Category Archives: Sun

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10-in-10: Vitamin D Part 1 – the sun

The sun has always been equal parts villain and hero.

The bad: We all know that the sun can burn us if we’re slapdash with the SPF. And we know that long-term damage caused by UVA rays has been linked to cancer.

The good:We probably also know that we need some sunshine to synthesise Vitamin D in our bodies, particularly since very few of us can get enough Vitamin D from our diet alone. Just 15 minutes a day (although preferably not during the 11-3pm window in very hot sun) on bare skin should give us the Vitamin D we need. The most commonly understood benefit is the link between Vitamin D and the absorption and metabolism of calcium; which is important for many things, most notably the maintenance of healthy bones.

The new…: But I’ve recently been finding out quite a bit more about Vitamin D via the Anatomy & Physiology modules of my aromatherapy course and also my own reading. Did you know that Vitamin D deficiencies may be at least part of the reason for the influx of cold and flu bugs in the autumn and early winter months? The link between Vitamin D and immune function is being written about more and more. The suggestion is that Vitamin D triggers the T cells that fight infection within the body and there’s a really interesting article on just that here.

But it doesn’t stop there. There’s research to suggest that it can reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis, that it can protect brain function in later life, that it can reduce the severity of ashtma attacks and even that it can help maintain a healthy body weight. Have a look at this page on Medical News Today (scroll down to the section ‘What do we need Vitamin D for’ to see links to the medical studies).

So get your bit of sun when it comes this summer. Don’t go crazy, but don’t miss out.

And come back for part 2 where I’ll look at some good Vitamin D supplements a bit later in the year.

Photos © Natural Beauty Cabinet.

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Lavera After Sun Care with Shimmer Effect

Unless you’ve been hiding under the bed for the last week or so, you’ve probably noticed that in many parts of the UK it’s been BEAUTIFUL outside. The type of lovely that makes you smile and bounce.

So I’m going to break with my planned posts to feature a product that I’ve liked for a while but had pushed to the back of the Natural Beauty Cabinet waiting for better weather to come along. Turns out that time is now and since I’ve needed to get it back out, I figure a few others out there might benefit from it too!

When it gets unseasonably warm, it’s all too easy to get twitterpated (best. word. ever – and it’s nothing to do with twitter!) by the sunshine. After all, we’ve been deprived for so long. Then you get that hot, tight feeling come sundown and you find yourself looking for a bit of cooling relief.

I give you Lavera’s After Sun Care with shimmer effect. It contains cooling organic aloe vera and skin softening organic almond oil. Plus it contains a subtle golden glimmer effect that will leave your skin looking fresher, brighter and with a healthy sheen. Perfect stuff for these longer, lighter evenings we’re going to be getting now.

(And if you want to find out how to avoid the hot, tight effect, check out my post about sunscreen.)

Lavera Sun Care with shimmer effect, £9.90 from Lovelula, and Naturisimo.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil*, Glycerin, Alcohol*, Caprylic /Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stearic Acid, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Rosa Damascena Flower Water*, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Xanthan Gum, Mica (CI 77019), Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Tocopherol, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract*, Helianthus Annuus (Sun ower) Seed Oil, Lysolecithin, Capsicum Annuum Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water*, Lecithin, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Fragrance (Parfum)**, Limonene**, Geraniol**, Linalool**, Citronellol**, Citral**, Coumarin**, Benzyl Benzoate**, Eugenol**. *Ingredients from Certified Organic Agriculture ** Natural Essential Oils

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In the red – dealing with rosacea

Just recently, I’ve noticed that my skin doesn’t behave quite like it used to. In the run up to the wedding (a mere 16 days from today!!), I’ve been taking really good care of myself. Lots of time in the gym, I’ve gone back to Lent’s no-sugar regime and I’m making a really concerted effort to get more, good quality sleep.

But it’s been becoming depressingly apparent that my skin is getting worse. A good diet, exercise and sleep, combined with a good skincare regime should mean a lovely, glowing face but it just isn’t right now. Or rather, I’m getting the ‘glow’ but in all the wrong ways.

I’ve made reference in the past to the ‘hot spots’ either side of my nose. I wasn’t entirely sure what was triggering them but had noticed they recurred reasonably regularly. The patches get a bit hot, inflamed and slightly itchy. Then over a few days, they appear to ‘heal’ resulting in drier, flakier skin in those ares. I hadn’t given much thought to what they might be, nor had I paid much attention to what set them off.

Then I had a bit of an epiphany after a weekend when I got caught out in the sun for a couple of hours. I was wearing plenty of sunscreen so I didn’t burn but my face got very dry and very warm. Shortly afterwards, on Monday evening, I had a particularly heavy gym workout and got nice and hot. My skin went haywire. Those red patches got bigger, angrier and really, really prickly; a bit like something was permanently tickling at my cheeks. For days afterwards, those patches felt hotter to the touch than the rest of my face. I looked at the symptoms online and came to just one conclusion.

Rosacea.

I was unaware that I tick many of the boxes. Strangely, it’s not unusual to get rosacea for the first time in your early 30s. The most prone age group are pale-skinned women, aged 30-50. Some of the most commonly-reported triggers are sun exposure, heavy exercise and stress (planning a wedding while trying to sell your house anyone?). Turns out that now, when my face gets hot, bad stuff happens. So far, it’s a pretty mild version of rosacea, limited to facial redness, a stinging sensation, roughness of the skin and some flakiness or scaling. More extreme symptoms can include bumps and pustules (giving rise to the misleading term ‘acne rosacea’), thickening of the skin and eye irritation.

More upsetting was the consensus on treatments: antibiotics and steroids. “I’ve been here before!” cries the voice in my head. I spent years and years seeing doctors about my eczema and was prescribed all manner of steroid creams, paraffin-based emolients and even antibiotics a couple of times when it became infected. They worked in the short term, but the eczema would always come back. It was only ever a temporary solution and a fairly harsh one at that. Over time it pushed me towards the natural path that I now try and follow. In the last 12-18 months I’ve started using natural oils as body moisturisers and have had the longest ‘eczema-free’ period in years. I also feel for the first time that I can control my skin, rather than relying on prescriptions and feeling like it was calling the shots.

So the rosacea was a blow and I had a day or so of self-indulgent ‘why me’s’ before just getting on with it.

I’ve got the eczema under control.

If this rosacea business is here to stay, then I will do the same thing. Minus the steroids and the antibiotics.

There’s lots of advice out there for people who might be prone to rosacea. In the spirit of ‘prevention being better than cure’, the best place to start is with the triggers. The National Rosacea Society has a very informative website with a page dedicated to triggers, and this list of the most common factors. See the sun at the top? It really underlines the point I made in my previous post about avoiding the sun when it’s at its most fierce. It also makes an interesting case for mineral over physical sunscreens given that the number 1 skin objective is now going to be keeping my skin cool.

Now I know that I need to be even more careful not to get caught in the sun. I’m not about to start keeping to my house and living as a recluse. But perhaps I really do need to start carrying around the big old hat just in case I’m caught without shade.

I’m also going to have to take preventative measures in the gym. As much as I might want to say ‘bad gym’ and stay home, I’m actually really enjoying being fitter and more toned. So I’m going to start carting around a facial spritzer (see here for some favourites) and regularly spraying my hot, sweaty face. I’ll probably keep one of my spritzers in the fridge so I can grab an ‘extra cold’ one before heading to the gym.

I’ve also done a bit of research and discovered that natural stars when it comes to rosacea include aloe vera, chamomile and licorice. So I’m going to keep an eye out for those things when scanning product ingredients lists.

I’ve even discovered that you can be as DIY as using tea bags. One website advocated dunking chamomile tea bags in tepid water, lightly squeezing out the excess and sitting with the soggy tea bags on your red patches for 10 minutes. That might sound pretty horrible, and I definitely won’t be trying that down the gym, but I’m going to give it a go in the privacy of my own home.

I should point out that I’m currently entirely self-diagnosed and while I wouldn’t normally recommend this as a course of action, I feel that my symptoms are mild enough to experiment a little with home remedies before deciding whether a trip to the doctor is absolutely necessary. I should also point out that many people experience far more severe symptoms than I currently do and I wouldn’t spend a second judging them if they decided to use either steroids or antibiotics. You pick the path that is best for you and that gives you the best quality of life.

I’m going to try to get a handle on my ruddiness the natural way and will report back in a few weeks time to let you know how it’s going.

In the meantime, if anyone out there is already a dab hand at dealing with rosacea and would like to pass on some tips, please do share them in the comments.

In the absence of a rosacea-related picture, have a picture of one of my happy places. There is no room for skin woes here...

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SUNSCREEN: my guide and recommendations

Apologies for the sheer length of this post. If you’re still reading at the end, give yourself a massive pat on the back.

I’ve been meaning to talk about sunscreen for quite some time. My initial plan had me posting this back in May sometime. The truth is that when I started investigating sun protection in skincare ages ago, I felt like I’d opened some hideous Pandora’s box of horrors and have spent the last few weeks trying to shove it all back in. There is SO much information (and often conflicting or impenetrable information) out there, that I found it really hard to get at the important stuff and make up my mind. I think I’ve done so. Made up my mind, that is. Hopefully what follows will help to simplify and/or clarify some of the suncare struggles you might also have been experiencing.

I should mention here that the EWG (Environmental Working Group) was invaluable to my research. They’ve got heaps of information on their website and really helped to demystify things for me. Well worth a look if you want to read up in more detail. All of my recommendations are backed up by their extensive research.

To begin at the beginning, there are two different types of sunscreen: those that use chemicals for UV protection and those that use minerals to create a physical barrier that blocks the UV light. Chemical or mineral – choice number 1.

Chemical sunscreens:

With my natural leanings, chemical sunscreens sound less appealing straight away. But I went away to better understand what they are and how they work. To kick things off, the following is a list of the ingredients you might find in a chemical sunscreen: Benzophenones (dixoybenzone, oxybenzone), PABA and PABA esters (ethyl dihydroxy propyl PAB,  glyceryl PABA, p-aminobenzoic acid, padimate-O or octyl dimethyl PABA), Cinnamates (cinoxate, ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate), Salicylates (ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octyl salicylate), Digalloyl trioleate, Menthyl anthranilate, or Avobenzone. These substances will be absorbed into your skin, where they will, in turn, absorb harmful UVB and UVA rays.

The most frequently-used ingredients are oxybenzone, octisalate, octinoxate and avobenzone. Of these, oxybenzone, the most common, is also the most controversial. Studies have shown it can trigger allergic reactions and even act as a hormone disruptor. According to Wikipedia, ‘hormone disruptors are chemicals that interfere with endocrine (or hormone) systems…[and]…can cause cancerous tumours, birth defects and other developmental disorders. Here are some less-than-appealing figures from the EWG: studies by Calafat (2008) and Wolff (2009) detected oxybenzone in 96% of the US population, while a recent study in Europe found four common sunscreen chemicals in breast milk. Remember that link to developmental disorders?? So far, so not very reassuring.

Mineral (Physical) sunscreens

As mentioned, these sunscreens use minerals to form a protective barrier on the surface of the skin, which then reflects UVA and UVB rays. Mineral formulations will contain tiny particles of either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. The EWG notes that although most studies demonstrate that these particles do not penetrate the skin (where they could enter the bloodstream), this research is continuing particularly in relation to smaller ‘nano’ particles. However, on balance, they regard mineral sunscreens as the better choice because they are not so readily absorbed into the skin and offer much better UVA protection.

There is, however, one important consideration when choosing a mineral sunscreen: the type of product you’re buying. The studies that indicate the active ingredients are not penetrating the skin in cream formulations, also show that they can enter the body if inhaled. For this reason, the lower toxicity rating given by the EWG only applies to mineral sun lotions and creams. It doesn’t recommend using mineral sunscreens sold as sprays or in loose powder formulations, which also has implications for mineral make-up. For more interesting advice on this see here and here.  

Combined products

A quick note about combined products; i.e. formulations that use both chemical and mineral UV filters. Studies indicate that uncoated titanium dioxide and zinc oxide can break down avobenzone. This has two implications: firstly, avoid products that contains both of these ingredients (these formulations are actually banned in some countries); secondly, be careful how you layer your products. If your sunscreen contains avobenzone, don’t apply make-up containing a mineral filter over the top. You could make your sunscreen ineffective or even more harmful.

SPF, UVA and UVB

Lots has been written about SPF and most people are familiar with the idea that it’s a measurement of how long you could (not should) stay in the sun after applying. However, I learned some quite interesting and shocking things during the course of my research. For instance, did you know that many of the ingredients in chemical sunscreens only work against UVB rays and therefore some chemical sunscreens provide negligible protection against UVA? Most of us apply sunscreen for two key reasons: to avoid burning when exposed to the sun in the short term, and to try and dminish the ageing effects of UVA damage on the skin in the longer term. This means that some sun products are really failing us but we won’t necessarily notice for a good long while.

The SPF rating on a sunscreen relates to its ability to protect against UVB radiation, which burns the skin. There is no formal classification for UVA protection (UVA rays accelerate ageing and can also cause damage in the dermis which could lead to skin cancer). Some products use the star rating system for UVA protection but I think the system is still really unclear. In short, don’t assume your product contains UVA protection unless it’s explicitly stated on the packaging. It’s worth knowing that Boots don’t stock products that don’t have UVA protection as stipulated by European standards.

If you focus only on SPF, you could end up doing more damage to your skin that if you’d used no protection at all. Here’s how: say you’re wearing a sunscreen with an SPF50 so you end up staying out in the sun for 4 or 5 times as long as you would have done were you wearing no sunscreen at all. If that same ‘high protection’ has low UVA protection, you’ve spent a considerable amount of time exposing yourself to damaging UVA radiation. You didn’t burn, but plenty of damage has been done. The EWG analysis suggests that people using chemical sunscreens are exposed to approximately 20% more UVA radiation than those using mineral protection. Ouch.

Mineral ingredients provide UVB and UVA protection. Titanium dioxide protects you against UVB and short wave UVA radiation (but not long wave UVA which can still cause damage). Zinc oxide is even better, protecting you from UVB and most UVA rays , plus it’s known for its antimicrobial and healing properties.

The best thing you can really do for your skin is get enough sunshine but not too much more. The recommendation is 10-15mins of gentle exposure per day, on any unprotected skin. But you should limit your exposure to strong sunlight at peak times (11am-3pm) even if you’re wearing sunscreen, by retreating to the shade or wearing a big old hat.

Summary of pros and cons

Chemical sunscreens – PROS Mineral sunscreens – PROS
  • More pleasant formulations to use (lighter, etc)
  • No ‘white mask’ or ashy effect on the skin
  • No problems with combining products (i.e. mineral sunscreen AND make-up is ok)
  • Zinc oxide provides very good UVB AND UVA protection
  • Chemicals are not absorbed into the skin but form a protective barrier (less risk of allergic response or irritation
  • Cooler on the skin – UV rays are reflected, not absorbed into the skin
  • Do not break down in sunlight offering more sustained protection
Chemical sunscreens – CONS Mineral sunscreens – CONS
  • Contains chemicals that do penetrate the skin and can get into the bloodstream
  • Some of these chemicals have been shown to be hormone disruptors or to trigger allergic reactions
  • Many chemical ingredients provide inadequate UVA protection
  • Break down in sunlight so more regular application is required
  •  Formulations can be heavier or greasier
  • Some formulations may leave an ashy white tint on the skin
  • Still some debate about whether the smaller ‘nano’ particles can be absorbed into the skin
  • Powder or spray formulations may be toxic if inhaled

Conclusion

So after ALL that (I’m exhausted…how are you guys doing?), I’ve reached my conclusion and recommendations. Based on the research, I’m going to try and choose liquid-based mineral formulations for my sun protection. Where possible, I’m also going to try and choose products that use zinc oxide as the main active ingredient because of it’s added benefits and extra UVA protection. I don’t expect everyone to necessarily make the same choice as me. Studies are, after all, not gospel and may in time be disproved or invalidated by other later studies. I just think it’s important with sunscreen to make an informed choice, whatever conclusions you reach.

Products

And here’s where it gets tricky. Because I now know ALL of the above, have decided to use mineral sunscreens and yet it’s hard to deny that a lot of mineral formulations just don’t feel as nice as chemical ones. It’s getting better though. Modern techniques allow for a much smaller particle size and mineral formulas are getting lighter, clearer and less like toothpaste! I’ve been experimenting with a few products recently, the results of which are below:

Trilogy Vital Moisturising Cream SPF15 (Active ingredient: titanium dioxide)

This is quite a rich formulation and acts as a stand-alone moisturiser if you’ve got dry skin, saving you the time to layer on more products. It leaves a noticeable sheen on the skin after use but this wasn’t whitening. In fact, the first time I used it a friend commented that I looked ‘glowy’ and I’m 99.9% sure that was a compliment (because she’s a friend and a very lovely person)! A nice base for powder-based make-up because of its more tactile feel on the skin. Bit more expensive, but the cream has benefits beyond sun protection boasting evening primrose, marula and organic rosehip oil to soothe and enrich the skin. I really liked this for light protection.

Ingredients: Aqua (Purified Spring Water), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Zinc Oxide, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Wheat Straw Glycosides & Cetearyl Al, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula Seed) Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tricontanyl PVP, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Oil, Ormenis Multicaulis (Chamomile Flower) Oil, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) flower, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extrac, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Parfum, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, *Components of Natural Essential Oils

Available on the Trilogy website (Trilogy – WHY do you not show prices clearly??) for, I think, £27.50 but you can find it cheaper if you shop around. It’s currently on Amazon for £24.

Green People Day Solution SPF15 (Active ingredient: Titanium dioxide)

I found this very light and easy to apply. No whiteness or greasiness – it gives an almost powdery finish. This was too light for my dry skin as a stand-alone moisturiser and SPF but it layered really well over my usual day cream. It would be excellent if you had oily or normal skin, I think. It’s also a good value option at about £14.95. Apparently it’s scented with rose geranium oil but I must admit I didn’t pick this up and would have said it was fragrance free. You can currently get 10% off the retail price on Essentials London.

Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera), *Elaeis guineensis (palm oil), *Helianthus annuus (sunflower oil), Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate (cinnamon-derived UV-filter), Cetearyl glucoside (emulsifying plant wax), Titanium dioxide (mineral UV-filter), *Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba oil), *Cannabis sativa (hemp oil), Cetearyl alcohol (emulsifying plant wax), Glyceryl stearate (plant-derived moisturiser), *Olea europaea (olive oil), *Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary extract), *Thea sinensis (green tea extract), *Chamomilla recutita (chamomile extract), *Pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium oil), Rosmarinus officinalis & Thymus vulgaris & Salvia officinalis, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic acid and Dehydroacetic acid (preservative system), *Geraniol, *Citronellol, *Linalool, *Citral, *d-Limonene (from essential oils). *87.3% certified organic ingredients

Lavera Sun Sensitive Organic Neutral Sun Milk SPF20 (Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide)

This is a very thick cream and I found it quite hard to apply on my face without dragging. It also left the most noticeable white tint of all the products I tried, although this wasn’t as visible a few minutes after application. It’s not my choice for everyday application but I think it would be if I was on holiday or at the beach and exposed to more sun or dry air. If you’re less bothered by how you look, it feels very protecting and as if it will be much more resistant to sweat and sand. It also contains ingredients designed to calm skin that is being exposed to more irritants (sun, salt, heat, wind) – licorice extract (which studies indicate is a good ingredient for soothing rosacea), sea buckthorn oil and vitamin E. It’s also free from flower extracts, herbal extracts and essential oils so an excellent choice for those with really sensitive and easily irritated skin. I like Lavera’s focus on sensitive skin and their commitment to use zinc oxide so I’m inclined to explore more of their sun products in search of a slightly lighter formula.

It retails at £10.50 but if you purchase now on the Lavera UK site, pravera, you will get a free sun protection lip balm worth £5.50. 

Ingredients: Aqua, Glycine Soja Oil*, Zinc Oxide, Polyclyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin Alcohol, Tricaprylin, Canola Oil, Glyceryl Oleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil*,Simmondsia Chinensis Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glucose Glutamate, Oenothera Biennis Oil*, Dipotasssium Glycyrrhizate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract*, Tocopherol, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Betaglucan, Aloe Barbadensis Gel* Ascorbyl Palmitate

Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Daily Moisture SPF30 (Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide)

This is my current pick of the bunch and based on having to preorder in store and it being almost constantly sold out on the Neal’s Yard website, I’m not the only fan. This is a 100% mineral sunscreen with added antioxidant-rich rosehip oil and milk thistle to help counter the effects of the sun while protecting you from it. Crucially, it’s also the lightest product to apply and has no whitening effect whatsoever. The formula isn’t even white when it comes out of the tube; it’s a creamy beige-yellow. It smells quite strongly of rose so if that’s not your bag, it could be a problem, but it has a matt finish and is very easy to apply. I haven’t actually tried it without another moisturiser underneath, which I must do. I did notice that when you apply it over another product it feels slightly grainy. Not sure what that is but it’s not a huge problem and didn’t bother me too much, given all the other advantages. It is more expensive but I’m inclined to believe it’s worth that extra money.

Available from Neal’s Yard website (sometimes!) and in stores, retailing at £23.50.

Frankincense Firming Mask pictured to demonstrate packaging

Ingredients: Tapioca starch*, Zinc oxide, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil*, Caprylic/Capric triglyceride, Glyceryl laurate, Glyceryl isostearate, Dextrin palmitate, Rosa canina (Rosehip) fruit oil*, Borago officinalis (Borage) seed oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil*, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf oil*, Cymbopogon martinii (Palmarosa) herb oil*, Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli) leaf oil*, Boswellia carterii (Frankincense) oil, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) flower oil*, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Silybum marianum (Milk thistle) extract, Tocopherol, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool * Organically produced ingredient Natural constituent of essential oils listed

Also on my to try list are products by Korres, Badger and L’Occitane’s Angelica range. I’ve read good things about them and will report back on further investigations into sunscreen when my budget allows!

I’d love to get feedback on the above. It’s been a bit of a slog putting things together and it would be great to find out if it’s helped anyone. Plus I’m always on the lookout for tips, so if you’ve got a mineral sunscreen you can’t do without, do let me know.

Happy suntime!

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Body Shop Honey Bronze make-up

It’s not escaped my attention that every couple of days we’re getting a bit of summer. I’m not a sun worshipper – my beach wear is more huge hat, huge sunglasses and kaftan than tiny bikini and the gentle sizzle of grilling flesh – but I love the fizzy positivity of sunshine and I do, like many English roses, enjoy the opportunity to get into bronzers and shimmering body oils when I’m getting my milk bottle limbs out in public.

I noticed that the Body Shop had recently launched their new Honey Bronze make-up range and opted for the Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil and the Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel for Face.

The story is a little Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The Shimmering Dry Oil is very nice but it’s perhaps a little bit too fair. I have pretty pale skin, particularly on my legs, and I didn’t notice the hugest difference in colour. What I did notice was a very attractive sheen, a layer of healthiness if you like, easy application and a light, tropical floral fragance that wasn’t cloying or overpowering (or at all ‘self-tanny’). The oil is very light in texture so wasn’t too heavy over my usual body moisturiser or oil and it contains gold-flecked, light-reflecting shimmer particles for a healthy glow. If you want the effects of a tan, you’ll need a bronzing product underneath but this is like the statement necklace that you add to your outfit for the finishing touch.

The Bronzing Gel for Face was initially offputting as it seemed much too dark. I’m too fair to apply this neat, even as a shader. But it comes into its own when mixed with moisturiser or, better still, an SPF cream. Many of the greener physical sun screens out there, utilising titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, still cause that ‘white-out’ effect, leaving an ashy tint on the skin. I started mixing the Honey Bronze Gel with one of my current facial sunscreens (Korres Watermelon Sunscreen SPF30) and found that I could create a healthy, slightly bronzed glow and avoid the ‘seen a ghost’ ashy effect altogether. Meaning I’m less likely to scrimp on the SPF and will have better overall protection.

Now, the Body Shop are particularly good at promoting fair trade and supporting small-scale community producers – these products contain fair trade honey and beeswax – but they are now a little behind the curve when it comes to their ingredients policy. These products are no exception. There aren’t as many truly natural ingredients on the list here and I could have done without the inclusion of parfum and silica. For occasional use, these are just about ok and the price is reasonable, but I’ll be continuing my hunt for a slightly more natural range.

Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil (£16) and the Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel for Face (£11) are both available in Body Shop stores and at thebodyshop.co.uk.

Ingredients (Shimmering Dry Oil): Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), Isononyl Isononanoate (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Mica (Opacifier), Silica (Absorbent), Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil (Emollient), Persea Gratissima Oil (Emollient), Parfum (Fragrance), Cera Alba (Emulsifier/Emollient), Tocopheryl Acetate (Antioxidant), Benzyl Salicylate (Fragrance Ingredient), Mel (Natural Additive), Amyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Tocopherol (Antioxidant), Hydroxycitronellal (Fragrance Ingredient), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Eugenol (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzyl Benzoate (Solvent), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), CI 77491 (Colour), CI 77891 (Colour), CI 77499 (Colour).

Ingredients (Bronzing Gel): Aqua (Solvent/Diluent), Ethylhexyl Palmitate (Skin Conditioning Agent), Dimethicone (Skin Conditioning Agent), Phenyl Trimethicone (Emollient/Hair Conditioner), Glycerin (Humectant), Steareth-2 (Emulsifier), Steareth-21 (Emulsifier), Mica (Opacifier), Caprylyl Glycol (Skin Conditioning Agent), Cera Alba (Emulsifier/Emollient), Mel (Natural Additive), Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer (Emulsion Stabiliser), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (Viscosity Modifier), Phenethyl Alcohol (Fragrance Ingredient), Isohexadecane (Emollient/Solvent), Cetyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin Conditioning Agent), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Polysorbate 80 (Surfactant), Caprylhydroxamic Acid (Chelating Agent), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Sorbitan Oleate (Emulsifier), Sodium Hyaluronate (Humectant), CI 77492 (Colour), CI 77491 (Colour), CI 77891 (Colour), CI 77499 (Colour).

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Starting up

So. Blogging. Day one. I’ve thought about this for some time now so it feels slightly strange to be here. I had lots of thoughts about what my opening post should be about. It feels like there’s more pressure on the ‘first post’. I rejected many topics because they didn’t seem quite significant enough; too big, too small, too hot, too cold.

Then I remembered something.

My first post is quite unlikely to be read by anyone other than my friends. And maybe not even them (they have busy lives after all).

So I stopped worrying about subjects and looked around a bit. Why today? Why did I suddenly do this today?

The answer was quite literally everywhere. Streaming in through every one of my windows and glinting off reflective surfaces. It was there when I took a walk to the supermarket (far too beautiful to get in my car) and when I found myself thinking for the first time about strawberries, Pimms and summer barbecues on the walk home.

The sun.

It’s that simple.

Today, the gushing exuberance of light everywhere just made me feel like I could do anything and it would all turn out just fine. A lot has been written about the dangers of the sun. More has been written recently about the dangers of vitamin D deficiency and overuse of high-SPF products. I’m sure I’ll join the great sun debate at some point.

But today. Today was all about the light and the reminder that the sun is one of the greatest enhancers of health, beauty and wellbeing. Gram for gram, it has a more powerful positive effect on my psychological state than almost anything else. And it’s completely natural.