By now we are all pretty aware of the dangers of tanning in the sun, like premature ageing and skin cancer. This is why so many of us turn to creams, oils and mousses to get our summer glow. 

When we do go into the sun we want to make sure we're protected. You might have heard more and more talk about "natural sun protection". Let's break it down...

Sunblock

Sunblock is a topical application, often a lotion, that protects your skin from sun damage. 

The SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measure of how long the sunscreen will protect you. A sunscreen with 30 SPF will protect you for 30 times longer than if you had no sun protection. 

Natural Sunblock 

A natural sunblock uses naturally occurring ingredients that have an SPF, and have become increasingly popular. 

• Almond oil has an SPF around 5
• Shea butter has an SPF of 4-6 
• Coconut oil has an SPF of 4-6 
• Raspberry seed oil has an SPF of 25-50
• Carrot seed oil has an SPF of 35-40

It is very cool that nature is able to supply us with ingredients that protect us from the sun. 

However, it's important to know that their effectiveness is harder to measure. Unless the sunscreen has verified SPF label, you can't be sure how well it's working. When in doubt, tan with safety. 

Luckily there are heaps of ways you can protect yourself from the sun! 

Clothes 

Clothing is a physical barrier between you and the sun, so it's the ultimate shield. But something you might not know - not all clothing is created equally. 

• Shiny fabrics like rayon reflect UV
• Matte fabrics like linen absorb UV 
• Darker colors absorb more UV than lighter colors 
• Bright colors like red absorb substantially more UV rays 
• Vivid clours have higher protection, so opt for a mustard over a pastel yellow

We're not saying you have to wear cycling gear to the beach, but a tightly woven linen set can be cool, stylish and sun-smart. Complete the look with a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears and you're summer-ready! 

Shades

Aside from being a fashion statement, the right pair of sunglasses also protect your eyes from the sun. 

How they're labelled can be confusing. Polarized sunglasses eliminate glare, however it's UV protection that actually protects your eyes from the dangerous rays. Always go for a pair that protects you from 99-100% of UV rays. 

Our advice? Combine multiple sun protection methods. Because the best part is - you can still be tan! 

Take a look at the range of Skinny Tan products to see how you can be bronzed without the sun.