We love summer, and we can hazard a guess that you love it too.

Yet, summer is a season when we have to be very mindful about our skin. The sun feels great and it’s fun to get outdoors for all those awesome summer activities. But, the sun can be really damaging to your skin.

In fact, your skin can start to take damage from exposure to the sun in just 12 minutes.

So, it is vital that you remain sun savvy and protect your skin throughout the year. AND, skin protection is even more important during the summer months.

Let’s explore how you can stay sun savvy and protect your skin this summer.

How The Sun Can Damage Your Skin

We love a good NZ summer. It’s hot, it’s sunny (most of the time) and it is characterised by getting outdoors to beaches, parks and campgrounds. But, we have to be very mindful of the power the sun has.

In New Zealand, the sun can cause damage to your skin due to our high UV levels. If you are out in the sun without protection, UV radiation can penetrate the top layer of your skin and can damage the DNA in your skin cells. The damage triggers an inflammatory response, causing the skin to become red, swollen and painful. We know this as sunburn - a visible sign of sun damage.

Not only does the UV radiation from the sun cause sunburn, but it can also trigger premature aging, and increase the risk of skin cancer.

The Basics Of Sun Protection

To protect your skin from the sun, it is recommended to:

• Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, and wide-brimmed hats
• Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
• Limit your exposure to the sun, especially during peak UV hours (10 AM to 4 PM)
• Seek shade whenever possible

By taking these precautions, you can reduce the risk of sun damage to your skin.

Use Good Skincare To Protect Your Skin

Another thing you can do to counteract the damaging rays of the sun and protect your skin is to use good quality skincare products. Of course, skincare alone will not protect you, it is not a replacement for wearing protective clothing and using sunscreen. But, it is an additional measure you can use to give your skin even more protection.

Using products with ingredients like antioxidants, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E can help protect your skin from sun damage. These ingredients can help neutralise the damaging effects of UV radiation and protect your skin from oxidative stress.

Our Summer Bundle is the perfect solution. With three hydrating antioxidant products packed full of nutrients like Vitamin C, you’ll be summer sun ready. You can shop for our Summer Bundle here.

Rejuvenate Your Skin After Being In The Sun

If you have been out in the sun for the day, aftercare is an important step to reduce the risk of future skin damage and premature ageing. Using certain skincare products can help rejuvenate your skin after sun exposure.

As you know, sun exposure can cause damage to the skin, leading to signs of aging, dryness, and redness. To help restore and rejuvenate the skin, you should use products that contain hydrating ingredients, such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera. Additionally, products with calming ingredients like chamomile and green tea extract can help soothe burned skin and reduce redness.

It's important to use products that are gentle and non-irritating, especially if you have experienced sunburn. Again, our Summer Bundle is a great solution. Each of the 3 products are designed to rejuvenate and hydrate your skin no matter what the day might have brought to your epidermis!

A wee caution though. While skincare products can help rejuvenate your skin after sun exposure, they cannot completely reverse the damage caused by the sun. Therefore, it's crucial to protect your skin from the sun in the first place by using the protection measures we’ve already mentioned.

Form Good Summer Skincare Habits

Summer sun protection is all about being proactive. A big part of that is forming good summer habits. That means keeping a hat near the front door or in your car, to grab when you are going to be outside. Apply sunblock as part of your morning routine, and always have a bottle on hand so you can reapply at key times.

Take care of your skin by cleansing and moisturising daily. Cleansing will remove the dirt and oil of the day (including residual sunscreen) and moisturising will rehydrate your skin’s moisture barrier. Both of these steps can help to reverse the damage caused by the sun throughout the day.

Looking for the perfect products to help protect and rejuvenate your skin? Then we’ve got you covered with our summer specific bundle. Check it out here.