Don’t Forget to Protect Your Skin This Summer

Whether you’re heading for somewhere exotic, or planning to stay at home and make the most of the British summer, it’s important that you remember to protect your skin from the sun. It’s not just the strength of the midday sun that damages your skin, any sun or daylight can have a detrimental effect on your skin.

Try to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm when the sun’s rays are the strongest. If you wish to be in this sun during this time, then you should try to wear light clothing that will protect your skin. Wear wrap-around sun glasses to ensure that your eyes are not damaged by the UVA sunlight.

If you’re unable to protect yourself with clothing, then using a good quality high factor sunscreen will help to protect your skin. But don’t think that you are completely safe, just because you are wearing sunscreen, it needs reapplying regularly. You also need to use a sunscreen that is at least SPF Factor 30 . Check the use-by date, if it’s out of date, it may not offer the same protection. Don’t forget to rub the cream into every area the sun’s rays could possible touch you, don’t forget your ears and exposed areas of your head. You should always apply the cream 30 minutes before going into the sun, this gives the skin adequate time to absorb the cream. If you are swimming or sweating a lot, you’ll want to reapply the sunscreen every hour or so.

If you are planning to be in the sun over the entire summer, you should check your skin over for signs of sun damage regularly. Always look at yourself using a full length mirror and examine any existing birthmarks, moles and skin blemishes to check if their size, texture or colour has changed. If any of these have become uncomfortable or sore, it could be a sign of sun damage and you may need to check with your physician. Don’t forget that skin cancer is most treatable with an early diagnosis.

Everyone should do their utmost to protect their skin from damage. However, people with a higher risk of skin cancer should pay the most attention. This includes people who have fair skin and whose skin burns rather easily. If you already have a lot of freckles and moles, it’s a sign that you are sun-reactive and should take extra care. If you have a history of being easily burned by the sun, or you have had experience of severe sunburn, you should take care, your skin has already been damaged and may be more easily damaged in future. If you have red or fair hair, you should also take precautionary care in the sun. If you have light-coloured eyes, you should also take care to wear sunglasses that meet sun protection guidelines, rather than simply look fashionable.

But sun damage doesn’t only increase the risk of skin cancer, it also produces many unsightly skin problems that will reduce your self confidence and cause your skin to be permanently marked.

Dr Jain recommends the following creams to help combat the effects of sun damage:

• Prevage MD
• Priori Even Tones
• Priori Idebenone Moisturising Cream
• Priori Daily Defense SPF30
• Vitage Skin Protector SPF 30

5 Cosmetics To Buy Your Girlfriend This Christmas

At Riverbanks Clinic, we understand just how important it is to get your girlfriend something extra special at Christmas time. So we’ve put together a list of suggestions for the five items that we think you should buy your girlfriend this Christmas!

ONE: Professional Skin Care Products
A woman that takes pride in her appearance knows that feeling good and looking great starts with the skin, the largest organ on the body. The trouble is that there’s so many skin care products on the market, it’s hard to tell the junk from the jewels.

Take our advice and take a look at these professional skincare kits. You can buy an intro kit, which will allow her to test the effects before committing to the full range. If she really likes the way this clever Christmas gift enhances her appearance, then you'll have a clue about what to get her for her birthday!

TWO: The Eyes Have It!
They say that they eyes are the windows to the soul and when a woman starts to get self conscious about her appearance, it’s often about the fine lines and wrinkles around her eyes. Now, be cautious, because you don’t want to hurt her feelings, but if she thinks she’d benefit from a little help around the eyes, then we’ve got a really snazzy range of eye serum products that will restore vital moisture to the eye area, reduce the appearance of fine lines and help to smooth out those wrinkles.

THREE: Luscious Lips
As part of our Mineral Make Up range, we have some sexy lip glosses in a selection of 14 different shades, so you can choose something that suits your girlfriend’s personality! But that’s not all, if your girlfriend is all about the lips, we’ve got Youngblood lip pencils, lip shine and lip sticks in 20 different shades. Let’s face it, with a bit of lippy at Xmas, you can’t go wrong!

FOUR: Marvelous Moisturiser
If you’re looking for a stocking filler that will light up her face, then you can’t go far wrong with a high quality, professional moisturiser. Our range of Priori and Vitage age defying moisturisers are perfectly suited to every day use, night time and as a hand and body lotion with built in sun protection.

FIVE: Gift Vouchers - With a Difference!
No one needs reminding that they’re getting older. But as our bodies mature, we start wishing that Mother Nature would hear our plea and turn back the clock. Well, we all know that’s not possible, but what is possible is a little bit of help - if she’s been talking about ‘getting a bit of work done’ and she’s not too sensitive to accept your assistance, why not give her some gift vouchers from Riverbanks Clinic. She can choose how she uses them, but if she’s been dreaming of some cosmetic treatment or professional skin care products, this will be the gift she’ll truly remember this Christmas.