How to protect your skin against the summer sun

When summer arrives, some of us like to go sunbathe for hours on end. But while it gives us energy, the sun is also a great enemy of our skin. So how do you perfect your tan while protecting your skin?

The sun's UV rays accelerate skin aging and can cause sunburn, allergies, and even skin cancer in extreme cases. UV rays can also weaken our immune system. In short, even if we love the sun, it doesn't always love us back!

Before going out in the sun, it is important to properly prepare your skin for possible sun overexposure. This will avoid damaging your skin too much and allow your tan to last longer.

There is no magic recipe for a perfect tan, or for avoiding sunburn. Especially if you have very pale skin. However, in the following slides are some tips that will help your skin stay beautiful and healthy all summer long.

Nowadays, there are food supplements for just about everything - and that's a good thing! Whether it's for growing hair, strengthening nails, or getting a tan, these little capsules make our lives more beautiful. But what exactly are we talking about?

There are food supplements to prepare the skin before the summer. The ingredients in these capsules, available in pharmacies, stimulate the production of melanin in the body, which is responsible for tanning. They also boost our body so that it can better defend itself against UV rays, thus protecting us from sunburn.

Image: Nastya Dulhiier / Unsplash

It's necessary to start taking food supplements at least two weeks before the first exposure to the sun. Then, it's best to continue taking one capsule a day throughout the summer for optimal effects.

But be careful, food supplements are not a substitute for sun protection!

Photo: Food supplement Oenobiol

Vitamins A, C, and E are recommended to properly prepare your skin for the sun. Stock up on fruits and vegetables on your plates and promote a balanced diet to heal your skin from the inside. A carrot juice cure will give you a healthy glow and a lightly tanned complexion!

Before you start exposing yourself to the sun, remember to exfoliate your skin deeply. You will thus eliminate the dead cells and will have a brand new and very soft skin. Exfoliating will also help you keep your tan longer afterwards.

It is important to moisturize your skin throughout the year, but especially before and during the summer. Indeed, the drier the epidermis, the more sensitive the skin becomes and therefore the more likely it is to suffer from the sun's rays. Moisturizing your skin will also make your tan last longer. Apply moisturizer morning and evening to your body and face.

Don't forget to moisturize your skin from the inside too! According to nutritionist Laurence Plumey, author of 'Sugar, Fat, and Salt: What our Food Really Contains,' you should drink on average between 1.5 and 2 liters (about half a gallon) of water per day.

A sunscreen, gel, or sun oil is an essential product to protect your skin from the ultraviolet rays (UVB and UVA) of the sun. It is your best daily ally during the summer and will prevent you from having skin problems. When choosing your sunscreen, look to trusted brands, known for the quality of their products.

The higher the SPF of a sunscreen, the more effective it is and the longer it lasts. You can choose the protection index according to your skin type. For example, the lighter and more sensitive your skin is to the sun, the more likely you are to suffer from sunburn: opt for SPF 50. Your degree of exposure to the sun - for example, if you are going to a very hot country or to the mountains - should also be taken into account when choosing your sunscreen.

Image: Byeonghoon Jeon / Unsplash

For your first days in the sun, always bring cream with a minimum index of 30 or 50. And don't forget to apply your sun cream/oil/gel several times a day if you expose yourself regularly during the day. Keep applying after every swim, too.

Photo: Laroche Posay SPF 50+ sunscreen

Although it smells wonderful, monoi oil, like all tanning oils, is not recommended. It may indeed make you tan faster, but it will not protect you from ultraviolet rays - quite the opposite, in fact! Your skin may end up all red, even blistered, after you apply this type of product and sunbathe.

Another tip to prepare your skin for the summer: expose yourself gradually to the sun. Don't spend three hours on the beach in the sun if it's your first time of the year. Go slowly, first exposing yourself for minutes rather than hours, and avoid the times of the day when the sun is highest in the sky: between midday and 3 pm.