How to protect your skin this summer – top tips

Summer has finally arrived – and we are all walking on sunshine, loving the hot weather and spending as much time as possible out in the fresh air.

And what could be better?

Summer lifts our hearts, makes the soul sing and reminds us that life is for having fun with our loved ones, friends and family.

But in all the excitement to make the most of the good weather – whether we are involved in modelling or not – many of us forget just how important it is to look after ourselves in the sun.

And in doing so, we don’t always protect our skin properly.

The sun can have a devastating effect on the skin, so here are our top health and beauty model tips to looking after it properly.

1. Wake up and protect

During the summer months, include sun protection in your daily skincare and beauty routine. Apply it first thing in the morning when you do your make up and then make sure you reapply it again several times throughout the day if you are spending significant time in the sun.

2. Choose the right skin protection product

Always use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. It can be tempting to use a make-up product with an SPF in it, but these are rarely strong enough to offer a high enough level of protection. In summer, you need proper sun protection as well.

3. Don’t trust “apply once” products

Be very wary of sun protection products that tell you they only need to be applied once. Most of these need to be applied very generously and evenly. Clothing and perspiration can cause the lotion to rub off and swimming may well also reduce the protection it offers, even if it claims to be waterproof. Always reapply protection products regularly to ensure you stay safe.

4. Wear the right clothing

Don’t rely entirely on the protection of your lotion. Really you should also be covering up well in the heat. Wear a brimmed hat that protects the skin on your face and neck, plus a light, long-sleeved shirt and a light skirt or pair of trousers to cover your legs.

5. Don’t forget the smaller parts of the body

Many of us forget to apply a protective balm to our lips and to reapply protective creams and lotions to our hands and feet. Eating, drinking, regular hand washing, and the rubbing of sandals means these parts of the body are often under protected.

6. Keep out of the sun

Too much sun is not good for you, even if you are covered up and wearing a protective productive product. Ideally, you should stay in the shade as much as possible. When the weather is warm, there is nothing nicer than relaxing with a cold drink, in the cool shade, and remaining out of the sun’s damaging glare.

7. Moisturise more often

In the heat of summer, feed and hydrate your skin much more frequently than usual. Choose the right product for your skin type and make sure you use it at least twice a day.