Sunblock

Skin protection against
the effects of the sun
The summer sun is here, warm and caressing. Its rays give you a nice tan, brighten up your spirit and chasses bad moods. However, as for all good things, moderation is essential, as sunshine has not only beneficial effects. In fact, UV rays damage the skin. Keywords are: protecting, moisturising and refreshing. These few tips will allow you to enjoy a “skin safe” summer.

Protecting
It is crucial to protect your skin with sunscreen products presenting a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) that will protect you from UVB and UVA rays, which are responsible for premature aging of the skin and skin cancers that are more and more frequent.

There are two types of sunscreens:

Mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) stay on the surface of the skin and act as reflectors. They contain opaque ingredients reflecting the light, which makes them more durable when swimming. As they don’t penetrate the skin (or very little), these sunscreens rarely cause allergic reactions and are recommended to people with very sensitive skin.

Chemical sunscreens (oxybenzone) penetrate skin and absorb UVAs and UVBs. They are effective in protecting the skin against the sun, but application must be repeated every two hours so protection remains adequate.

There are also daytime creams and foundations that offer a useful 15 or 20 SPF. As a matter of fact, it is suggested that the best anti-wrinkle product on the market is a sunscreen!

For effective protection, don’t forget to apply sun cream or lotion 30 minutes before sun exposure. And, more than anything else, avoid long expositions!

Did you know that...
A 15 SPF filters 93 % of UVBs
A 20 SFP filters 95 % of UVBs
A 30 SPF filters 97 % of UVBs
A 50 SPF filters 98 % of UVBs

The huge variety of sun protection products available on the market can scare you. Ask for your cosmetician’s advice. She will help you in selecting the right product for you.

Moisturizing
A long exposure to the sun dries out and irritates your skin. We suggest a moisturizing treatment using moisturising masks and thermal water.

Spray thermal water on you face to calm the burning sensation. Pat dry with a tissue. Avoid letting it dry in the open air as it will provoke an OSMOSIS phenomenon : when water dries out on the surface of the skin, it absorbs the water naturally present in it. To counteract this reaction, you must pat skin dry or immediately apply a moisturizing cream, which will double the moisturizing effect of your skin treatment.

Refreshing
Masks provide a lot of moisture and freshness to the skin. They are truly beneficial to your facial skin health.

After sun exposure, spray thermal water on your face to calm the burning sensation, then apply the facial mask. You may repeat this treatment every day for a week, after which you will apply a mask once or twice a week only.

Self-tanning products
Before applying a self-tanning product, exfoliate face and body carefully. It will remove all dead cells and allow for a better absorbancy of the product. Then, you will obtain a more uniform result and more durable tanning effect. The self-tanning product never acts as a sunscreen, unless it mention a specific SPF.

Today, self-tanning products are offered with various SPF and in instant or gradual tanning formulas. Read the description of the purchased product, better yet, ask your cosmetician for advice.

After application, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, using and hand brush, or, preferably with and granulated exfoliating scrub, if not, the palm of your hands will get darker. The sun-kissed effect of your skin will last according to the product used and your hygiene ritual.