Debunking Summer Skincare Myths

Let's dive into one of your favourite topics – Skincare Myths! These bits of misinformation often get passed around like Chinese whispers, gaining more fiction with each retelling.

As the sunny weather continues (fingers crossed!), let's debunk some major summer skincare mistakes to keep your skin clear, glowing, and healthy all season long…✨

‘The sun will heal your spots’

Not only am I pretty sure that we’ve all heard this one, but I think many of us (including myself!) have believed it at some point too.

When I was struggling with hormonal blemishes, I couldn’t wait to bronze my skin. It seemed to even out my skin tone, hide any imperfections and you guessed it, ‘dry out’ my spots. However, this is all a temporary illusion which would explain why the week after your holiday, your complexion can often look spottier than before.

Yes, the sun will initially dry out any breakouts when your skin is exposed to intense heat. BUT, and it’s a very big but, it then goes into absolute meltdown mode and produces excess oil to compensate.

This leads to MORE spots and blackheads than ever before, so make sure you wear your Sunbeam Cream - SPF 50 at all times, to keep your skin fully protected, clear and balanced 🙌🏼

‘SPF stops you getting enough vitamin D'

It is 100% true that the sun does provide vitamin D which is essential for bone health, cancer prevention and of course, our mood. But what’s not true is that SPF prevents you getting enough.

Even if you were completely smothered from head to toe in SPF 50 and religiously reapplied every 2 hours, you’re still getting some sun exposure (more on this in a moment!). This is absolutely sufficient to maintain your vitamin D levels during the sunnier months and it’s a myth that you need to bathe in sunlight, to meet your body’s requirements.

With that being said, the UK Government does recommend we all take a vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter. This helps to keep us looking and feeling vibrant and healthy all year round.

‘SPF stops you getting a tan’

The number one reason people used to skip their SPF in clinic was because they wanted to come back from holiday looking and feeling like a bronzed goddess…And I know the same applies to many of you guys too. But did you know, that no SPF will completely stop you tanning?

This is because there isn’t a single formula that can block 100% of UVB rays, which are the ones responsible for deepening the colour of your skin. For example...

SPF 15: Blocks 93% of UVB rays
SPF 30: Blocks 97% of UVB rays
SPF 50: Blocks 98% of UVB rays

So whilst I’m not for a second recommending any form of sunbathing, this does mean for those of you who love a tan, you’ll likely see your skin change colour even when wearing sunscreen.

Although it may not be as deeply golden as baking your bare skin, at least you’ll know that you've done it as safely and smartly as possible.

The other thing I quickly wanted to highlight, is that although the 1% difference between factor 30 and factor 50 seems tiny, factor 30 lets through 50% more UVB radiation - Which is certainly not insignificant!

This is why I’ll forever recommend Sunbeam Cream - SPF 50 every single day. It is essential for preventing sun damage and the rest of your 5 Minute Kit is the secret to correcting any previous harm too. A match made in skincare heaven ✨