I love being in the sunshine. I become this lighthearted person when the sun kisses my skin and the air is filled with the scent of salt water, sunscreen and summer heat. But over the years I have learned that sun exposure should be handled with care. Not only because I want to prevent premature aging of the skin. For me, sun protection is about much more than that…
My goal for 2017:
A whole summer without sun allergy!
I am a perfect example for this unfortunate scenario: I love being in the sun, yet my skin is incredibly sensitive to sunlight. I have spent countless summer vacations limited to staying in the shade, covered in clothes instead of a bikini, or even stuck to the room, because of sun allergy. My skin around the neck, shoulder and face area starts itching which, in all honesty, is quite the opposite of a dream vacation! Staying out of the sun provides some relief, but sometimes medication is needed, which makes me even more sensitive to the sun. But who wants to spend their summer vacation inside a hotel room?
I have been experiencing this every summer for the past years. So this year I have decided to do anything in my power have an allergy-free summer!
1. Give your skin time to accustom to the sun
Many of us have experienced this scenario before: It is the first boiling hot day of the year, and you are spontaneously spending a few hours outdoors without any sunscreen. Unaware of the sun’s power, you skin is soon going from wintery-light to bright red and you’ve caught a sunburn. But this is actually hardly a surprise: Your skin has not yet been accustomed to the sun!
To prepare my skin for summer, I try to slowly increase the sun exposure. I might drink my morning on the balcony or spend a few minutes of my lunch break outside, steadily increasing these intervals spent out in the sun. This way I make sure that those hot summer days will not be as harsh on my skin and cause a state of shock. Fortunately I spent a part of the winter months in hot and sunny south east asia, which makes me believe that my skin has not really been hibernating. Let’s hope this helps!
2. Protecting your skin from within
Beauty comes from within! This is why a big part of my strategy is preparing my skin through the intake of the right nutrients. I like to make sure I consume foods that are high in antioxidants, which help protect the cells from free radicals which are caused by UV exposure. My favorite is Matcha: It is packed with antioxidants! But of course goji berries, blueberries and all sorts of greens are an important part of my diet as well.
In addition to the food I eat, I make sure to prepare my skin for the summer time by taking these Sun Sensitivity Capsules by Innéov.
3. Using the right sunscreen
My visits to the dermatologists have taught me an interesting thing: Sun allergies are often caused by using the wrong sunscreens: They are caused by emulsifying agents and lipids, which can clog up the pores. If you are prone to sun allergy, or if you just want to be on the safe side, the Daylong Sensitive products are for you. As the name suggests, the range is designed to protect sensitive skin. It sinks in very quickly and does not leave your skin feeling sticky or heavy. My favorite product from the range is the Daylong Gel-Fluid SPF 30: It feels just as light as a serum, and it sinks in within a matter of seconds, which makes it prefect as a base for your summer makeup. I love using it on an everyday basis, when I do use makeup, but I still might end up spending some time in the sun. But for a full day at the beach I use the Daylong Sensitive Face Gel-Creme SPF 50+. For all my readers with sensitive skin: I am giving away some of my favorite products of the range on my Instagram using the hashtag #KeineSonnenallergie2017 <3
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With all these steps, I feel safe and pretty confident towards my summer adventures. I will definitely keep you updated about my skin this summer, and I would love to hear your experiences as well.
What are you doing to prepare yourself for the summer?
Have you ever had sun allergy?
