Remember this post? Well, pool/beach season is officially opened and summer is in full throttle. Me and M have been hitting the pool whenever we can and, as I said before, taking care of your skin is one of the most important things, but there are other rules to follow besides putting on sunscreen. That’s the first thing you need to do before you even leave the house but what happens when you get to the sun? Back home we have a few rules/rituals we follow and try to stick to it as much as possible. Here are my five rules when standing in the sun:
Always apply sunscreen every two hours.
I do it before I leave my house, when I get to the beach and after every dip in the water. Whether it’s been one or two hours, I wait for my skin to dry and instantly apply another layer of sunscreen.
Always have a shadow.
When we go to the beach we always bring a big umbrella to stand while we put on the sunscreen, if we decide to take a nap, eat, play cards or have been in the sun for too long. It’s also good for keeping your water cooled down and your head out of the sun.
Limit the number of hours you expose yourself to the sun.
Gone are the days when I used to go to the beach for an entire day. I remember getting there at 9am and being there until 9pm! Nowadays I can do that maybe two or three times in an entire summer. Always limit the time you expose your skin to the sun, it’s great to have a tan but get it gradually.
Don’t stand in the sun from 12 to 3pm.
This goes without saying and comes inline with the previous rule, 12 to 3pm are the worst possible hours to be in the sun. I’ve been there and done that, but don’t anymore and, if by any chance I do it, I always stand under the shadow. Those hours are the worst in terms of sun strength and can cause the most damage.
Numbers matter.
Getting a 15 SPF is not the same as getting a 40 SPF. By the end of summer I lower down the number but in the beginning keep it above 40 to avoid sun burns or dark spots. When your skin is used to the sun it gets stronger and handles it better, hence needing a smaller spectrum. Honestly, it’s not worth gambling with the sun and I’ve had my share of sun burns, it takes little to no time to apply sunscreen and you’re not only protecting but also hydrating your skin.
