A Guide to Sun Protection

Image from Refinery29’s article: Here’s Photographic Proof Of What The Sun’s Doing To Your Face

In case some of you haven’t noticed, we are in the middle of our first heatwave this summer, and I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely loving it! But with this beautiful weather, something that we all need to take very seriously is Sun Protection! There is so much information out there, so I have done my research and thought I would pull together a short guide:

The sun creates 2 types of rays, UVA and UVB. Both of which are harmful to us and our skin, so ensure you buy sun protection with both UVA and UVB protection.

UVA rays are the main cause of wrinkles and skin ageing as they penetrates deeper then UVB rays. They penetrate the skin even when you are not on direct sunlight, so ensure you are always wearing some kind if sun protection. UVA rays can cause depleted collagen, skin pigmentation, eye damage, DNA damage and skin cancers. UVA protection on sun protection is rated using a star system, from 0 stars to 5 stars, the higher the star rating, the lower the percentage of rays that make their way through the sun protection. You should be using a suncream with a minimum of 4 stars.

UVB rays are the burning and tanning rays, and are also cancer inducing. SPF (Sun Protection Factor) and their numbers relate to the amount of UVB protection they can give. SPF15 blocks around 93% of rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% and SPF 50 blocks 98%.

Tips

• Apply your sun cream 20 minutes before planning to go outside (You also still need to apply SPF if you are planning to sit in the shade.
• Ensure you sit in the shade during the sun’s hottest hours (11am and 3pm).
• You should apply a 10p coins worth of cream to your face, and a large shot glass amount for your body.
• Reapply your sun cream every 2hours.
• Ensure you are drinking a lot of water, dehydrated skin is more prone to sun damage.
• Reapply sun cream after swimming.
• SPF in foundation is only enough if you aren’t spending a lot of time outside. (It is spread too thinly and you do not use enough).
• Do not layer SPF’s on top of each other, they will cancel each other out and start to breakdown.
• Perfume also breaks down SPF so do not spray after applying sun protection.
• Ensure you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays.
• Check your suncream has not expired. Look at the back, if there isn’t anything then it means 3 years. Ingredients become ineffective, inactiv and start to decompose after their exiry date and will not protect you any more.

My absolute favourite suncream ever is the UltraSun Sport. It is a gentle, fast absorbing, non greasy and non sticky sun protection gel.

It is a once a day sun protection gel. Depending on how fair your skin is, and what the sun is like where you are, the gel can last up to 10 hours. I have personally used this any time I have been in the sun over the last 3years or so, and can categorically say that I have not been burnt at all whilst using this. I would usually put this on in the morning, then reapplying usually halfway through the day to top up, and also after any swimming.

Although UltraSun do not use the star rating. Their gels protect you from 93% of the sun’s UVA rays, which makes it 5stars. They also come in SPF20, SPF30 & SPF50. I have added their tinted face protection to my next order, as this is make up reversed! You never use the right amount of foundation with SPF, so how about SPF with colour?!

It is a little pricy, but you cannot put a price on your skin’s safety. It also has a shelf life of two years, and if you buy the larger bottle it works out cheaper and can last for a number or holidays. My boyfriend and I took a new bottle to Mexico for 10 days and didn’t make out way through the whole thing. 

What are your favourite sun protection products?

Lazy Sunday Essentials

Image from Pinterest

I must say ... I think Sunday is my favourite day of the week! When I wake in the morning, with the sun coming through the curtains there's just this feeling of contentment. Still another day to relax and organise before the week ahead. The difference between a Sunday and Saturday for me, is that I usually chill in my pjs on a Saturday, thinking I have the whole weekend ahead of me. On Sunday I kick myself in to gear and get my chill on!

Image from Pinterest

Coffee - Being a serious coffee addict lover, it is the first thing I do on a Sunday morning. Either making a cafetiere if the other half is awake (usually not), or I will make myself a Lyon's coffee bag. The other half's uncle introduced us to these coffee bags over Christmas, they are exactly as they sound and I am not sure why they were not made earlier! Take the coffee bag and use them in the same way as tea, leaving it for longer if you prefer a stronger tea or less time for a weaker one. I must say they are super tasty, and the perfect slightly more indulgent coffee for a weekend.

Image from Brit+C0

Facial - I take the chance on a quiet Sunday morning to indulge in my weekly facial. I settle in my bathroom, watching a little catch up TV (at the moment: Bake Off!) and get to work. Lighting a candle, I'll start with a normal cleanser, cleaning away all the grime from the night before and follow on with an exfoliating cleanser. As I have oily skin I do not want to strip away too much oil, so do this once a week. I follow this up with a face mask giving my skin a deep cleanse, then on with a thick moisturiser, giving this time to sink in and then my eye cream. After this, I feel really refreshed and ready to start my day.

Image from TopInspired

Sunday Make-Up - Usually we will head out on a Sunday, for a quick shopping trip, a coffee, or my favourite ... a lazy walk along the river. So I never want to do a full face, especially after a facial, but I want to look alive. This consists of my Garnier BB Cream to even things out, MaxFactor Creme Puff Blush, My Holy Grail Mascara and Eyebrow Pencil, Maxfactor Masterpiece Max and Soap and Glory Archery Pencil and whatever lipstick I am feeling that day, probably something quite light and nude.

Image from StyleCaster

Clothes - Sunday's call for my Sunday uniform. This consists of some comfy jeans, usually my trainers, and the cosiest jumper I can find.

There is just nothing better than indulging in a lovely coffee, fresh faced and in cosy clothes ready to just chill.

What is your Sunday routine?

How to // Early mornings

Image from here

So I recently started a new job! *happy dance*, but the best time to start this job at 7am, meaning a 5am alarm! *sad face*

Below are my tips on getting up at 5! These are realistic, real life tips! I thought I would struggle so much that the week before I started, I was frantically googling: 'how to get up early' and 'early morning tips'. When the answer I was getting were things like:

- Put your alarm on the other side of the room

- Exercise, go for walk, or read a book

- Reflect on what you need to do that day

I knew I was on my own!

In theory these are all great! But in reality, the alarm goes off at 5, I snooze a couple of times, rush out of bed at 5:20 and am out of the door by 5:45! When I have 20 minutes to get dressed with my mind and body still asleep, unfortunately none of the above can help! Here are a few things that have helped me through.

1. Make 5 portions of healthy 'to go' breakfasts at the weekend. Something like a healthy, gluten free blueberry muffin, (maybe I'll post a recipe for this) or even something as simple as buy enough bananas for the week.
2. Lay ALL of your clothes out the night before in the order you will be putting them on.

3. Completely pack your bag the night before, as if you were about to leave for work (breakfast included!)

4. I have become that person that does their make up on the train, if it means I can lay in bed for 10 more minutes I am all for it!

My realistic, weekday morning routine looks a little like this:

- Up

- Cleanse, tone and moisturise

- Brush my teeth

- Get dressed

- Make a takeaway coffee (Vital!)

- Grab my bag

- Run for the bus!

Hopefully this has helped some of you with those dreaded early mornings!

What tips do you have?