Can I use last years sun cream?

Most sunscreens are formulated to keep their original strength for two to three years, if stored at room temperature. That means that you can normally use leftover sunscreen from one year to the next.

If however they have been exposed to higher temperature (which naturally often happens on sunny holidays!), they might expire quicker.

Also, you never know how long they have been standing on that drugstore shelf, so personally I tend to use ‘fresh’ ones each holiday.

Also keep in mind, that you should use sunscreen generously and frequently, so a bottle of sunscreen shouldn’t last longer than one holiday anyway. If it does, chances are you are not using it correctly. Remember – you should apply an entire shot glass of sunscreen to cover your body and repeat regularly!

You always discard products that show obvious changes in colour, smell or consistency.

Love and Hugs

Emalene xx

H20 the Elixir of youth

How much water do you drink each day? That is question on everyone’s lips.

If you are not drinking at least eight full glasses a day, you are not drinking enough, and that can be a major problem.

Staying properly hydrated is necessary for your overall health. Not only does water play an important role in your digestion and circulation, but it is also vital for your skin’s health and beauty.

Water helps you from the inside out!

For your skin’s sake, it is one of the easiest and best beauty treatments you can do. No, you might not be able to get rid of all your favourite beauty products just because you are drinking more water, but it will help.

Remember your skin is an organ. In fact, it is the largest organ in your body, and it is mostly made up of water. Without water, your skin cannot function at its best. If your skin does not get enough water, not only will it become dry, tight, and flaky, but it will also become even more prone to ageing.

The truth is that your body loses large quantities of water every day, so if you do not replace it by drinking more water, your skin will suffer the consequences. It is easy to see the visible difference that hydration can make for your skin.

So Why does drinking more water not improve dry skin?

I get asked this question in clinic a lot. “I drink lots of water, but my skin is dry – how can that be?”

Drinking lots of water will improve skin hydration and gets rid of dry skin, but the main problem with dry skin is not that you don’t drink enough water, but that you lose too much water via invisible evaporation from the skin. Think of it like trying to fill a bucket of water that has a huge hole at the bottom. You need to fix the leak first!

Supporting our skin’s barrier function will reduce excessive water loss. Good skincare is a very important first step. This decreases further water evaporation from the skin by forming a thin film on top of your skin. Certain types of water holding ingredients such as hyaluronic acid will also hold water in the skin. Certain supplements, for example collagen drinks and fish-oil can also help.

Be aware that what feels like “dry skin” is not always dry skin. Rosacea for example is a very common skin condition, your skin feel dry and tight, but this is not because of dryness. It is important to diagnose the skin properly, rather than ‘numbing’ the dry skin feeling by smothering your skin with too heavy skincare.

Our Virtual online therapist will be able to tell you more. You can book in for a consultation online via our booking platform.

Hugs and kisses. Bye for now.

Emalene x

SPF GET SCHOOLED

Temperature does not dictate the amount of UV emitted from the sun. This means that on a sunny winters day you can still get sunburned.

UV radiation is the part of the electromagnetic (light) spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. There are 3 classifications of UV light. UVA, UVB, UVC.

The short rays UVC are absorbed by the ozone layer and do not reach earth, however UVA and UVB rays penetrate the atmosphere and play an important role in premature ageing, uneven pigmentation, and skin cancers.

UVA is the longest of the three rays at 320-400nm. These rays can penetrate through clouds, windows and into the dermis, prolonged exposure shrinks collagen and elastin fibres and causes fine lines wrinkles and loss of elasticity.

UVB rays range from 290-320nm their intensity varies depending on location, stimulate melanin and can result in freckles, mottled and uneven complexion as well as redness and sunburn. Generally, this is what you protect yourself from when you are on holiday.

In addition to accelerating the ageing process, all UV exposure can suppress the skin immune system and increase the risk of skin cancer, so it’s imperative that your daily skincare regimen includes a broad-spectrum sunscreen to block damage from both UVA and UVB rays as well as potent antioxidants to protect against free radical damage.

So here is the question are you protecting your skin daily and what do you get from your skin care?

I would be interested to find out!

Hugs and Kisses.

Emalene xx