You've never seen a sunburnt Fishbulb have you??? (Skincare in general)

Member Name: Fishbulb

Product:	Skincare in general
Date:	23/07/02 (310 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Happy Skin, Look Good = Feel Good

Disadvantages: No one wants to end up with skin like Clint Eastwood...., ....or a crocodile handbag!

After two full days of sunshine I am amazed at the number of lobster-people that are walking around. So I’ve decided to share with you some facts about tanning, skincare in general and our friend Mr Sun (who does have his hate on, he’s just pulled it too far down and is not shining as much as he could be!)

Here goes.

WINTER

Bit of an odd one to start with, what with it being July, but I want to stress to you, that just because you don’t see as much skin in winter there’s no excuse to not take the same care of it! Ladies (and men, should you choose) it is permissible not to shave your legs for months on end if you promise faithfully not to get them out at any point during the winter months at all EVER) You should look after your skin in the winter months, the rain and wind is just as bad for your face as the sun. And if you look after it during the colder months it will be much less of a burden to ‘get it into shape’ for bearing to all in your swimming cossies in August.

EXFOLIATING

What a scary word! Not just for your face though. Get yourself a good body brush or one of those scary looking things used in the bath – I think they’re called a ‘poof’ or something. They look just like a big sea annenomie (you can pick up both these items in the Body Shop, Superdrug, Boots etc) Now if you are using the body brush, start at your feet and brush over the skin lightly, always brushing upwards (towards your heart) again, do the same on your arms, tummy, and anywhere you can reach, but always brush towards the heart.

This does two things. #1, it exfoliates your skin, removing dead skin and rejuvenating the newer skin underneath. #2 this actually helps your circulation, and for those of you with ‘cottage cheese’ thighs (I know who you are, I can feel you cringing away from the keyboard) this also helps your body break down some of this fat making y
our skin appear firmer. This DOES work, you must persist at it though, making it a part of your everyday routine.

CLEANING

In the bath, shower, use whatever products you wish on your skin, if you can also use a ‘poof’ to apply shower gel it will not only help your shower gel go much much further (one squirt) will do your whole body it will again, help with your circulation.

My second tip for showering / bathing is to always shower yourself down after you’ve finished. Soap is an astringent, even gentle ‘moisturising’ soap and will dry your skin out.

MOISTURISING

I always use a moisturiser after I have bathed. Nope, I’m not super-human, I lied. I always INTEND to use a moisturiser after I bathe. I do tend to however, if I don’t have time after I’ve washed, put it on before I go to bed, this way when I get hot in the night under the duvet (Oooer missus) my skin absorbs the moisturiser and doesn’t dry out.

A GOOD TIP FOR HANDS AND FEET

When washing up before you put your gloves on (you do wear gloves don’t you tut tut) cover your hands in moisturiser. The heat from the washing will help it work.

At night, should you so desire to have silky soft velvety hands and feet. Cover your hands or feet in moisturiser and put on a nice pair of cotton gloves or socks. I’d recommend gloves for hands and socks for feet! But of course, as the consumer as always it’s up to you.

WATER

“You need 8 glasses of water a day to live” Anyone who actually drinks 8 glasses of water a day raise your hand. Hmmm.. exactly. Well, dull as it sounds, and I know you all know this, but it’s actually really good for your whole body if you drink 8 glasses of water a day. If you don’t have the inclination (or bladder) for this I’d suggest that you keep a bottle of water on your desk at work / home / wherever you
spend your time. Don’t forget that caffeine and alcohol both dehydrate you (and your skin) so if you can’t face the “8 glasses a day trick” try and keep some water at hand and always drink some in-between coffees / beers. Incidentally, I DO drink 8 glasses of water a day – I pee a lot, but I do drink it. It makes the world of difference to your hair & skin and general well-being. If you are trying to loose weight or stick to a diet, drinking water when you’re hungry helps as often you are just dehydrated and ‘think’ you are hungry.

If you are dehydrated, you will not tan properly! Or sustain a tan for as long as you could!

TANNING TIPS

Always make sure you apply sunscreen before you go out into the sunshine. Depending on what you are doing you will need to reapply from every half hour to every hour or so. You can get waterproof sunscreens for children and the water babies among us. If you do not have a waterproof sunscreen, then reapply it after swimming. Don’t forget.

I know we all do it, but try to stay out of the sunshine between 12pm & 2pm (this is just a guide – the sun is usually at its hottest at this time) If you must be out, use a higher SPF sunscreen. (SPF = Sun Protection Factor – the higher the factor the more UVA it filters out)

Don’t try and overdo it! Sounds silly, but just because you don’t look brown yet, doesn’t mean you aren’t! It can take between 6 – 8 hours for the first signs of a tan and up to 24 before it fully comes out. If you are a little pink, chances are in 6 hours you will be a nice shade of Ferrari Red – get out of the sun NOW!!!


Again, in the sun drink lots of fluids – I try to drink a pint of water an hour.

MELATONIN

Melatonin is the stuff in your skin that makes you brown. There is more of it around the centre of your body, your stomach, back
, shoulders and arms than in your legs and face. With none in either your palms of your hands or your feet – so that’s why they don’t tan!

Even though your face will not tan as much as the rest of you, you should always wear at least a sunscreen with factor 15 SPF. Your face is in the sun all year round and it needs protection. Ladies, there’s less of an excuse for you as you can buy several moisturisers and foundations with an SPF factor – I personally plump for a little clinique No. that is a very sheer foundation.

AFTERWARDS

Always apply a moisturiser after you have been in the sunshine. You don’t have to waste money on an aftersun lotion, baby lotion and old suntan lotion work just as well. Generally the only difference in the aftersun and the suntan lotion is the SPF factor. Cocoa butter is the best moisturiser I know of and it smells so lovely – just like summer. I always keep a bottle in the fridge. As it is cool the lotion is soothing if you have been in the sun and will bring your temperature down a little (even if you haven’t overdone it like the rest of the British)

NOW THE FUN STUFF (THE EXCUSES TO LAZE IN THE SUN)

Sunlight increases the efficiency of your heart
Research now shows a link between a tan and a good mental well-being
The sun is the largest provider of vitamin D
Produces high levels of calcium

So for a healthy heart and a better well-being, follow my tips and see your way to a healthy glowing tan this year – and if all else fails FAKE IT!

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