SPONSORED BY IMEDEEN
“Summertime and the livin’ is easy,” Ella Fitzgerald sung in her dulcet tones. It’s true; whether you’re frequenting the park in your lunch break, or sipping cocktails on the beach, we’re all just that little bit more chilled. Whether home or abroad though, it’s important to stay safe as we soak up the rays. Here are seven ways to keep your skin pretty and protected:
**1) Prepare your skin **
UK sun is like that flaky friend; we never know if they’ll be joining us until the moment comes. However, as the scouts always tell us, be prepared! IMEDEEN’s Tan Optimizer contains carotenoids to help prepare your skin for the sun. Take one of these a day for at least a month before the sun hits and always in conjunction with suitable SPF. They are also packed full of vitamin C and E which help protect cells from oxidative stress and Vitamin A which supports normal skin health. Coupled with the nutrients in IMEDEEN Derma One, you can help your skin look radiant.
2) Hydrate
We can’t hone this in enough – hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day will flush out any baddies in your skin, restore any moisture you lose throughout the day and prevent dehydration. It’s easy enough to do: a glass between cocktails, or an ice bottle to sip pool side. If you’re one of the dwindling few in the office, grab one of those large bottles for your desk.
3) Slather on the SPF
The most common way to protect your skin is to spray, slap or slather on the SPF. We advise at least SPF 15 and ensure the letters ‘UVA’ are displayed somewhere on the bottle. Don’t forget, if you’re in the sun for a long period of time, make sure you reapply regularly.
4) Make like a vampire…
… and avoid the sun. Well, only at the hottest part of the day! The sun is at its hottest, and most harmful, between 11am and 3pm, so where possible, it is best to avoid being in direct sunlight during this time.
**5) Accessorise **
Wide brimmed hats and statement sunglasses give not only fashion points, but do wonders for your skin safety credibility too. The hat will protect the skin on that pretty face of yours, on your scalp and help prevent that straw-hair look. Sunglasses help in protecting both the delicate skin around your eyes, as well as your general eye health itself and, generally, they always look good.
6) As a last resort, if you’ve got burnt
If you’re more of a lobster red than a golden brown after spending time in the sun, treat the skin as soon as possible. Aloe Vera, a natural plant with cooling properties, will sooth flaky, burnt, or heat rash skin. An added bonus – it’s not greasy or sticky, so won’t blemish any holiday snaps you take with the flash on. Its best to avoid getting to this point though.
**7) Observe any changes **
As you admire your summer glow in the mirror, observe any changes on your body, in particular, in any moles. Any abnormalities caused by the sun may manifest themselves in your moles, so if you notice any differences, such as uneven colouring, itching or if they’ve grown in size, speak to your GP.
Take IMEDEEN Derma One to help reduce the visible signs of ageing in as little as 12 weeks. IMEDEEN Tan Optimizer can help prepare your skin for the sun and IMEDEEN Derma One can help improve skin quality.
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