There is hardly anything better than relaxing on the beach in the warm sun in summer. During the most beautiful time of the year, you spend a lot more time outdoors and show more skin than in the cold winter months. The heat and strong sun rays make an extra portion of skin care necessary in summer. What you should pay particular attention to, which sunscreen we recommend and the best sun protection for children – we will tell you all this and much more in this article!
The right skin care in summer
If you want to go out in the sun during the hot season, you should apply lotion. Sun protection is essential to avoid sunburn and prevent premature skin aging. Which sun protection factor you need depends primarily on your skin type and the resulting natural protection time of the skin. Other important factors include the length of time you spend in the sun and the intensity of the sun. It is best to always make sure that the sunscreen protects against UVB and UVA rays. The UVA rays penetrate very deeply into the skin cells and promote the formation of free radicals, which can trigger sun allergies. The UVB sun rays penetrate into the epidermis and are responsible for both a tanned complexion and possible sunburn. Because they directly damage DNA in this way, it can also lead to skin cancer.
Care for every skin type
There are a total of 4 different skin types, the skin tone of which is determined by the melanin content. How long the sun protection lasts depends on the skin's individual protection time and the sun protection factor of the sunscreen. The self-protection time is the length of time in which the skin can be exposed to the sun unprotected - on average this is between 5 and 15 minutes. The recommendations for the optimal sun protection factor (SPF or SPF) depending on the skin type are very different. The sun protection factor indicates how long you can expose your skin to the sun with the sunscreen applied without getting sunburned.
- Type Iis considered the most sensitive to light and has very light skin and blue or green eyes. The so-called Celtic type burns very quickly and should therefore use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 50.
- Typ IIalso has fair skin, blonde or light brown hair and blue, brown or gray eyes. He tans very slowly and is very susceptible to sunburn. Protection with a factor of 30 to 50 is recommended.
- Typ IIIis characterized by a light brown complexion and dark blonde to brown hair. It is considered the norm in Central Europe and around 79% of the entire population belongs to it. This skin type tans quite well, but also burns. Products with a sun protection factor of 15 to 25 are suitable for skin care in summer.
- Type IVis considered Mediterranean and has an olive complexion, dark hair and eyes. It browns very quickly and burns quite rarely. A sun protection factor of 6 to 10 should be sufficient in this case.
To calculate how long SPF will protect your skin from sunburn, you can use the following formula:
Self-protection timexLSF=maximum time in the sun
But make sure that the UV index is not taken into account. When you check the weather on your phone in the morning, just scroll down to the bottom - there you will find the UV index. It shows how high the solar radiation is in the respective region at the current time. As a rule of thumb: if the value is 3 or higher, you should definitely use sunscreen. This could even be the case with clouds or a light drizzle.
Summer skin care tips
If you like to go in the summerSpend your days on the beach or in the garden, you should definitely apply cream thoroughly. A sunscreen works on two levels. All sunscreens have physical filters that stay on the skin. They ensure the reflection of the sun's rays and then block them. The second level includes the chemical filters that penetrate the skin and form a protective film. The UV rays are then not reflected, but converted into harmless energy. The rule of thumb is that 3 tablespoons of sunscreen is enough for the entire body. You are only allowed to go out in the sun once the protection has been well absorbed. Don't forget to apply cream to the so-called sun terraces too. This includes the forehead, nose, ears, neck, shoulders, back of the feet and the décolleté. Since these areas are most exposed to the sun, they always burn very quickly.
The most important thing when it comes to skin care in summer is of course sun protection. A sunscreen provides adequate protection for your skin from solar radiation. A day cream with SPF is primarily intended to provide care and, for example, moisturize. Even though many beauty products already contain SPF, sun protection is just a great side effect, but unfortunately not the main purpose. For this reason, we recommend that you use a waterproof sunscreen for the warm summer months. Another benefit of sunscreen products is that most are waterproof and can withstand heat and sweat. You can still apply make-up over sunscreen, but you should wait until it is completely absorbed. Perfumes or other cosmetic products can react with sunlight and cause unsightly skin spots. That's why we recommend that you leave them at home.
Moisturizing care is very important!
Just like in winter, your skin needs enough moisture in summer too. The only difference is that the products for the hot season are much lighter than the rich winter creams. For example, various care products with a water-gel structure and aloe vera are ideal. They provide your skin with enough moisture, have a very pleasant cooling effect and are also absorbed very quickly. Another very good alternative are products with hyaluronic acid, which sustainably store moisture in the skin.
So that you can look forward to a beautiful and radiant complexion even on hot days, there is oneThorough facial cleansing is essentialwhen it comes to skin care in summer. Unfortunately, increased sweating, as well as salt water, chlorine and sand, lead directly to clogging of the pores. To avoid pimples and blackheads, it is very important that you clean your face of all the dirt after a long day in the sun. Use products without fat and, for example, with eucalyptus or menthol extracts - these keep the pores clean and provide a refreshing effect. Rose water is also suitable as a finish. It is a natural product that moisturizes, soothes irritated skin and fights minor impurities. Since a face mask ensures the natural pH balance, it should definitely be included.
Don't forget lip and hand care!
Thanks to various sun creams or foundations with an SPF, your face is well protected from the sun's rays. Unfortunately, a very sensitive area of the face is often forgotten - the lips. Inconspicuous lip balm sticks are perfect for this and can be found in every drugstore or supermarket. To ensure that your hands remain flawless and firm for a long time, we recommend that you use special hand creams with a UV factor, at least for the warm months.
How to avoid sunburn
Lying on the beach all day long and listening to the sound of the sea sounds amazing, right? Unfortunately, you can get sunburned very quickly if you don't have the right skin care in summer. This is an acute inflammation of the skin that can cause redness, swelling, itching and sometimes even blisters. The first symptoms only appear after 4 to 8 hours.
- The right one Clothing:Even though most people prefer to wear little in the summer, clothing is the best protection against the sun's rays. In this case, the four H rule helps – hat, shirt, trousers, high sun protection factor.
- Repeated application of creamis also of great importance. Unfortunately, the waterproof products are not waterproof for as long as you like. In fact, they lose their effectiveness quite quickly.
- Avoid the strong sun:The sun's rays are strongest between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. That's why we recommend that you stay at home during this period and give your skin a little break.
- Headgear and sunglassesDon't forget: To avoid sunburn on your scalp or face, you should wear a sun hat or cap. Sunglasses are a must on hot summer days. It protects the eyes from strong UV radiation and prevents retinal damage.
- Check your medications:Some antibiotics, pain relievers, or anti-inflammatories can also make your skin particularly sensitive to the sun. To avoid sunburn, you should definitely read the package leaflet or ask your doctor.
Relieve sunburn
Unfortunately, too much sun weakens the skin's ability to regenerate and leads to the formation of small wrinkles. Since skin care is of great importance in summer after extensive sunbathing, we will give you a few tips on how you can best relieve sunburn.
- Drink plenty of water and tea:Since the skin has lost a lot of moisture due to sunburn, it is very important to increase your fluid intake.
- Aloe Veraregenerates and moisturizes the skin andthus supports wound healing. For an even more intense and better effect, store the gel in the refrigerator.
- Yoghurt and quarkhelp particularly well and quickly with minor sunburn. Simply apply either one to your skin, leave it on for 10 minutes and take a cold shower.
- Cucumber or onion slicescan also soothe small burnt areas.
Summer skin care for children
A bad sunburn in childhood doubles the risk of malignant melanoma - the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Therefore, special care is required when it comes to skin care for children in summer. Since the skin's own protective mechanisms mature by the age of twelve, the protective horny layer of the skin is much thinner in small children than in adults. For this reason, UV radiation can penetrate the deeper layers of the skin more easily and this in turn leads to sunburn. Children must not be exposed to direct sunlight until the end of their first year of life. Since sunscreens put enormous strain on their delicate skin, it is recommended that they only use sunscreen at the end of their second year of life.
What should you pay particular attention to when it comes to sun protection for children?
- The right clothingis the best way to protect your child from sunburn. Airy and long-sleeved T-shirts and long pants are undoubtedly the best choice.
- Since the head and especially the face and ears are very sensitive, one mayHeadgearalso not missing.
- After every bath and during longer staysapply cream repeatedly.
- Always use only forSunscreen suitable for children,dieno parabens, benzophenomesor contain ocinoxate.
- Be sure to use oneBroad spectrum sunscreenwith a sun protection factor of at least 30, which protects against UVB and UVA rays.
For sunburn in small childrenYou must first cool the skin with a cold, damp washcloth 3 to 5 times a day until the redness disappears. Then soothe the areas with either a mild hypoallergenic moisturizer or aloe vera gel.
The 5 best sunscreens
With our product recommendations we want to make your purchasing decision a little easier and help you find the right sun protection for you.
- Daylong Kids Lotion mit LSF 50+ensures an extremely high level of protection for children aged one year and over. It is immediately absorbed into the skin and spreads easily. Valuable ingredients such as vitamin E and aloe vera provide the skin with a lot of care. 150 ml costs around 15 euros.
- Hawaiian Tropic “Silk Hydration” mit LSF 30offers very good protection for your facial skin. Since the lotion is oil-free, it does not leave a greasy film and is not sticky. With a price of 10 euros for 180 ml, it is also quite affordable.
- Annemarie Börlind sun milk with SPF 30:Since the German brand's sun protection products are full of the best plant-based ingredients that nourish and protect the skin, they definitely shouldn't be missing from our list.Beeswax and sunflower oilprovide intensive moisture, while pansy extract and panthenol have an anti-inflammatory effect. The price is 18 euros for 125 ml.
- The fragrance-free facial care from “Coola” with SPF 30absorbs very quickly, is not greasy and leaves the face feeling silky. Linseed oil and organic evening primrose oil have an anti-inflammatory effect, while safflower oil and vitamins E and C nourish and protect the skin. However, this product is in the higher price range at 38.50 euros for 50 ml.
- The Waterlover sun spray from BiothermIt is very easy to spray on and is therefore the perfect skin care product for the beach in summer. It doesn't absorb straight away, but leaves a transparent, thin film that is not greasy or sticky.
