Summers in Australia look like glistening salty skin, ripe juicy fruits and bikinis hanging loosely over the porch at dusk. While it’s indeed our favourite time of year, the relentless heat and damaging UVs can make enjoying those wind-free, glassy coastline days a little more challenging. As we dive into our favourite season for sun-soaking and socialising, we’ve partnered with our friends at Mother SPF to share 5 tips we’ll be following for balmy summer days done the safe way.
Tip 1: Don’t just use any SPF. Make sure it’s an Australian Made SPF
Australia has the highest global standards and regulations when it comes to sunscreen. Australia is the only country in the world where SPF is classified as a therapeutic good (a listed medicine) to make sure they are safe, efficacious and of high quality. This is definitely necessary, considering Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.
All MOTHERS formulations are made in Australia and tested to the Australian SPF standard.
Tip 2: Go hard on orange & red foods this summer
Mango, papaya, carrots are rich in beta carotene. Carotenes have been shown to help neutralise free radicals from the sun. Notice that most of these fruits/vegetables are grown in tropical sunny climates... It's not just a coincidence! While snacking on a carrot does not replace wearing SPF and protective clothing, having some extra protection to help boost your skin's innate resistance against UV rays can't hurt right?
Tip 3: Wear actual sunglasses. Not fashion spectacles
Are you wearing sunglasses to match your outfit or to protect your eyes? (hopefully both). Do you know around 5% to 10% of all skin cancers occur in the eyelid (frightening right?)
Choose sunglasses with a lens category of 2, 3 or 4. These sunglasses absorb 95% of UV radiation.
Tip 4: Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate!
Yes we know the importance of drinking lots of water. But what about replacing the minerals your body loses from the combination of heat and outdoor activities on a hot summer's day?
An important component of everyone’s hydration strategy should be to consume fluids with sodium and other electrolytes. An electrolyte solution is more hydrating than pure water alone. We like to simply add some salt to our water to help ensure we don’t deplete our sodium levels while hydrating.
Tip 5: Download a UV Index App.
I love using an UV Index app like SunSmart. With a few clicks, you can find the UV level and sun protection times for the day. Allowing you to master the balancing act of getting enough Vitamin D from the sun, whilst also making sure you don’t get too much sun and increase your risk of skin cancer. I always make sure I have a tube of MOTHER SPF on me and some form of protective clothing. I love the VRG GRL sarongs - lightweight and easy to stuff into my handbag and wrap around me for those days when the UV is high.
In celebration of the silly season, enjoy a FREE sunscreen from our friends at Mother SPF for the first 50 customers that shop at our Gold Coast Pop Up.
