You love sunny beaches and golden tans. But sometimes sun and tan can be too much of a good thing. The combination of the bright sunshine overhead and the reflection of the sun on the sand and water can cause severe damage to your skin. Fortunately, there are ways to have healthy fun under the sun.

Simple Sun Care for the Skin
Wear sunscreens that offer broad-spectrum protection. The sun’s rays have different components; including ultraviolet “A” and “B” light frequencies. Ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays are considered “burning rays” and are responsible for skin sunburns. But Ultraviolet-A (UVA) rays penetrate deeply into the skin, causing permanent damage that leads to a wrinkled, leathery skin appearance. Worst of all, this “silent” skin damage can result in deadly melanoma and other skin cancers. For maximum effectiveness, sunscreen should be applied 30 to 60 minutes before your first exposure to the sun. This allows the sunscreen time to penetrate your skin. Always reapply sunscreen frequently during your visit to the beach. Also, put on loose clothing like long-sleeved tops and trousers. Choose materials that have a close weave as these block out the most UV rays. Remove wet clothing as it stretches and lets more UV radiation through to your skin.

Sunshine Benefits
With proper sun care, the sun can be your body’ best friend. Firstly, Vitamin D is necessary for both physical and mental wellbeing – this is manufactured in the body by action of sunlight directly on skin. Dr. Tim Arnott, a lifestyle physician and author of Dr. Arnott’s 24 Realistic Ways to Improve Your Health recommends: “If possible, get at least thirty minutes of bright sunlight first thing in the morning. Morning sunlight is most beneficial. However, even walking outside during a 15-minute break morning and afternoon will also help raise serotonin levels.” Additionally, sunlight is also an efficient germ killer. According to Dr. Aileen Ludington, a board-certified physician in Loma Linda, California, “Proper amounts of sunshine also give the skin a healthy glow and make it smooth and pliable. A moderately tanned skin is more resistant to infections and sunburns than untanned skin.”

Easy Protection Before going out into the sun, apply Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock, which provides exceptional lightweight protection from intense and prolonged sun exposure. This sunblock delivers the best of both worlds: Helioplex™, delivers strong and stable UVA sun protection, and Neutrogena’s Dry-Touch technology, which offers superior skincare aesthetics in one lightweight lotion and absorbs excess sunscreen oils, leaving you with a clean, sheer, non-shiny finish. Available in SPF 50+ and SPF 70. www.neutrogena.com Deeper Care SOTHYS Cellu-guard® Sun Care, Sun Sensitive Areas Care is born from the latest scientific advances in sun protection, world exclusive Cellu-guard® complex that is known to protect the skin at the deepest level by providing Triple Cellular Protection for membranes, DNA, proteins; and Double Tissue Protection for collagen and elastin, anti-inflammatory action. The Cellu-guard® complex prepares the skin to naturally defend itself against solar aggressions. This is achieved with an exclusive combination of highly purified Calophyllum oil and fruit polyphenyls extracted from white lupine, white willow and sweet oranges. www.sothys.com Get relief from the heat with Sodashi After Sun Cooling Mist. Ideal for use when spending time outdoors or in the sun, this product comes with sandalwood hydrosol and peppermint plant essence. Refreshing and relieving irritation and heat sensations, this product also includes gentle and soothing lavender to reduce and prevent skin damage often caused by exposure to the sun. Clear Complexion If you are worried about signs of sun damage on your skin, Skeyndor Vanish Spots Sun Cream may put your heart at ease. With DNA Protection SPF20, this smooth face cream prevents sunspots and other biological damage caused by UV rays. It is enhanced with Biological Protecting Complex®, Thermal spring water, UVA Protection (COLIPA) and UV-Pearls™. www.skeyndor.com