If you came into work on public transport this morning, you will have spotted more than a few red faces on your travels. If you didn't, yours was probably one of them.
This weekend's mini heatwave had the hordes heading out to the park armed with plenty of bottles of Prosecco but without a single thought for sun protection. Without wanting to be total party poopers, this is very bad and you should never do this. However, clearly many of us did. Again. So what to do next?
“The best advice is to use a high factor sun product and avoid burning in the first place, but should you get caught out you must protect the skin from any further sun until all redness has gone," says Boots sun-care expert Clare O’Connor.
And what can you do in the mean time? "While your skin is red, use after sun that is designed for over-exposed skin," O'Connor advises. "Look for products that contain specific soothing and cooling ingredients such as allantoin or aloe vera. Aloe vera is particularly good as it can be very soothing. Antihistamines can also help reduce the reaction but if the sunburn is severe (very red, blistering or if you feel sick) then you should seek medical advice.”
Soothe sunburn with these products
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Vichy's new after sun can be used on dry skin or on damp skin, while in the shower. Containing apricot kernel, coriander seed and blackcurrant seed, Ideal Soleil Double Usage After Sun Oil provides nourishment to hot and bothered skin for two days. It's so good we gave it a Stella Summer Beauty Award.
Another post-sunburn old favourite is the Saviour Skin Balm from Antipodes. With tea tree, echinacea and grape seed extract, it can be applied daily to abused skin until the problem clears up.
It's essential to get moisture back into sunburned skin. Hyaluronic acids have never been more popular, and are the perfect solution for an injection of moisture minus the grease factor. Pestle and Mortar's Pure Hyaluronic Serum is fragrance- and paraben-free, while also free of animal-derived materials and provides an extra shot of moisturiser to the skin, before your normal face cream. For this, try Bliss Drench and Quench Cream to Water Lock-In Moisturiser - one of the least greasy moisturisers we have ever tried.
How to cover up redness safely
It may feel counter intuitive to avoid applying a mask of foundation to sunburn but a lighter approach is advisable on sunburned skin. Oxygenetix Foundation was initially developed to help conceal skin imperfections post cosmetic surgery. Formulated with chemical peels and laser treatment in mind, it is gentle enough for use on sunburned skin and also provides an impressively long-lasting amount of coverage. Containing CeravitaeTM, an oxygen complex which promotes collagen production and tissue healing in delicate skin, it is also gel- rather than water-based (which can attract bacteria).
Another tip for applying make-up post-burn is to mix your foundation with your moisturiser for a lighter coverage. Think long term on this one. Skin is already damaged - there is little point winding it up even further with a heavy coating of ingredient-heavy foundation.
A cool-toned matte bronzer like Bobbi Brown's will help even out the disturbance in skin tone without adding a sprinkling of glitter to the already multi-coloured affair.
Also read: multiway bridesmaid dress
