The new SUN RULES

Make the most of the warmer weather withoul the damage

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7 ways to STAY SAFE IN THE SUN

1 Don't burn to tan

‘As soon as the skin reddens, this signifies it's in trauma. By protecting skin properly from the sun, your tan will last,’ says Ultrasun UK founder Abi Cleeve. Hate the idea of being pale but don't want to damage your skin? Try Green People Glow & Protect SPF 30, £37, greenpeople.co.uk, which is a gradual tan with broad-spectrum sun protection builtin. So you can build a golden glow without burning your skin.

2 Check for broad-spectrum protection

The SPF number on your sun lotion bottle indicates the amount of protection you're getting from UVB rays (the kind that causes burning), but doesn't take UVA rays (the ones that age our skin) into account. Although you might not feel them as intensely, these rays are present all year round, and are powerful enough to penetrate through glass and clouds. There isn’t a universal sign for UVA protection, so you need to look out for either a PA+ rating, a star rating or the phrase broad-spectrum (which means it protects from UVA and UVB).

3 Makeup doesn't count

Your foundation might boast SPF 30, but to get that level of protection, you'd need to apply such a thick layer that you'd end up with a cakey, unnatural finish. Think of it instead as an added extra. It's also a myth that SPF adds up - an SPF 30 sunscreen topped with an SPF 25 foundation won't give you a total SPF of 55. The highest number you apply in a sunscreen (in this case SPF 30) will be the maximum protection you get.

4 Think about the filters