How To Prepare Your Skin for Tanning and the Sun

Applying a sunscreen creates a protective shield against UV rays. This way, it prevents UVA and UVB rays from entering the skin and causing damage. They are responsible for the excessive production of free radicals in the skin cells. These are unstable compounds that attack not only DNA, but also cell membranes and certain proteins.

They can cause genetic mutations, lead to accelerated skin aging (thickening of the epidermis, dry skin, loss of elasticity, appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and brown spots, loss of radiance...), cause sunburn and skin cancer.

To complement the protection provided by the sunscreen, you can include in your routine an antioxidant care, such as vitamin C, ferulic acid or resveratrol. These compounds allow free radicals to neutralize by emitting electrons to stabilize them and make them less reactive.

Recommendations?

• Our serum with vitamin C (INCI: Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate) restores radiance to dull skin and prevents photoaging of the skin. It is applied in the morning and evening to the previously cleansed and dried face, before moisturizer and sunscreen.

• We have also developed a whole range of sun care products (SPF 30 and SPF 50) for the body and face. They effectively protect against UVA and UVB rays thanks to a combination of organic and mineral filters. In the sun creams for the face you will also find karanja oil (INCI: Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil), a plant oil with antioxidant properties.

Dry skin is more susceptible to the sun's UV rays. This is because the drier the epidermis, the more porous it is. In other words: When the hydrolipidic film on its surface is absent or weakened, the skin is therefore more vulnerable to sunburn. For this reason, it is important to moisturize your skin daily, morning and night, and use skin care products that are appropriate for your skin type.

What do you recommend?

For example, use our moisturizing serum with 3% hyaluronic acid (INCI: Sodium Hyaluronate). This product contains two types of hyaluronic acid: one with high molecular weight and one with low molecular weight. While the former remains on the surface of the epidermis, where it forms a protective film that prevents the water in the skin from evaporating, the latter enters deeper into the epidermis in the form of smaller molecules to enhance and stimulate the production of the body's own hyaluronic acid. Its action not only hydrates the skin immediately, but also keeps it moisturized for a longer period of time.

Afterwards, apply a moisturizer to seal in moisture and protect the skin from external aggressors. Our light, non-oily 9-ingredient facial moisturizer and 10-ingredient hydrating body cream moisturize and nourish the skin with their minimalist formulas.

To remove dead skin cells that accumulate on the skin's surface and make your complexion appear dull, a gentle exfoliation is recommended. You should perform this measure three days before your sun exposure. This will make your skin more even, which will facilitate an even tan later on. However, it is not recommended to exfoliate the skin the day before sunbathing, as this can weaken the skin and promote sunburn.

What are the recommendations?

• Our exfoliating mask, with an exfoliating complex of four AHAs and one PHA, removes dead skin cells to unclog pores and refine skin texture. It leaves an even complexion and smoothed skin texture. In the long term, it helps reduce the appearance of blackheads. This mask should only be used in the evening, as it contains AHAs that are potentially photosensitizing. The next morning, it is important to apply a sunscreen.

• Our nourishing body scrub contains sweet almond oil (INCI name: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil) with nourishing properties and lavandin essential oil (INCI name: Lavandula Hybrida Herb Oil) known for its regenerating and wound healing properties. The body scrub frees the skin from dead skin cells thanks to the micrograins of apricot kernels. The exfoliated and nourished skin is soft, supple, and pleasant to touch.

Preparing the skin for a tan also takes place on the plate. To fight free radicals, foods rich in antioxidants such as vitamins E and C are recommended. These include radishes, grapes, apples and blackberries. Antioxidants are true allies when it comes to protecting the skin from sun exposure to reduce sunburn, brown spots and photoaging.

They also include foods rich in beta-carotene. This nutrient is converted into retinol (the active form of vitamin A) in the intestinal mucosa. Retinol in the blood stimulates the synthesis of melanin, the pigment responsible for tanning. Foods that are particularly rich in beta-carotene and that you should favor to prepare your skin for tanning are carrots, tomatoes, melons, apricots, peaches, mangoes, broccoli and spinach.

Also go for foods that contain copper, such as lentils, almonds and walnuts. Copper is an ally when it comes to tanning, as it is a cofactor of the enzyme tyrosinase, which is involved in melanin synthesis. If you look at the mechanism, tyrosinase is responsible for activating the amino acid tyrosine into melanin. By the way, for a tanned and radiant complexion, the intake of tyrosine is also recommended. It is mainly found in dairy products.

Note: To prepare the body for the tan, you can also use nutritional supplements. Like the foods mentioned above, these are usually rich in antioxidants or beta-carotene. Supplements often have the advantage of having a higher concentration of nutrients than natural foods, which may increases their effectiveness.