Summer! For many of us, it’s the best time of the year. Getting that summer glow from being sun-kissed might look great in the short term, but it comes with many disadvantages, especial- ly if it goes hand-in-hand with lasting sun damage. Once the summer glow has faded, you can find yourself dealing with dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, dull skin and uneven skin tone, not to mention the dangers of skin cancer … In that sense, being sun-kissed for a short time is not really worth the trade-off.
But it is possible to get that sun-kissed look without dama- ging your skin. You just need to be aware of the rules for summer skin care.
Wearing SPF every day should be part of your skin care routine all year around. But during summer, when the sun is stronger, it is ever so important.
Physical sunscreens contain active mineral ingredients, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, that sit on the sur- face of the skin and act as a shield, bouncing UV rays off the skin. They are also usually thicker and can require a little more effort to apply. However, they are especially great for people with sensitive skin and can contain fewer toxic ingredients.
Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, contain car- bon-based compounds, such as oxybenzone or avoben- zone that convert UV rays into heat and then release the heat off the skin. They need to be applied about 20 mi- nutes before sun exposure as it takes some time for the chemical components to become active. While chemical
Summer! For many of us, it’s the best time of the year. Getting that summer glow from being sun-kissed might look great in the short term, but it comes with many disadvantages, especial- ly if it goes hand-in-hand with lasting sun damage. Once the summer glow has faded, you can find yourself dealing with dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, dull skin and uneven skin tone, not to mention the dangers of skin cancer … In that sense, being sun-kissed for a short time is not really worth the trade-off.
sunscreens are easier to apply, they do have some disad- vantages: health concerns caused by some of the ingre- dients used, such as nanoparticles and formaldehyde, in- clude skin irritation, and harm to coral reefs.
Do your own research, for example by using the database EWG Skin Deep, before buying your sunscreen. But the most important thing is that you wear one. For everyday use an SPF 30 is fine, but on days where you go to the beach or to a garden BBQ, use coverage of up to SPF50. Don’t forget that your desired glow can also come from organic cosmetics that can give you that sun-kissed look, and which nourish the skin at the same time without ex- posing it to harmful UV rays. Try an organic CC cream that adds a subtle bronze finish to the skin for that perfect summer glow.
There’s nothing wrong with getting that summer glow. The key is to be sun-kissed and protected. Keeping your skin protected and hydrated will help you rock your glow well into winter.