Best of the sun with Clarins

It produces vitamin D in our bodies that helps with calcium and phosphorus absorption maintaining our immune system. Too much sun can cause other more severe complications in our lives, such as wrinkles as well as cancer. Remember that sun damage is cumulative.
The older you get, the slower your healing process, because your immune system starts slacking off and can’t respond as vigorously to a sunburn as it use to. Incidental sun exposure contributes to a majority of the damaged skin that recurs in a lifetime. Block rays with daily sun protection. Wear sun block.
What is UVA and UVB light
Our sun gives us both UVA and UVB light. Radiation is a form of energy and the shorter the wavelength the more damaging to our skin it is. Skin cancer occurs because skin cells that are damaged by the UVA and UVB light can not regenerate. UVB is the more damaging of the two and you will find that all sunscreens protect against UVB first.
What’s the difference between UVA, UVB and UVC?
UVA, UVB and UVC are all types of radiation that are given off by the sun. UVC is absorbed by the atmosphere and never reaches the earth’s surface. UVB is partially absorbed by the earth’s ozone layer and in the atmosphere, with the remainder reaching the earth’s surface. Most UVA reaches the earth’s surface.  UVB is commonly associated with sunburn, and together, UVB and sunburn are considered to be the main cause of basal and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as a significant cause of malignant melanoma.
UVA, which penetrates deeply into the skin, is also thought to be a factor in premature ageing and skin cancers.  Unlike the SPF rating, there is no universal standard for rating the level of UV protection in a sunscreen.
When to avoid sun’s rays
The first step you should take to avoid getting wrinkles or skin cancer is to learn the best time to enjoy the sun. Remember the shorter the wavelength the more damaging the suns rays are. This translates easily to the day when you look at what time the suns rays are at its peek. The later in the day you get the worse the suns UVA and UVB wavelengths are for you. The worst time to be out directly in the sun light is between the hours of 1 and 3pm. This is when the wavelength of the suns light is at its shortest and most directly on the earth’s surface.
Natural sun protection
You can choose many different options for your protection against the sun. There are many articles of clothing that are now being sold with natural UVA and UVB sun protection already in them. You may choose to wear long sleeves  and trousers even in the summer, as well as wearing a hat. A hat with a wide brim to protect your face and neck also helps to prevent wrinkles by limiting the amount of exposure your face gets to the sun.
Most make-up and moisturisers contain some UV protection as well. The Clarins ranges have a moisturiser within each range incorporating protection against UV rays as well as environmental aggressions. There are also some foundations within the Clarins collection with added SPF protection, such as the Trully Matte and True Comfort Foundations which both have a SPF of 15.
Super Restorative Day Cream SPF 20, for those over 50, is fast acting and improves the appearance of fine lines, dark spots and the texture of the skin, for a more youthful appearance with sun protection.
 It is a lightweight, yet rich and comforting day cream that like the original, smoothes fine lines and plumps wrinkles with an innovative moisture management system. Clarins Super Restorative Day Cream SPF 20 intensively replenishes and reactivates skin weakened by age. Fine lines are “filled in” while your skin appears smoother in just hours. Natural extracts of the pueraria lobata plant help to boost the skin’s production of collagen and therefore, helps to firm and lift your skin.
Extra-firming Day Lotion with SPF 15, for those over 40, is a high- performance treatment which gently helps “lift” features, soothe the appearance of fine lines and illuminate skin. It offers effective UVA/UVB protection with SPF 15 and helps energize, firm and protect skin against the harmful effects of pollution and free radicals.
Clarins Hydra-Quench Lotion with SPF 15, for those in the 20s and 30s, looking for hydrating properties, is a fresh and non-oily lotion. Formulated with rich moisturizers and UV protection, and is ideal for normal to combination skin as well as all skin types exposed to strong heat.
Clarins Multi-Active Day Lotion with SPF 15, is an indispensable treatment for young, busy women in their 30s to help prevent the formation of lines. Bio-regulating, it helps tone the skin.
Hydro and thermoregulating, it enhances skin’s comfort and suppleness regardless of climatic conditions. Tensio-regulating, it helps prevent skin slackening. Photo-regulating, it helps neutralize free radicals.
Clarins Bright Plus  Day Lotion with SPF 20, is the day care which ensures comfortable, radiant, matte skin all day long. Brightens and evens the complexion and smoothes the features. Protects against UV rays, environmental aggressions and perfectly hydrated, the skin is soft, silky-smooth and matte, while make-up is long-wearing.
This is ideal for ladies of colour to combat the worries of pigmentation as well as combining a sun protection factor, necessary as the sun can darken pigmentation spots and when using brightening products one needs a sun protection as the skin is left vulnerable to the effects of the sun.
Pigmentation can be caused by the effects of sun exposure, and the visible signs can take up to a year to fade so it is imperative to wear sun protection all year round.
Part of the Clarins skin care essentials range is the UV Plus Protective Day Screen SPF 40. A new addition to the Clarins range, for the first time, an ultra protective day screen acts like an invisible beauty shield to help avoid premature skin aging, sensitivity and dark spots while blocking pollution and free radicals. The lotion is incredibly lightweight and had a micronised texture, containing 100 percent mineral filters to protect skin against harmful UVA/UVB and Infrared rays and White Tea extract which protects skin against pollution and free-radicals while providing reinforced protection during peak times (hot weather).
How does sunscreen work?
Sunscreen works by blocking out the ultraviolet light that causes damage to your skin.
The less damage done to your skin from the sun the less likely you will be to get wrinkles or cancer caused by the sun damaged cells. Sun protection factor is the industry standard for packaging store bought sun protection. The SPF rating is calculated by determining how long it would take for protected skin to burn compared to unprotected skin. All store bought sun screens have a varied shelf life but most can last between 2-3 years if properly stored.
Choose the right SPF
SPF (sun protection factor) is a common indicator of UVB absorption provided by manufacturers which you will find on the labels of these products. This rating goes from as low as 2, up to 30 and above. The minimum SPF you should choose, no matter what your skin colour/type, and no matter the time of year, is SPF15. Bear in mind that parts of the body that are especially sensitive e.g. lips or rarely exposed to sunlight e.g. backs may need a higher factor or a sunblock.
A higher SPF does not give you higher protection; it gives you longer protection from the effects of the sun. So, if your skin would redden after 30 minutes if you didn’t use any sunscreen, a SPF 2 would allow you to stay in the sun for 60 minutes before you redden.
This is only true in theory however, as a sunscreen’s effectiveness depends: on how thickly and frequently you apply it, what activities you do. If you swim or sweat a lot, the sunscreen won’t last as long. Remember, your skin can still redden up to 24 hours after exposure to the sun, so burning may not be immediately obvious.
A skin type’s reaction to the sun can be generalised as:
lVery fair /sensitive skin — Always burns, rarely tans.
lFair/sensitive skin — Burns easily, but will tan.
lFair skin — Tans gradually, likely to burn first.
lMedium skin — Tans well, unlikely to burn first.
lDark skin — Tans easily, rarely or never burns
Please note that the SPF given is just a guide. Always follow instructions for each sunscreen and always practise safe sun!
lFor all your enquiries and purchases please contact any of our Clarins outlets. For comments or questions and/or if you would like to be added onto our database, contact: missk@zol.co.zw