*Collaborative post.

The summer is ahead and everyone is hoping to be able to get out into the sunshine for the first time in a year. It’s not that we’ve been locked IN, but being locked DOWN has made it much harder to plan to go away on a fun vacation. The thing about the beach is that while it’s the most beautiful place that you can go to, it’s also the place that can be dangerous for your skin. Getting outdoors for sunshine isn’t always easy, but it’s much safer to do it when you know how to look after your skin properly.

The sun is great for your health, but in excess, it can be dangerous. The body needs the sun to produce vitamin D and getting outdoors to find things to do in the longer, brighter summer days can help you to feel calm, relaxed and make you feel as if you’re glowing! The only thing that you need to do is be very aware of sun safety and how you can protect yourself in the harsher UV lighting out there in the sunshine. With this in mind, we’ve got some of the best ways that you can protect yourself and stay safe in the sunshine.

Image source: Pexels

• Apply sunscreen. You need to prevent your skin from burning in the sunshine and that means that you need a good quality sunshine. Think about the products with the highest star ratings, has an SPF of 30 and is water resistant. You may not be out there swimming, but your body is bound to sweat a little and you need to ensure that you don’t’ run off the sunscreen every single time you sweat. You should also ensure that it’s not out of date! Around half an hour before you go out, add in some sunscreen to all exposed areas including the face!
• Wear protective clothes. You don’t want to go out into the hot sun and wear a ton of layers, but you do need to get comfortable with breathable fabrics that can cover exposed skin. Wear a hat – no hat, no play! – and make sure that you have a light cover up over your arms and legs to stop too much UV radiation going through to your skin. You can check how much sunlight gets through your clothes by holding them up to the sunshine. A hat protects your head and you need sunglasses for your eyes, too.
• Keep an eye on the UV index. You want to ensure that you’re not going outside in the strongest UV without protection. So, make checking the UV reports as regular as checking the weather each day. You can find out the UV index where you are when you are on the Met Office website!
• Stick to the shade. Where you can during the strongest rays of the day, stick to the shade and be inside. This is usually between 11am and 3pm. Avoid being out in the direct sunlight in these times, and you can ensure that your skin will be happier!