Curly-haired woman lying in the sun sunbathing.

How to prepare your skin before going in the sun?

With the arrival of spring, temperatures rise and the first rays of sunshine appear. After a long winter, wrapped up in ten layers of sweaters, our skin needs special attention to gradually readjust to sun exposure.

In this article, discover our tips for preparing your skin for the sun and thus giving you a luminous, long-lasting and, above all, safe tan!

Why prepare your skin before your first exposure to the sun?

After hibernating all winter, our skin really needs to be prepared for the sun. It's thinner, drier, more sensitive, and therefore much more vulnerable to the first rays. (No, no, it's not just a sunburn!)

Two types of ultraviolet rays are involved:

  • UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis , causing premature aging of the skin (wrinkles, loss of firmness) and promoting pigment spots.

  • UVB rays remain on the surface, but are responsible for sunburn and can damage epidermal cells.

Diagram showing the effects of UVA and UVB on the skin.

This is why preparing your skin for the sun from March is a smart and safe beauty tip that allows you to:

  • Strengthen the skin barrier
  • Promote a more even and longer-lasting tan
  • Limit the risk of brown spots
  • Prevent the signs of skin aging

The key steps to preparing your skin for the sun

Gently cleanse and exfoliate your skin

Exfoliation is an essential step to remove dead skin cells and refine skin texture. This allows for better absorption of skincare products and a more even and lasting tan. For your face, we recommend using a gentle scrub , suited to your skin type, such as our Healthy Glow Carrot Scrub , once or twice a week.

For the body, the grains are generally larger, opt for the Exhilarating Monoi Body Scrub using circular movements once a week.

Intensely moisturize with suitable care

Well-hydrated skin is more resilient skin. The key to preparing your skin for the sun is to choose a moisturizer rich in nourishing agents such as Hyaluronic Acid , Shea Butter or Aloe Vera . Our Aloe Vera Moisturizing Day Cream is ideal for this preparation phase. For the body, we recommend the Shea Butter Moisturizing Body Lotion .

Adopt a diet rich in antioxidants

💡Did you know? Antioxidants are substances that help preserve cells by protecting them from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules capable of damaging cells and their DNA, which can promote premature aging.

Prepare your skin for the sun by eating a diet rich in antioxidants, many foods are rich in them:

- Fruits include grapes, which are rich in resveratrol, apples, which are a source of flavonoids, and pomegranates, which contain ellagitannins and anthocyanins.

- Berries and red fruits (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries) are very rich in antioxidants such as anthocyanins, ellagic acid, quercetin, and resveratrol.
- Vegetables (broccoli, spinach, artichoke, carrots, etc.) which contain many antioxidant substances such as beta-carotene.
- Dried fruits such as prunes, goji berries or cranberries.
- Oilseeds (hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, etc.) with their high vitamin E and polyphenol content.
- Spices with their many anti-inflammatory benefits: turmeric, ginger, cloves, etc.
- Herbs such as thyme or garlic which contain allicin.
- Raw cacao which is rich in polyphenols and an excellent source of zinc, copper, magnesium and potassium.

💡Tip: To avoid sunburn in spring, gradually expose yourself for a maximum of 15 to 20 minutes per day.

Use sunscreen daily

Contrary to popular belief, sunscreen isn't just for the beach ! An SPF30 or SPF50 facial sunscreen is recommended starting in spring, even under overcast skies. It protects the skin and acts as a UV barrier, preventing the appearance of the first spots.

Pre-sun carrot juice recipe rich in beta-carotene

To naturally prepare your skin for the sun, it's important to combine external care with internal well-being. To do this, we're sharing a carrot juice recipe you can enjoy without moderation!

Rich in beta-carotene, carrot juice is a powerful ally for cell regeneration. It helps protect the skin from the effects of the sun , visibly improves its quality, and helps fight acne. It also promotes good hydration, thus providing a luminous complexion. Turmeric reinforces the benefits of carrots : it brightens the complexion, deeply hydrates, fights imperfections, protects against external aggressions, slows down skin aging and acts as a powerful natural anti-inflammatory.

CARROT JUICE BEFORE SUN 🥕​

You will need:

10 carrots, 3 oranges, 1 lemon, a piece of turmeric and a juice extractor.

How to make it?

  • Wash the carrots, then cut them in half.

  • Peel the oranges and lemon, then cut the piece of turmeric.

  • Start juicing by inserting half of the carrots, then add the citrus and turmeric, and finish with the remaining carrots to facilitate the passage of the softer ingredients.

  • Serve chilled… and enjoy!

Now that your skin is ready to face the sun, all you have to do is get your legs out and enjoy summer in peace!

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