Tips Tuesday 'Sun Protection'

Today is the first of my 'Tips Tuesday' posts, where hopefully I can pass on some pearls of wisdom, or basically where you can learn from my stupid mistakes.  For today's tips I wanted to talk about sun protection.

Now I'm certainly no skin or beauty expert.  Definitely not.  But I have spent many summers during my childhood getting fried, and then peeling like a snake shedding it's skin, and now...due to sun exposure, and the fact that I'm genetically inclined...I'm covered in freckles and moles.  To quote Austin Powers...."Mo-l-e...."

 

In the last few years I have also spent a lot of time working outdoors, as I used to be a farmhand and cattle fitter on a beef cattle property, and then I managed a different beef cattle property...before moving to a different state and briefly working on a beef and sheep stud.  Loved it.  But my skin didn't.  I always had moisturiser with an SPF in it on my face during those times, BUT I never wore sunglasses....(say hello to old squinty)

.....and I totally should have.  I have a few crows feet to prove it.

 

Now I have been a bit blessed in that I inherited my grandmother's fabulous jeans....I mean genes, and I don't really look 20 (plus the extra 20 ...almost 21 years) that I am.  The proof is kind of in the pudding, where my husband, when I meet him, thought I was about 25 and I was actually 34.  Hence he is 12 years younger than me.  (yes...go me).  BUT, despite me wearing my grandmother's fabulous hand-me-down skin, I still wish I had looked after my skin better.  And by this I mean ALWAYS slathering myself completely in sunscreen.

 

Now I could get all technical and go into the whole UVA/UVB/Ultra-violet mega-killer ray type information, but I won't.  I'm not a scientist.  Nor is this post really about that.  This is a warning ladies (and gentlemen), that those of you who are still peachy perky and have lovely 20-something rose-leaf complexions....don't be fooled!!!  It won't last (I'm sorry to say...), and it will last even less if you don't put on your sunscreen.  Everyday.  Even when it's cloudy.  Even in winter.  And pop on your funky sunnies too.

 

A regular skin check at the doctors wouldn't hurt either.  I just had mine done and know which spots to keep an eye on.

 

Anyway, it's all information you know, I'm sure.  But from the tapping typing finger tips of a middle-aged woman (grrrr....I've made myself sound so old here....)...it's the best bit of skincare advice I can give.  Sunscreen.  Say it again.  Sunscreen.  Sunscreen.  Sunscreen......