Top Ten Tips on Safe Tanning

The Summer is finally here its official ! It might only last for a few days, it could be here for a few weeks, who knows it could be a couple of months that we are basking it this seasonal halo. Now I don’t mean to bring your mood down, but there is a very serious side to this fantastic weather, because of Summer’s very late arrival it means we are not use to how powerful the sun it right now. Please take a few minutes just to watch the video below PLEASE –

OK then, now because we at Clothes-Make-the-Man care about our loyal readers and we want you around for as long as possible we sort the advice of an expert to offer her top ten tip for safe tanning. Clare O’Connor is the Suncare expert for one of the most trusted names on the high Street, Boots. Clare is a scientist with over 20 years experi­ence in the cosmetics industry spending the last 18 years specialising in sun protection. She works with experts internally and externally, plus academic institu­tions who manage research projects in the area of skin protection and was a key player in developing the Boots Soltan’s Once platform.

1) Make sure you use enough product – you should apply a blob about the size of a two pound coin for each limb and your front and back, as well as a blob about the size of a pound coin for your face, one 200ml bottle of Soltan contains roughly 6 full-body applications.

2) Protect your skin before you first go into the sun – we recommend applying sun cream 15 minutes before going into the sun, then reapplying again as soon as you go out in the sun. After that, you should reapply every 1 to 2 hours, as well as immediately after swimming or towelling.

3) Check for 5 star UVA rating – ensure your chosen sun care product has maximum 5 star UVA protection as well as a high SPF, as this will provide the best protection from skin ageing as well as burning. All Soltan products have 5 star UVA protection!

4) Use an SPF of at least 15 – you should be using a high SPF (30 or 50) if you’re going abroad or have fair skin. Also don’t forget
your lips, they are prone to drying and cracking and long term exposure can cause uneven colouration as well as more serious skin conditions.

5) Wear suncare in the UK – research by Boots UK has uncovered that nearly three quarters (72%) of adults admit that either they or someone else in their family has been sun burnt in the UK because they didn’t think it was sunny enough to require sun protection. Don’t forget to protect your eyes with sunglasses that offer 100% UVA & UVB protection.

6) Stay out of the sun during the hours from 11am – 3pm – spend time in the shade during these hours as the sun is at its strongest at these times and use clothing to minimise sun exposure. Pop on a hat and a long-sleeved t shirt.

7) Use self-tan – try to limit your sun-exposure and use a self-tan from the Soltan Beautiful Bronze range for colour. Self-tan has
developed enormously in recent years, with new colour-modifiers that make the colour more natural and less orange and new
technologies which eliminate the characteristic odour that always used to be associated with self-tans.

8) Exfoliate and moisturise now ready for the summer – it’s easier to keep your skin in good condition rather than repair it after the sun dries it.

9) Choose a well-known brand that you trust – when buying sun care make sure you look for a brand that are investing in research into the latest suncare technologies as well as in educating people about sun safety.

10) Aftersuns can help – sun exposure is incredibly dehydrating for the skin, aftersuns are formulated not only to provide moisturisation but also to cool and soothe sun reddened skin like Soltan Aftersun Soothing Gel with Aloe Vera. Many also contain ingredients such as antioxidants which help your skin to recover after sun exposure.

 

Slip, Slap, Slop – The importance of Sun Creams, tried & tested

We men and I do mean to generalise here are pretty damn awful when it comes to safe tanning, laying in the sun and most importantly putting on suncream and when we do, that it’s a high enough SPF (Sun Protection Factor). Now as a result of this and without sounding like some Harbinger, I know where my strength lie and talking about suncream, the importance of it and what to do with it, is not one of them. I’m the person who has burnt in an outdoor meeting in LA at 7am in the morning, I’ve burnt in April in Galway and I’ve had local residents in Greece laugh at how I would burn if I didn’t get out of the sun at 10am. Due to this fact, I’ve called upon the services of the very capable, knowledgable and general good egg, Mrs Mc to help me on today’s post and so we carried out a comprehensive and concise tried and testing on the nation’s best suncream brands and their products, which covered the entire price spectrum. Over to you my lil ray of sunshine ;

Now the weathers hottin’ up and the summer holidays are officially here, you may want to chuck out the out of date sun cream and invest in some derma protection for face and body. As always Clothes-make-the-man have done the hard work and tried and tested a range of products on your behalf, so you enjoy the sun and avoid looking like our friend to the left.

We tried out these creams in 40 degree blazing sun and focused on protection, ease of application, appearance, price and smell.

 

For the body BODY

Piz Buin -Tan and protect

Tan accelerating spray

SPF 30

 

Piz Buin -Tan and protect

Tan intensifying sun spray

SPF 30

 

Both these products performed well overall as they go on easily and gave a good gleam to skin, were reasonably waterproof, smelt good and protected well. In 40 degree heat probably needed factor 50…..and to remember to reapply after swimming! Don’t be like my husband.

 

NIVEA SUN

Moisturising Sun spray 50+

 

NIVEA SUN

Pure and sensitive sun lotion SPF 50

 

Again these are strong scoring products, well priced and easy to apply though the sensitive took a while to “disappear” always best to apply when inside your apartment, fresh from a shower to avoid white streaky bits, sand sticking and missing bits…

 

 

SOLTAN

(Boots own brand)

Invisible, Dry touch transparent sun care spray SPF 50

 

This worked well, very reasonably priced and easy to apply and stayed on well after swimming. Good all round option

 

Clarins

Sun care Milk lotion spray 50+

 

Clarins have produced a protective sun care range for both body and face. We trialled this milk lotion , one of 8 sun products for the body that deliver deep down UV protection and offered efficient sun protection.

 

Garnier – Ambre Solaire

Clear protect + SPF 50

 This product is clear, so leaves no white marks, and is in a spray so easier to apply to those harder to reach areas. Pleasant in smell and well priced is a good all round option.

 

FACE

Clarins

Sun wrinkle control cream for face 50+

Our personal favourite product for the face, this cream offered great protection, didn’t sting if  it went in yours eyes and kept face moisturised in very hot/dry conditions. Smelt fantastic and reminded you of holidays straight away. A tad pricy but a little went a long way and it is for your face

 

SOLAIT

(Superdrug own brand)

Mattifying face Sun Fluid SPF 50

This scored well and compared well with the more expensive products, its mattifying fromula meant less shiny face, and though slightly tinted (don’t be scared) it looked very natural on, one the girlfriend will be pinching.

 

SkinCeuticals

Brightening UV Defense. SPF 30

 

This is serious stuff! It offered as good protection as the 50SPF and is loaded with all sorts of botanicals to ensure it’s an effective moisturising sunscreen that evens out skin tone. It’s also the most expensive product tested but worth it for those of you who want to seriously protect your face whilst indulging in some sun worship and why wouldn’t you …

 

Useful link to Cancer Research UK being safe in the sun!

http://www.sunsmart.org.uk/advice-and-prevention/shade/