Preparing your skin for sun exposure

If you're looking forward to your days in the fresh air and tanning sessions on the beach, you may also be wondering how to prepare your skin forexposure to the sun and take care of it so that it gets through the summer without sunburn, solar allergies, brown spots, dry skin and all the rest! By adopting a few simple gestures a few weeks before you leave, you'll give your skin all the keys it needs to enjoy the sun and build a beautiful, golden, long-lasting tan in complete safety.

To prepare your skin for the sun, go for beta-carotene! Beta-carotene is an antioxidant found in colorful fruits and vegetables . In particular, it's what gives carrots and tomatoes their orange and red hues, and gives you a healthy glow if you eat enough of it. It also promotes the production of melanin, the pigment which, under the action of the sun, gives your skin a lovely tanned glow. But its action is not limited to promoting the appearance of a golden tan in summer.

Its antioxidant effect slows skin aging by protecting it from free radicals. It also acts on cell repair and promotes healing - a very interesting point when it comes to limiting sun damage: burns, dryness, peeling skin... On a daily basis, it also helps keep skin supple and well-moisturized. In short, beta-carotene is a good thing when you're planning a holiday in the sun! So how do you find enough of it to enjoy all its benefits?

• On your plate: eat a diet rich in beta-carotene a few weeks before heading out into the sun. Foods that contain large quantities of beta-carotene are easy to spot because they are often red or orange in color, such as apricots, sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, melons, red peppers... But it is also present in interesting quantities in spinach, Swiss chard, cabbage or dandelion, all of which are rich in antioxidants!
  
  
• Food supplements: if you don't eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, you can increase your intake of beta-carotene with supplements. Most capsules used to prepare skin for the sun contain beta-carotene, which is combined with vitamins and vegetable oils to ensure beautiful skin even after beach and pool sessions. Borageoil , for example, rich in vitamin E and Omega 6, is an excellent choice!

The key word after spending a winter cooped up indoors? Progressiveness! Even if it's tempting, avoid spending a whole day outside, and give your skin time to get used to UV rays. After spending the coldest months in an office or at home, these rays are a real assault on the skin. As far as possible, avoid exposure to the sun between 12 and 4 p.m. - the hottest hours, when UV radiation is at its peak - and wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your skin. Once your skin has become accustomed to the sun, you can gradually extend the time you spend in the sun.

Dry skin is more vulnerable to the sun's rays. You can limit the damage by going into summer with supple, well-nourished skin. And why not treat your skin to amoisturizing treatment with products from our Ice Source range? These skin care products - mask, jelly and moisturizing cream - are unrivalled in their ability to replenish the skin's moisture and lock it into the skin's cells. Their secret lies in their formulas, which contain between 95 and 96% natural ingredients.IcebergWater - the purest water in the world - High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid and a magical marine algae, Thalassiosira Antartica, combine their properties to deeply moisturize and guarantee supple, soft and comfortable skin.

A healthy diet, gradual exposure to the sun and moisturizing your skin are all excellent ways to prepare your face and body for tanning. However, applying a sun cream with a high sun protection factor (SPF50+) remains essential to protect your skin from the sun's harmful effects. We're referring to sunburn - of course - but also to brown spots and more insidious damage, which can appear over time. Premature aging of the skin (wrinkles, loss of firmness...) and skin cancers are directly linked to UVA and UVB rays.

Still haven't discovered our Polaar Sun sun care range? It's time to do something about it: the face sun fluid and Face and Body Milk SPF50+ - both fragrance-free - protect even the most delicate skin. Combined with the Sun Stick , which protects scars, moles, tattooed and particularly sensitive areas in a single gesture, they guarantee perfect sun protection and a gradual, even tan that will stay with you all summer long!