What To Do Before, During and After a Stay in the Sun?

Preparing your skin well will help you take advantage of all the opportunities to get an even and long-lasting tan. Here are some simple steps you can take to prepare it for the sun.

• Hydrate your skin

  When skin is dehydrated, meaning its hydrolipidic film is weakened, its protection from the sun's UV rays is diminished. The hydrolipid film normally acts like a protective barrier on the surface of the skin. To prevent the skin from taking on a sun-reddened color instead of a beautiful brown glow, choose a moisturizer and apply it daily, morning and night. Enriched with hygroscopic and film-forming active ingredients, this care has a protective effect and helps strengthen the hydrolipidic film.

  What are the essentials? To provide your skin with the necessary portion of moisture, our face cream with 9 ingredients and our moisturizing body cream with 10 ingredients can be the perfect care. With their lightweight, non-greasy texture and minimalist formula, they help keep your skin hydrated and nourished.

• Use an exfoliating scrub

  To remove dead skin cells that accumulate on the skin's surface and dull your complexion, a gentle exfoliation is recommended. It also ensures smooth, even skin that is ready to tan evenly. This is something you should do three days before you go out in the sun. It will make your skin more even, which will make it easier to tan evenly later. 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 essentials? Our nourishing body scrub is 100% natural in origin and gently removes accumulated dead skin cells. Thanks to the sweet almond oil it contains (INCI: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil), the epidermis is also nourished, supple and soft. Although it is suitable for all skin types, it is especially suitable for dry and uncomfortable skin. For the face, our Exfoliating Gel Mask, which consists of an exfoliating complex (4 AHA + 1 PHA), works to unify the complexion, refine skin texture and remove dead skin cells.

• Consume foods that promote tanning

  Favor foods that contain beta-carotene, such as carrots, pumpkins, mangos, and peaches. This compound, a precursor of vitamin A, helps you get a better tan by stimulating melanin production and providing better protection from the sun. In fact, as an antioxidant, it reduces the damage caused by free radicals.

  Do not hesitate to also rely on copper, which is mainly found in almonds and walnuts. This trace element is a co-factor of tyrosinase, the key enzyme in melanogenesis. For a glowing, tanned complexion, it is also recommended to supplement with tyrosine, a precursor of melanin, to optimize tanning.

  In addition to conventional foods, these various nutrients are also found in dietary supplements. Incidentally, these have the advantage of having a higher concentration of ingredients than natural foods, which often increases their effectiveness.

• Use a tan-enhancing skin care product

  Tanning enhancers are usually applied two weeks before sun exposure to prepare for melanin synthesis. These products usually contain beta-carotene or peptides to stimulate melanogenesis. Most tanning enhancers also contain antioxidant molecules such as vitamin E or polyphenols to protect the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals produced by UV radiation.

• Protect yourself with a broad spectrum sunscreen

  Applying sunscreen creates a protective shield against UV rays responsible for accelerated skin aging (dryness, loss of elasticity, wrinkling and brown spots, loss of radiance...), sunburn and skin cancer. Contrary to popular belief, sun care is not a barrier to tanning. On the contrary, the skin cannot have a beautiful, long-lasting tan if it is not protected. Moreover, when applying your sunscreen, you should not hesitate to apply a thick layer. Too little amount of the cream would not provide the maximum protection that it can provide according to the SPF indicated.

  The SPF can also serve you as an indicator when choosing your sunscreen. For example, if you plan to be in the mountains or at the beach, where the sun's UV rays are most intense due to altitude and reflection from sand or snow, we recommend using an SPF of 50 or higher. Some sunscreens are also based on skin type. For example, today there are matting sunscreens for oily skin and moisturizing sunscreens that are more suitable for dry skin.

  Finally, applying sunscreen is essential for everyone, including darker skin types. It is often assumed that people with darker skin tones are not affected by UV rays. Even though they naturally have better protection from the sun, they may as well get sunburn or other serious skin conditions.

  What helps? Typology offers a full range of sunscreens for body and face, from SPF 30 to 50. These creams prevent photoaging and preserve skin moisture thanks to a combination of mineral and organic filters that provide broad-spectrum protection from UVA/UVB rays.

As a reminder, UVA rays from the sun reach the dermis and are responsible for photoaging the skin. UVB rays enter less deeply, but can cause sunburn.

• Expose yourself to the sun gradually and avoid the hours when the sun's UV rays are most intense, which is between 12pm and 4pm.

• Repeat your sun care application every two hours, after each swim or when you sweat heavily.

• It is good to know that clouds, umbrellas, and windows let through about 80% of UV rays. Therefore, don't forget to use your sunscreen even if the sky is clouded.

• Protect yourself with covering clothing, a hat and sunglasses, even after you've applied your sunscreen.

• Drink water regularly to avoid sun-induced dehydration of the skin. This also reduces the risk of headaches and sunstroke, which can occur if you stay in the sun for a long time.