How to prepare your skin naturally for the sun?
Whether it’s in anticipation of the hot season, or a trip to the southern beaches, your skin will need to be prepared for regular exposure to the hot rays of the sun. Although its light improves our mood and provides us with vitamin D, the sun can cause damage to our skin and even cause cancer. Which does not mean that we have to hide from it at all costs!
10 Tips therefore offers you some tips to properly prepare your skin for the sun and allow it to tan intelligently.
1. Eat well to tan well
For healthy skin, it all starts with a good diet. Remember to add foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, but also in beta-carotene and selenium.
- Vitamins A, C and E prevent aging of the skin, aid healing and aid in cell renewal.
- For its part, beta-carotene attacks free radicals and stimulates the immune system.
- Selenium, meanwhile, helps prevent sunburn and slows down skin aging.
Citrus fruits, carrots, sweet potato tomatoes should therefore be part of your menu, not to mention nuts, green vegetables, cheeses and eggs. All good foods to help prepare your skin naturally before exposing yourself to the sun.
2. Hydrate to prepare your skin for the sun
To help the renewal of skin cells and give it a healthy appearance, it is important to stay well hydrated. Make a habit of always having a bottle of water on hand, and reduce your consumption of coffee and alcohol on hot summer days.
To naturally flavor your water, add slices of fresh lemon or cucumber. A very nice little trick to naturally moisturize your skin before going out in the sun.
3. Exfoliate your skin to prepare it for the sun
In order to eliminate the dead cells that dull your complexion, and to help it tan evenly, remember to exfoliate your skin regularly. Facial skin should be exfoliated once a week, while the rest of the body should be exfoliated twice a week.
For your face, use the most natural product possible and adapted to your skin type. The body can be exfoliated using either a product specifically designed for this purpose, or using a horsehair glove.
4. Cleanse and hydrate your skin to prepare it for the sun
Clean skin naturally looks healthier and will tan more evenly. In addition, skin cleared of dirt and greasy residue will better absorb moisturizers.
Hydrated skin will tan better and be more resistant to UV rays. Apply a moisturizing cream or lotion twice a day, especially after exfoliation and sun exposure.
5. Prepare your skin naturally with omega-3s
Omega-3s have a protective effect on the skin’s collagen, protecting it from the effects of the sun’s rays, while preventing the appearance of wrinkles. Oily fish, including salmon and sardines, are naturally rich in omega-3s, and should be part of your diet every week.
But to really take advantage of their effects, it is possible to get them in capsules. It is recommended to take one capsule once a day, a few weeks before sun exposure, and to continue until the end of the period.
6. Prepare your skin naturally with urucum
Urucum, or annatto, is a seed with antioxidant properties and which contains a hundred times more beta-carotene than carrots. It is also very rich in selenium and zinc which act against skin aging and have anti-inflammatory properties.
To use annatto:
- Mix 10 grams of urucum powder with 100 milliliters of apricot oil
- It is then applied to the skin to prepare it for the sun.
This mixture can also be used as an after-sun care to prolong the tan. It can also be consumed orally, before breakfast, by mixing 1 teaspoon in a glass of water.
7. Prepare your skin for the sun with capsules
How about a capsule that promises to help you tan faster and better, harder and for longer? Well, this miracle »medicine » does exist!
Sun capsules mostly contain carotenoids as well as vitamin E and selenium, which help the skin to better tolerate the sun’s rays. In addition, they limit the spread of free radicals during exposure to the sun. Treatment to begin at least two weeks before exposure to the sun, it is strongly advised to continue throughout the exposure period.
Because its components may not be suitable for everyone, including smokers and pregnant women, it is important to consult your doctor before starting treatment.
8. Expose your skin gradually to the sun
It can be tempting after a long winter to stretch out all day in the sun, whether at the beach or by the pool. But you guarantee yourself a nasty sunburn!
Indeed, it is preferable to gradually expose yourself to the sun by multiplying short exposures. Also, avoid exposing yourself to the sun during the hours when the sun is at its strongest. And of course, don’t forget the sunscreen!
9. What about self-tanners?
Self-tanning creams are formulated to give you a light tan and a healthy complexion, without exposure to the sun’s rays. However, they do not prep your skin for sun exposure, and offer no UV protection.
But for those who want to get a little head start on summer, self-tanners are an interesting option.
10. Is the tanning bed a good idea?
Many rush to tanning salons thinking that this will prepare their skin for exposure to the natural sun. But you should know that artificial tanning does not prepare the skin for tanning and does not prevent sunburn.
Even after several sessions, your skin will only have protection of 2 or 3, which is clearly insufficient. Not to mention that the use of tanning beds can increase the risk of ending up with skin cancer, including melanoma.