Top Skin Care Tips for Summer

Everybody loves this season, and no wonder, images of beaches and breezy waves bring us back memories of past summers.

The truth is that together with this season, there is usually a change in habits that is involves having more time off. Besides, vacations usually mean spending more time outdoors in contact with nature.

Although all of this might look good on our health profile, there is one silent menace lurking out there that can be really harmful to our skin: the sun and its dangerous rays. What are we to do then? Play vampire and lock ourselves away from sun exposure altogether?

Luckily, there is a way to enjoy the benefits of outdoor summer life without risking our skin. Here are some useful tips to keep in mind:

Proper SPF: Vital Choice

Gone are the days when we could spend hours on the beach without worrying about getting protection. Every year, we learn about the damaging effects certain sun rays can have on our body. Proper care begins by choosing the right type of SPF (Sun Protection Factor). In its natural state, human skin takes about 20 minutes to start turning red if exposed directly to the sun. The factor, 15 for instance, extends this period that many times (15×20). This means that a person could spend five hours under the sun before they start getting red.

However, this is not sheer maths a person’s skin type will determine what type of SPF works best for them. In general terms, the lighter a person’s skin, the higher the factor. Special attention should be paid to young children and babies.

Sun block or sunscreen with proper SPF should be used on a daily basis, reapplied every couple of hours and used even on cloudy days.

Sensitive Areas First

Our body possesses certain sensitive areas that should be particularly protected in summer. Eyes and lips for instance, are among these. Wearing the right glasses with appropriate UV protection can be vital for your eyesight. Sunglasses should always be bought at a certified optician’s –never on the street!

As for lip care, a lip balm with SPF protection of 15 or higher is just the thing. The delicate tissue that covers your lips can get easily parched if left unattended. Most top cosmetic brands offer lip protection products you can resort to.

Protect your Scalp

Another way of protecting your facial skin and your hair is to wear a broad-brimmed hat that will block away potentially dangerous sun-rays from both your eyes and your hair. It is not only your hair that gets damaged in the summer, but also your scalp. Remember this, after all is very sensitive skin. Besides wearing hats or caps, there are certain sunscreen sprays that can be applied to your parted hairline in order to protect it. This tip is especially useful for the sporty type.

Lukewarm Water

Showering with hot water after a long sun exposure can further damage our skin. A god way to prevent dehydration is to use lukewarm water instead, this way our skin will feel both revitalised and moisturised.

Summer is just around the corner, follow these tips and prepare to enjoy a skin-friendly season.