Protecting Your Skin In Summer

Of course, you know you must wear a sunhat and broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater to protect your skin… But did you know that, when out in the bright summer sunshine, you need to reapply your sunscreen every 80 minutes? This is because the UVA protection breaks down quickly when in sunlight. Sunscreens containing Mexoryl™ or Helioplex® last longer, and are the protection of choice for bright summer days.

Better still is the protection provided by ColoreScience’s Sunforgettable mineral sunscreens, now available from Afterglow.

Sunforgettable is a weightless powder that is safe for all ages, odour free, clear on the skin and will not burn the eyes if you perspire.

Sunforgettable brush

Sunforgettable SPF 30 mineral powder comes in an easy to use retractable brush so all you need do is brush it on, pat it in and forget about it. The formula consists of titanium dioxide and zinc dioxide and may be safely used if you have rosacea, eczema or other skin problems. It is especially helpful following skin peels, laser treatments and most surgical procedures, and will not rub off on your clothes.

Sunscreen will protect your skin from the outside, but you can also protect yourself from the inside! Researchers have recently looked into the role certain foods play in protecting the skin from UV rays. Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants that protect plants from UV rays. When we eat plants containing carotenoids, this protection is passed on to us. Foods rich in carotenoids include carrots, tomatoes, melons, yams, pomegranates, yams, kale and broccoli.

Broccoli and other vegetables of the brassica family (Brussels sprouts, kale and dark leafy cabbage), also contain substances known as sulforaphanes. These reduce the inflammation resulting from over-exposure to the sun.

Chocolate's protective effects on the skin

Flavonoids are other plant-based antioxidants that have been shown to provide a degree of protection against UV light. Cocoa with high flavonoid content (usually marked on the package) and dark chocolate with over 80% cocoa content have been shown to exert protective effects on the skin after a few weeks’ daily use.

However delicious that chocolate may be, please remember that you will still need a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and a sunhat to fully protect your skin from the ravages of the sun.