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Summer may bring dreams of sun, sand and surf, but it's a particularly harmful time for your skin. Avoid damage with these three skincare and sun safety tips (and a little help from ManukaRx).
Soothe Skin: Sunscreen and SPF
Your first defence against harmful UV radiation is sunscreen - the higher the SPF, the better. Sunscreen absorbs UV rays, protecting skin from sunburn and sun damage. There are two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB. The SPF factor of the sunscreen (SPF30, SPF50 etc.) indicates how long it will take for your skin to be affected (redden/burn) due to the UV rays, compared to if you weren't wearing sunscreen. So SPF50 sunscreen means your skin will take 50 times longer to burn than if you weren't wearing sunscreen.
Something else to consider when choosing a sunscreen is the environmental impact. Estimates show that 14,000 tons of sunscreen wash into the ocean every year. Sunscreen has traditionally contained a harmful chemical called oxybenzone, which absorbs UVB and UVA rays. Many brands have begun to phase this out.
Read the packaging carefully, and avoid aerosols - most of the sunscreen ends up on the surrounding area, rather than on your body.
Soothe Skin: Cover Up
One of the easiest ways to avoid sun damage is to cover up. More clothing brands are creating pieces with built-in UV protection, but any form of coverage is better than nothing. Don a hat, sunglasses and long sleeves when not cooling off in the water, and watch out for that sneaky sun - walks, lunch in the sun and even driving can still put you at risk of sun damage.
Soothe Skin: After Sun Care
Did you jump in the shower and feel the tell-tale sting of sunburn? Even the most vigilant sunscreen appliers can miss a spot or two. Don't worry - there are a few products that will help your skin to recover. The first is as natural as it comes: aloe vera. The lucky may be able to break a piece straight off the plant, but aloe vera gels will also help to ease sunburn and cool down your skin.
Sunburn dries out the skin, so slathering ultra-hydrating creams, gels and oils on will help it to recover and avoid peeling. ManukaRx has created a dry skin oil that blends jojoba oil with mānuka oil to soothe sore skin and hydrate. Our anti-blemish moisturiser contains Mānuka Oil, a potent essential oil often compared to Australian Tea Tree oil.
Mānuka oil's antibacterial properties are actually 20-30 times more powerful than its Australian counterpart, making it a helpful tool in skin repair. Jojoba oil contains vitamins A, D and E, which are known as skin healing vitamins. This powerful essential oil is easily absorbed and can trick skin to produce less sebum whilst helping to relieve dryness. It's also super hydrating, and penetrates deep into the skin without being greasy.
Apply our Face Oil for Dry Skin directly on to sore, pink skin, or pop a few drops into your regular moisturiser for a double-dose of hydration.
