Could you be damaging your skin with these habits? Top tips to protecting your skin all year round

Don’t you hate it when the weather isn’t great in your part of the world and you hear other people moan about the too good (a.k.a too hot) weather? This has been happening a lot lately. While other parts of the world are enduring the cold winter weather, some parts are basking in sunshine! NZ and Australia particularly have been experiencing high temperatures.

I honestly sometimes wish we could save some degrees for those cold winter months, lol!

Speaking of the sun, I think just about everyone loves a good day out in the sun. But sometimes that has its own implications. We know that doctors encourage us to get Vitamin D direct from the sun, but even that has to be managed as you could potentially get sunburn in the process.

While sunburn is serious in and of itself, skin cancer resulting from lack of care in the sun could be deadly.

That is why it is so very important to make certain that you and your loved ones are always protecting your skin against damage from either the sun or very cold weather. Protecting your face is only part of the regime, summer sun protection for your body and even your eyes is essential.

There are many ways to protect yourself all year around.

SKIN CARE IN SUMMER

1. PROTECT YOUR FACE from the Sun

There’re a number of ways you can protect your face from the sun.

• Using sunscreen – an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15 or higher is recommended as it provides the best protection for the skin on your face. In fact, the higher the SPF, the more protection you get. Check out this one from Nivea with a high SPF.

• Put on a hat / cap. I personally love hats so I don’t have problems there, but I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. Whether you like it or not, a good hat will protect your face from the sun.

AVOID tanning oils on your facial skin. Tanning oils work by drawing the sun to the skin so if you apply it to your face, it’ll be drawn to the face and not protect it.

Tanning oils are also known for causing acne breakouts. You don’t want that at all costs, do you?

IF you want to tan your face, look for safer options. There’re some cosmetic lines that provide moisturizer along with sun protection, and these range from moderate in price to more expensive. You may want to look into these – perhaps see if you can obtain samples first before you spend money on them.

2. PROTECT YOUR WHOLE BODY from the Sun

• Cover up – While it’s appealing to wear less clothes in summer, the more skin you cover up from the sun, the better off you are. We know that skin cancer is found on many areas of the body, not just the face. So protecting your skin (you whole body) from those ultraviolet rays of the sun is the best thing to do. In fact, you’ll be glad you did it later in life…

I can hear some saying, “but I love my bikini, I feel sexier when I’m in a bathing suit!”. That may be true but the end result could be serious. Trust me on this, you’ll thank me when you’re older! Lol.

Covering up is just one way to deter the serious damage of the sun.

• Take breaks from the sun is also another great way to avoid sunburn or skin cancer. Taking a little time to sun is okay if you are well protected with sunscreen with a high value SPF and covering up. However, taking breaks under an umbrella is just as important.

• Choose your times wisely: While we sometimes have to be out in the sun when it’s really hot, IF you don’t have to be outside, you can choose when to go out. Mornings and late afternoons are recommended if you’re gonna do some activities in the sun. Because this is when it’s not too hot.

Around midday is usually too hot in summer, and it’s best to go out only if you have to.

• WATER and SUNSCREEN: If you’re gonna play in the water, please ensure you wear waterproof sunscreen. The sun is attracted to the water and it’s easy to burn your skin without realising it.

3. PROTECT YOUR EYES

Do not forget to protect your eyes!

Sunglasses are imperative. This could be in summer when it’s hot or when it’s windy.

• Hat / cap – again do not be shy to try on a hat or cap. Besides protecting your face and eyes, you could actually like how it looks.

4. STAY HYDRATED: While we may be tired of hearing, “Drink lots of water”, it’s actually true. This is one of the best summer routines, i.e drinking lots of water. Water cleanses our body, it helps rid it of toxins. Some of which causes dullness on our skin.

As we lose fluids in summer, through sweating and all, it’s important to replace those fluids always.

5. TAKE CARE OF IT! Having a good skin care routine is always a good idea. Skip things like Saunas and steam rooms, and be gentle on your skin. Exfoliate, Cleanse, Moisturize, and enjoy the benefits of good skin.

 

SKIN CARE IN WINTER

6. MOISTURISE: I don’t know how many times I’ve heard it said, and the number of times I’ve seen people abandon their skin in the cold weather.  If you’ve ever noticed, skin dries up quickly in winter so find a moisturiser that works well for your and apply it properly to avoid starving your skin of moisture.

7. LOTS OF FLUIDS: While it’s hard to drink plain water in winter, there’re many other ways you can keep yourself hydrated. Hot drinks can help keep you warm while also keeping you hydrated.

Not so hard, ey! With a little common sense, you can have fun in the sun while protecting yourself at the same time. And you can enjoy those winter months with good skin!

 

Do you pay attention to your skin (how it looks, what goes on it, etc)? OR are you blessed with good skin you don’t think twice about it? Keen to hear your experiences and/or thoughts on the above. 

 

 

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