Protecting your skin in the sun

Protecting your skin from the sun's rays is essential in order to prevent wrinkles, dark spots and sun damage. It's recommended to use at least SPF 15, drink plenty of water, and stay out of the sun from 11am-3pm, when the sun is at its highest.

It's important to protect your face from the sun on both cloudy and sunny days. Even when the weather is overcast, rays from the sun can still damage the skin. On a daily basis, opt for a day cream with built-in SPF, and upgrade to a fluid sunscreen or gel sunscreen for the summer months.

For the body, it's recommended to choose a waterproof formula when at the beach or pool. Opting for a cooling gel or cream formula will help refresh the skin in the summer heat. Remember to reapply your sunscreen every two hours for maximum protection. Last but not least, remember to apply after sun care following exposure to the sun's rays to minimize skin damage.

Sunscreens exist in several different textures. The most common for the face include gel, cream, stick and spray formats, as well as tinted moisturizers enriched with SPF. Sun care for the body is often in a gel or cream format. Make sure to choose a formula that's water resistant for protection that stays put at the beach or at the pool. For any questions about how to choose your sunscreen, visit your nearest Clarins boutique.

Contrary to popular belief, a sunscreen's SPF (sun protection factor) doesn't indicate how long your skin will be protected for. Instead, the SPF indicates the level of protection from the sun's UVB rays. When choosing an SPF, the higher the number, the less exposed your skin will be to UVB rays. Whatever SPF you choose, remember to apply sunscreen every two hours for maximum protection, and opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen to be protected from both UVA and UVB rays.

Experts recommend reapplying sun protection every two hours to ensure continued protection. If you're at the beach or the pool, reapply every time you come out of the water, unless your sunscreen is a waterproof formula.

The SPF indicated on traditional sunscreen protects skin from UVB rays only. Unlike classic sun protection, broad protection sunscreen protects from both UVA and UVB rays.

The sun emits two types of rays that can damage skin: UVA rays and UVB rays. UVB rays make up just 5% of the sun's rays penetrating the surface of the skin. UVA rays make up 95% of the sun's rays, penetrating deeper than UVB rays. UVA rays are responsible for tanning and long-term, sun spots and wrinkles, combining with UVB rays to damage cells, ultimately increasing the risk of skin cancer.

Once opened, your sunscreen should be safe to use for 12 to 18 months. Check the expiry date on your bottle of sunscreen before using to make sure its ingredients are still active. Store your sunscreen in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight, ensuring that the lid is firmly closed.

For a flawless tan, begin by exfoliating with a body scrub to remove dead skin cells for an even surface. When applying self tanner, use long, even strokes, paying particular attention to joints such as the elbows and the knees. Avoid applying perfume or body lotion just before application - and remember to blend!