Summer 2020 looks like it will be a continuation of a very warm and sunny spring. Whilst lockdown might have changed all our lives dramatically, for those who like the sun and are fortunate to have an outdoor space, the beautiful weather has made life a lot more enjoyable!

I hope that those who have chosen to sun tan have protected their skin during these sunny days. A dermatologist once told me there is no such thing as a safe tan; when he sees people baking in the sun he knows he will never be out of work, which is worth remembering.

Sun protection
There are dozens of sunscreens on the market all claiming to protect your skin. Personally there is one I would never be without twelve months of the year and that is Ultrasun.

Formulated in Switzerland, it comes in every form and strength you could ever need, and offers the highest protection against the damaging UVA rays. It is important that whichever brand you choose, make sure it has UVA five star rating.

Ultrasun
Ultrasun is perfect for every member of the family, and you only need one application on dry skin, allowing it to absorb for fifteen minutes, before you go outside – it is good for the whole day and not many products can make this claim. I use SPF 30 in the winter and go to SPF 50 in the summer months.

Mumsnet recently gave Ultrasun a 95% approval rating, which is very impressive, as they don’t give out these ratings for fun! Children are so hard to persuade to use sunscreen so to have just one application a day keeps them safe and makes life so much easier for parents.
Ultrasun also comes in a sports spray form that men especially will appreciate, as it does not sit on any hairy areas and absorbs easily.

The lip protection stick is a very handy item to have on you at all times, as not only is it great protection for the lips, but if you are out and about you can dab anywhere. We often neglect the tops of ears, eyelids, tip of the nose and bald spots, so the lip protection stick can be a handy tool to protect these smaller areas.

Fake tan
“Fake it till you make it”, as the saying goes. As I will never get a real tan, I do follow this mantra. Fake tans have come a very long way from the days of the orange look, awful biscuit smell and residue left on your sheets. Now there are several brands that have excellent products, and with just a few applications you can look like you’ve been on holiday!

A favourite of mine is Gatineau golden glow gradual tan. I find that with just two applications I have a gentle golden glow. It doesn’t rub off and stays on after showering, I just need to top up when I want a shade darker. Every one has a different skin type so you need to trial and error and see what works for you.

Enjoy the sun but stay safe.