The Clean and Natural guide - Summer sun edition

Now the weather is (finally) warming up, we give you ‘The Clean & Natural Way To Survive Summer!’ 

After many reports of heatwaves causing havoc around the UK of late, and those heatwaves not beginning to emerge until now, it is a great time to start considering your safety during your fun in the sun.  In this week’s blog, we will begin talking about ways for all of the family to get the most out of Summer 2015 safely.

This blog will include the following topics:

1. UV rays from the sun and what they mean for your skin.
2. Summer skin tips including: how to prepare and protect your skin before, and during sun exposure; how diet can help nourish the skin; sunscreens; what to be aware of in skincare products.
3. Summer Relaxation Tips, And finally, Your 30 MIN RELAXATION CHALLENGE.
   
   READ OUR; DISCLAIMER



UV rays? UV light? What's the difference?

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We've all heard about UV (Ultraviolet) rays / light but many people don’t know about the different types of radiation and what these rays can mean to your skin. (UV rays are present in all ultraviolet light).

1.)   UVA radiation – The first type of  UV ray is the UVA ray.  This radiation penetrates deep into the skins layers and is one of the primary causes of premature skin ageing and skin cancers. These rays are present whenever there is daylight, even on the cloudiest of days. BE WARNED...It is said that tanning beds emit 2 - 5 times more UVA radiation than the sun.

2.)   UVB radiation – UVB rays are stronger than UVA rays. They’re responsible for the burning feeling you get when the sun’s out, affecting mainly the outer layers of the skin.

These rays are much more prominent during the summer months, especially around mid-day, and are said to be the primary cause of;
- redness and sunburn,
- darkening of pigment,
- age spots,
and can also contribute to premature ageing and skin cancer. 

3.)   UVC radiation – This is the strongest and most dangerous form of UV light but, thankfully, does not quite reach the Earth’s surface because the rays get stopped by the Earth’s atmosphere (ozone).  Understanding now, one of the reasons, why we should look after the Ozone layer!

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Summer Skin Tips

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Cocoa pod - Cocoa butter is extracted from the cocoa beans from within this pod

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PROTECTION IS VITAL:

Ditch the tanning bed – Tanning beds are becoming more and more popular with the customers getting younger and younger. Sunbeds not only produce more, potentially, harmful UVA radiation than the sun due to their artificial nature, they also increase the risk of over exposing the skin to UV light, which results in an increased chance of developing skin cancer (also known as melanoma). Still not convinced? Here’s more information on the dangers of tanning beds

Use a good amount of sunscreen – Apply sunscreen multiple times throughout the day to keep the skin protected. Wait 20 minutes after applying sunscreen before going out into the sun, giving the sun screen a chance to absorb into the skin. However, BE WARNED, a lot of sunscreens readily available have a large number of unnatural and toxic ingredients in them (not things you want to be applying to your skin religiously) so just make sure you know What to look out for. Clean & Natural Cosmetics are currently in the process of putting together and testing an all natural sun care range, so stay tuned for updates.


Keep your hands off your face – Apart from when moisturising, be careful when touching your face.  Bacteria can be on your hands from everyday life, and it doesn’t do your skin much good to have dirt and bacteria rubbed into it.   However, massaging your skin with clean hands, or with Clean & Natural Products can actually be beneficial for cell regeneration and for boosting circulation, so don't be afraid to pamper yourself!


Aloe Vera - Carrying Aloe Vera gel around is a handy first aid tratment if you were to become over exposed. It's also a good idea to have an Aloe Vera plant growing at home, the gel from the leaves have healing properties and are great for soothing sunburn.  However, it may sound obvious, but it is better not to be over-exposed in the first place.  Again, Aloe Vera Gel is another product we should be getting in the near future.

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PREPARATION IS KEY:

As well as following the tips below, always remember to dress to protect during the summer months - light weight gear, sunglasses, a hat to provide a bit of shade... but also remember to stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water. Note: your body can take more water during the summer season because it is, usually, hotter so you lose more water than you would at any other time of year.

Boost your Antioxidants– Antioxidants are fantastic for the overall health of the skin and help the body get rid of free radicals which are caused by environmental factors such as pollution, poor diet, and lack of exercise.  Not only are they very good for you, but you can increase antioxidants both inside and out. Internally, foods such as raspberries, blueberries, prunes, cloves, cranberries, strawberries, walnuts to name a few, are all high in antioxidants. More information of antioxidants in food. Skincare products are another good way to boost your Antioxidants. Clean & Natural Cosmetics have a wide range of antioxidant-rich products, including our Shea Butter, African Black Soap, CoCoShea & our Nutrient Rich Serums.


Use a Natural Exfoliator / Cleanser - Before applying sunscreen, prepare your skin well before hand.  To get rid of dead skin cells, we recommend having a soak in a detox bath containing bicarbonate of soda, himalayan pink salt, and Coconut Oil (Bath Crumble coming soon!), and gently exfoliate your skin.  Clean & Natural's African Black Soap Bar is an all natural soap that is a great cleanser as well as having exfoliating properties, from the ash of the ground cocoa pods.

 
Moisturise with SPF – It’s good to use a moisturiser, which has an SPF, all year round. You can still receive radiation from the sun even when it isn’t hot so it’s important to stay protected. When it starts to get warmer, it is recommended that you switch to a moisturiser with a lighter consistency and with a higher SPF.  Some studies have shown that the ingredients we use in our natural and organic moisturisers have a naturally low to medium SPF, but this has not been proven by us.  We are soon looking to licence and release a non greasy serum for those hot and humid days which we must stress, we do not recommend as a sunscreen, but as a nutrient rich serum before application of a tested sunscreen, and as a skin treatment after exposure.

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Relaxation Tips

Summer is the perfect time to relax with family and friends, but please always remember to cover up and protect yourself from the sun's rays.  Our relaxation tip for summer is to get out there! Don't be afraid of the great out doors, make the most of the sun while we have it. Nature is very therapeutic, find somewhere quiet with nice scenery and just relax for a while.

Did you know?

Being out in nature can reduce depression by up to 70% and can also improve mental health and well being. Whether you're taking a walk through nature or simply just sitting in it, it all helps to reduce depression, relieve stress and clear the mind (which can sometimes become crowded with thoughts). More on nature and depression.

Here are some places and ways you can relax:

• Beaches and seaside's - the sounds of the waves crashing to the shore can be very relaxing; almost as if the waves are washing away the stress in you mind.
• Picnicking - Having a picnic is always nice, especially in area close to water.
• Explore nature - don't be afraid to go where your heart yearns for.  Woods/forests; Mountains and hills; Waterfalls and Parkland are just some of the beauties available to anyone. You just have to find them, and then tell us about them!
• Places with wild animals - the sounds of animals, such as birds, can be calming.
• Boating on water - oceans, rivers and lakes are all good
• Biking and hiking - try to find routes with very little traffic

Today's lifestyles are becoming more and more stressful.  Finding time to naturally relax is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself and your loved ones.  We are not much use to others if we spend our whole time rushing and getting stressed and not looking after ourselves.  We of course cannot expect to look after others if we do not take time to look after ourselves.  It is all too easy to burn the candle at both ends and forget what we as individuals need to survive, and down-time is as crucial as the food and drink we consume.  There are many ways of achieving this peace easily, with a little perseverance and an open mind.

30 MIN RELAXATION CHALLENGE:

After reading our above tips we challenge you to take some time out for you for a minimum of half an hour a week.  We at Clean & Natural HQ are currently taking part in a weekly meditation on a Sunday at 3pm.  Yes it is difficult to keep to that time religiously, but it is very much worth it for your own peace of mind.  More info can be found here or on our facebook page.

Alternatively, if meditation is not your thing, or you cannot manage Sunday at 3pm GMT; for half an hour a week, take a walk / have a run / explore nature or even just sit in your back garden alone.  MAKE TIME FOR YOU.