fridge to cool and moisturise post-sun limbs.
5. Avoid tanning beds
This is the single-most harmful thing that you can do to your skin. The effects of the high intensity UV radiation directed straight onto your skin greatly accelerates your skin’s ageing process and puts you at a high risk for developing melanoma.
How To Treat Sunburn
Sunburn can manifest in various ways. Redness, tenderness, pain or discomfort, warmth, blisters, peeling and itching are the most common tell-tale signs. ‘It’s important to note that the symptoms of sunburn may not appear immediately. It can take a few hours for redness and discomfort to become noticeable after sun exposure,’ says consultant dermatologist Dr. Magnus Lynch.
‘The full extent of sunburn’s effects may not be evident until 24-48 hours after sun exposure, and peeling may occur a few days later as the body attempts to repair the damaged skin.’
The best way to heal sunburn:
- Seek shade from the sun immediately
- Take a cool (not warm or cold) shower and apply a cool compress on the affected area to take down inflammation.
- Drink plenty of water as sunburns can cause dehydration.
- Moisturise with products containing aloe vera or calming ingredients such as camomile and cucumber. Avoid products with high levels of alcohol.
- Avoid friction and irritants by wearing loose clothing, steering clear of harsh detergents and not spraying perfume on the affected area.
- Don’t pop blisters as it can lead to infections.
- Reach for over the counter hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation if the burn is causing significant discomfort. Ibuprofen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help too.
And The Safest Way To Tan? A Faux Glow.
Modern day self-tanners offer not only a natural-looking, two-weeks in the Riviera tan, but also boast skin-loving formulas.
For absolute beginners, gradual tanning lotions such as Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived and Garnier Summer Body go on like your everyday body cream but imparts a sunkissed finish over time. If you’re using a self tanner with a ‘guide colour’ – a tinted formula so you can see where you’re applying it – make sure the guide colour overlaps on your skin so you don’t see visible skin whatsoever.
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- Select your tan like you select make-up; light skins should go for lighter formulas. Medium to olive should try green-based golden tans and darker skins should lean towards darker ranges. One coat of a medium tan will roughly equal two coats of a light tan, and one coat of a dark tan will roughly equal two coats of a medium tan.
- Shave or wax at least 24 hours prior to application and exfoliate with a dry brush or scrub. This means your skin will have a clean surface for an even tan and more importantly, it will fade nicely like a natural tan would.
- Remove any make up and deodorant prior to application but don’t use a cleansing oil to remove make up as this will act as a barrier to the tan’s penetration.
- A mitt protects the tan from absorbing into the hands but also helps evenly distribute the product. If you’re using tanning drops or waters you can rub in using your hands, just wash your palms with micellar water afterwards. Knuckles, wrists, neck, hairline, ears, knees, ankles and feet can all be perfected by using a kabuki brush to blend the tan out.
- Always sweep your tan in lengthways motions on the body, never circular motions as the pressure is uneven on the skin and will result in an uneven tan. Apply one light layer of tan to your face and take a clean kabuki make up brush to blend the tan up onto the ears, underneath the nose and lightly over the eyelids.
- For smaller areas: Take a clean facecloth and fold into quarters, roll up and sweep over the hairline to buff any excess tan, remember to do this around the back of your neck too. For hands, lightly sweep a tiny amount of tan over at the end of your routine. Wipe your palms and nails and re-moisturise your hands to blend the tan. Place a towel on the back of a door and rub your wrists on the towel to blend and stop the appearance of a self tan sleeve.
- Maintain an everlasting glow by applying self-tan to the entire body, following with two consecutive days of rich moisturiser. Then, use a hit of Isle of Paradise Happy Tan (it’s currently out of stock, so try the Self-Tanning Butter instead) on body to lift the colour back up. Two days after, start lightly exfoliating the top coat of tan off ready for the next round of tanning.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
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