DIY : How to make your homemade after sun lotion ?

The sun’s out, the temperature’s rising, it’s great! Summer’s in full swing and life couldn’t be better.

A dip in the sea, tanning sessions under palm trees (or in the park – near enough the same), a lazy breakfast in the sun…the opportunities to sun yourself are endless.

But before we know it, despite thinking we’d done everything possible to protect ourselves from harmful rays, sunburn soon comes knocking. A tan is summer’s most coveted fashion accessory, but you’ll have to work for a healthy one ;)

A little science behind the suntan :

The skin is made up first and foremost of a superficial layer of different cells called the epidermis. Its outermost part – a corneal layer composed of keratinocytes – regenerates on average once every 25 days, and it is these cells which give the skin its tanned colour. Under the epidermis, a deeper, permanent layer of cells known as the dermis is where cells multiply to replace those which need regenerating, and is not directly involved in the tanning process. It is, however, essential in maintaining the healthy glow of the skin, as it is the collagen fibres and other constituent parts of the dermis which give skin its elasticity and resistance to the elements.

So, how does tanning work? When UV rays – particularly UVB rays – reach the skin, melanocytes (specialised cells which are also found within the epidermis) are activated, triggering the production of the natural pigment melanin. As the rays reach the keratinocytes, melanin reacts to give the skin a bronzed tint. .

Remember that there are two types of UV rays – UVA (95% of the rays) and UVB (the remaining 5%). The first of the two deeply penetrate the skin, reaching dermal cells and potentially causing long-term mutations, causing numerous health risks and aesthetic impacts – skin cancers and accelerated rates of skin-ageing, exacerbating the appearance of wrinkles and dark patches…UVB rays cause you to tan, but also to burn! A suntan generally appears two days after sun exposure, fading gradually around a month after epidermal cells regenerate, provided there is no further exposure during this period.

Does the sunburn tan ?

NO ! We often tell ourselves that we need to burn in order to tan, though this couldn’t be further from the truth. Sunburn is indeed a real burn, and the tan which follows will quickly disappear as the damaged epidermal cells work quickly to regenerate in a much shorter timeframe than the usual 25-day recovery period! In the first instance, the skin reddens as part of an inflammatory response often reported by sunburn sufferers.

The body responds using vasodilation, wherein blood vessels expand to increase blood flow to the affected area to draw heat away as quickly as possible. Next, the skin grows darker as a result of increased melanin production, though this is more a superficial tan than a longer-lasting, healthy one. It will disappear within a few days, after which the skin will begin to peel. Probably not the look you’re after!

So, sunburn isn’t something to be taken lightly – ultimately, it weakens the skin, making it more vulnerable to a wide range of conditions (wind, cold and saltwater, to name but a few). In the long-term, repeated instances of sunburn, and thus unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB rays, increases the risk of skin cancer and premature skin ageing.

What can we take from this? TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN and PROTECT IT!

Not to panic if you’ve lounged in the sun a little longer than anticipated and find yourself a little red as a result. We’ve put together a list of NATURAL after sun lotions which are easy to make at home to help sooth slightly inflamed skin.

Here are 2 homemade, 100% ORGANIC, 100% ECO-FRIENDLY, 100% NATURAL recipes which will help you to care for your inflamed skin, a soothing solution to keep a healthy, hydrated glow throughout summer.

Our pick of top ingredients :

Our recipes ideas: