Summer Sun and Staying Safe

I am a complete and utter suncream nut, my children are always covered in the stuff from head to toe and then if we are at the beach they are in sun suits with UVA protection of 50+ too! 

The reason probably stems from me being covered in moles, having spent years as a child with little to no sunscreen on, who knows how damaged my skin is, but it was one of those things, we simply didn't know as much about the sun as we do now.

So, when I spoke to the Boots team at BritMums about their #SummerGoodTimes campaign and care in the sun for both skin and eyes, I really wanted to pass this information on. It is so unbelievably useful and for me, proved there is so much more to just slapping on the suncream or sitting in the shade.

Skin

·     Wearing a t-shirt provides UV protection but only when it’s dry – once it becomes wet it turns opaque so swimming in a t-shirt offers no protection from the sun’s harmful rays.

·     Sand, concrete and even grass all reflect UV but if any of these surfaces become wet the amount reflected can double.

·     UV light reflects off surfaces so you will need to think about sun protection even if you are in the shade.  This effect is particularly strong in countries like Greece where white buildings are plentiful - so keep your suncream handy!

·     Hot baths can dehydrate your skin, leading to faster peeling.  Stick to cool showers and use a moisturising body wash to really lock-in your colour.

·     The effects of the sun are cumulative, so if you burn an area of skin, it will be more sensitive to burning next year…to achieve an even tan, protection is essential from the first day.

·     Around three tablespoons of suncream is enough to cover your whole body. But be careful not to over rub your lotion!  If suncream starts to ball up you’ve rubbed too hard so remove any residue and smooth on a new layer – more gently!

·     Think of your skin as a sponge that needs constant ‘topping up’ to keep it moisturised.  Re-apply suncream at least every 2 hours, and more if you are in and out of water or doing exercise.

·     40% of UV exposure occurs when you’re not in direct sunlight, always ensure you are protected by applying suncream before you leave the house.*

Eyes

·    UV rays bounce off glass screens, so remember while the surface of your smart phone may be small, as you are holding it close to your eyes you are increasing your exposure to this reflection.

·     Your eyes are ten times more sensitive to UV damage than your skin, so protecting them both in and out of the water is vitally important.

·     Children’s eyes have larger pupils and clearer lenses so are more susceptible to sun damage - 80% of the eye's lifetime exposure to UV light is reached before the age of 18.

·     Lenses with darker tints don’t necessarily offer more protection as even glasses with clear lenses can offer UV protection. Dark lenses which don’t offer a sufficient level of UV protection can be more damaging because they cause the eye’s pupils to dilate and let in more light.

·     Your eyes need protection from the sun all the time, even on cloudy days.  Cloud cover only reduces the amount of UV light by 10%.

·     In the morning and evening your eyes can also absorb light from reflective surfaces such as white buildings, wet surfaces and smart phones – even when the sun isn’t out. All Boots Opticians lenses have all round protection from UV on both sides of the lens as standard.

I have a Vitamin D deficiency and part of this isn't helped by the fact that every time I get out in the sun I have factor 30 on. It's a double edged sword really, but I try to get 20 minutes of suncream free sun time a day to ensure I keep it topped up.

I always use makeup that contains sunscreen, I have burnt on my face a few times in the past and so having something I don't need to worry about is important, I hate burning! I kick myself as not only is it painful but so bad for your skin.

How do you stay safe in the sun?

Dermatique Review

I have suffered with dry skin for many years now. So, when I was approached by Dermatique to try their Recuperating Cream and Balancing Hair and Body Shampoo, I jumped at the chance.

I have combination skin, a greasy nose and forehead and a dry chin, cheeks, around my nose is also a problem area in the winter when colds are rife.

The Recuperating Cream itself is colourless and odourless, meaning those with a sensitive nose aren't irritated by it, it also means it contains no perfumes which can irritate the skin. For me though, I hate strong smelling moisturiser and anything that smells synthetic which this doesn't.

You don't need a lot of the moisturiser to get coverage over your face and it actually makes quite a good primer under makeup, my main t-zone does get a little shinier as the day goes on but not too unsightly and instead looks rather dewy.

It is also really good on hands and I have a few dry patches on my feet which are also helped with the  moisturiser, it is easily absorbed and doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy.

The Balancing Shampoo is absolutely wonderful too, I have been a fan of Tigi for years but after learning about how these shampoos can strip the oils out of your hair making them produce more I have been trying to find more gentler options.

With this shampoo, I have found that my hair isn't as greasy in the morning, it is is also unbelievably soft, softer than I have felt in a long time and less frizzy after drying. The dry skin I normally suffer with on my forehead has also gone.

It also smells wonderful, not too overpowering. The only one thing I find difficult about the shampoo is that it has a very thick consistency so with wet hands it can slip off before you've rubbed it into your hands and hair.

The Recuperating Cream is  £29 which is about on par with what I would normally pay anyway, only requiring a small amount means it will last a while.

The Balancing Shampoo is £19.50 for 250ml, with a 750ml bottle of my usual being available for £9.99 on the face of it it seems a little expensive. However if you are suffering with dandruff, eczema or psoriasis then there isn't really a price you can put on something that helps. It is also in line with similar products using natural products.

I will definitely be using this as my moisturiser from now on and will see how long the shampoo lasts and then hopefully replace this with some more from Dermatique since it is helping.

NB: I was sent these products to form a review, all words and opinions are my own.

My Birthmarks and Me

When my parents bought me home from the hospital, they were as proud as any new parents could be of their perfect new baby.

After a few weeks though, some red spots appeared on my skin, one on my forehead, one on my fontanel and one on my wrist. As I grew older, they grew bigger, these bright red strawberry patches were called haemangioma.

The start of the marks...

Haemangiomas are raised strawberry coloured marks on the skin, they can occur anywhere and increase rapidly in size for the first six months, before eventually shrinking and disappearing by around seven years of age.

My parents obviously loved me, marks and all but that didn't stop the comments from strangers, the people who looked at me and asked my parents what they'd been doing to me.

Here you can see the marks on my head

Here you can see the mark on my wrist

I'm not sure what people thought my parents had done to me but comments like this hurt, it's partly the reason why I owned the worlds biggest fringe for much of my childhood. My mum trying to give me the best chance of not being picked on.

But why am I posting about this? Well it got better and I wanted to show how better, for those whose beautiful babies may be going through the same thing. Now you can't see much of my birthmarks, apart from a slight indentation and difference in skin.

Back in the 80s there weren't really any treatment options, other than removal at a later date, now though there are several options and I have seen first hand how successful these can be, one of the little girls at my daughters nursery has one above her eye and within a year this had shrunk massively during treatment.

People will always stare at anything that is different, it's human nature, it doesn't make it any less painful, but it can get better, I am proof of this. People who have known me for years don't notice my birthmarks, even those who know I have them, my children very rarely point them out.

I had never thought of writing about my birthmarks before, they are part of me and I love them but I was inspired by Jess over at Lilypod and Sweetpea who writes about her beautiful son who has a haemangioma on his face, I think you'll agree he is a sweetheart and I wish her and Jaspy all the luck in the world with their journey and treatment.

Weleda Citrus Hand and Nail Cream Review

In the goody bag from Weleda last week there was a tube of the Citrus Hand and Nail Cream, having struggled with awful dry hands for years and tried many hand creams I was instantly impressed with this.

The cream itself smells fantastic, the citrus is fresh smelling and it reminds you of summer. It is really thick and creamy and although goes on a little greasy feeling it soaks in really well.

My hands have never felt so soft and they stay soft, a problem i've had with other hand creams. My nails feel healthier too, this sounds a little cliche but my hands look younger and healthier.

The great thing about Weleda is they use nothing nasty, no parabens or harsh chemicals just natures finest (they explain this better here). The tube is a great size to pop in your handbag and although it costs a little more than some other hand creams on the market a little goes a long way and because it works so well you simply don't need as much throughout the day.