Summer Sun

Summer’s arrived and we’re so ready to soak up that glorious summer sun. Staying home and hitting the garden is now a national pastime, so it’s pretty important to stay safe while having fun in the sun this summer.

le sun tan

Tanning became chic when Coco Chanel accidentally caught too much sun on a cruise in Cannes in the 1920s - or so the story goes. Before this having a tan was deeply unfashionable. Ladies went to unfathomable lengths applying lead based products and carrying parasols to stay chalky white.

But by the 1960s air travel was happening and the glamour of holidaying in the Mediterranean was irresistible. The main focus of the holiday to return with a deep tan with which to wow the neighbours.

Tanning got seriously fashionable - self-tanning products, around since the 1950s, were thrown around in abandon and then sunbeds were thrust upon us in the late 70s to keep us fully bronzed. As much as we love the feel of sun on our skin, these days I think we’ll all take healthy skin over tanned any day of the week.

summer sun and health

sarah o'shea

Summer in the sun… BBQs, lazy hazy afternoons, getting green fingered in the garden - there are lots of benefits to getting outside in the summer sun. A daily dose of vitamin D strengthens bones, while sunlight improves sleep quality by resetting our circadian rhythm. Sunlight reduces blood pressure - mine drops as soon as I hit the garden with a glass of something fruity.

Sunlight also improves mood - when light enters the eye, it stimulates neurons in the hypothalamus, a mood influencing part of the brain. These nerve impulses travel to the pineal gland, which regulates serotonin, the feel-good hormone linked to mood, the natural light boosting our mood and giving us all the good vibes.

how to stay safe in the sun

seeking shade - Tony Ross

Staying safe in the sun is essential to avoid sun damage and skin cancer (not to mention skin ageing). Sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer and skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK. It’s on the rise again and 100,000 new cases are now diagnosed each year, while 9 in 10 cases of melanoma could have been prevented by enjoying the sun safely.

The sun’s UV rays are the strongest between 11am and 4pm from early April to late September. This is the time where the sun can cause damage, so we need to show it some respect.

One of the best ways to protect your skin from the sun's rays is to spend some time in the shade. Shade and clothing are more effective than sunscreen and more natural and eco friendly to boot. Take a break under trees, parasols, canopies or our personal fave - head indoors for a lazy long luncheon.

Rays reflect off pavements and burn through sheer fabrics, so choose loose-fitting pieces with a close weave material. If you can see through, UV radiation can penetrate the fabric and reach your skin. Unbleached cotton contains natural agents that absorb UV. Hats are your friend - I don’t leave home without my trusty cap.

SCREEN YOUR SKIN

Morgan Alley

Too much sun causes sunburn and can trigger early signs of ageing - the wrinkles, pigmentation and sagging skin we all want to avoid - so sun care is a must. It’s time to take a fresh look at our sunscreen. Wearing formulas that protect from both UVA and UVB rays are crucial in protecting our skin and slowing down the ageing process.

It will also prevent skin issues such as rosacea, acne and eczema from flaring up.  Whatever we put on our skin is absorbed into our skin, so it’s important to look at ingredients and go for more natural products that are kinder and show our skin some love.

It’s good to consider environmental credentials too when choosing a sunscreen. How ocean safe is it? Chemicals contained in suncreams are thought to be damaging to marine life and coral reefs alike.

Chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate can seep into the water, where they're being absorbed by corals, algae, sea urchins, fish and mammals. Look for sunscreens with natural mineral ingredients aka titanium oxide and zinc oxide.

Choose a broad spectrum, high protection SPF with UVA 4* or 5* protection. Pop it on half an hour before you go in the sun. Apply liberally and reapply every 2 hours. Don't leave it in the sun - it stops working when stored above 25°C . And yes, it has a shelf life - once expired it's not effective... so bin it and recycle that tube.

protect your peepers

It’s National Sunglasses Day on 27 June and keeping your eyes protected from the sun is essential in summer. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet light and UV radiation is linked to some serious eye conditions... cataracts, macular degeneration, photokeratitis (corneal sunburn) and research has found that 5-10% of skin cancers occur on the eyelid… eek!

Protect your peepers by investing in quality sunglasses that filter out both UVA and UVB radiation. Over 90% of UV light can pass through even light cloud - so don't leave home without them.

It's not the colour of your lenses, it's the percentage of UV protection that matters, so you can go for that dreamy pale tint as long as you go for 100% UV protection. Oversized or wraparound sunglasses block the most sun, especially when those rays are bouncing off pavements and pools.

UV damage is cumulative, occurring over a lifetime of exposure. Children are especially vulnerable, so get them in good habits of throwing on their sunnies when you do and stay sun safe this summer.

Check out our range of 100% UV protected sunnies or customise your own adding in tints and graduations from our frame only range.

Get ready to turn up the heat.

Jo

sun safe this summer

It’s official summer’s here! Sun drenched afternoons spent languishing in gardens and on beaches are what we live for with their mood boosting, vitamin D injecting loveliness.

This month we’re celebrating International Sunglasses Day (27 June) and the importance of wearing sunglasses to protect our eyes. Jump on board and show us your best #SunglassSelfie

sun safe skin

Too much sun is the main cause of both skin cancer and skin ageing. In the UK, almost 9 in 10 cases of melanoma could be prevented by enjoying sun safely.

Here in the UK the sun’s UV rays are the strongest between 11am and 3pm from early April to late September. This is the time where the sun can cause damage, so we need to show it some respect.

One of the best ways to protect your skin from the sun's rays is to spend some time in the shade.

Shade and clothing are more effective than sunscreen and a lot more eco friendly to boot. Take a break under trees, parasols, canopies or our personal fave - head indoors for a lazy long luncheon.

Rays reflect off pavements and burn through sheer fabrics, so choose loose-fitting pieces with a close weave material. Hats are your friend - I don’t leave home without my trusty cap for full face protection.

screen your skin

It’s time to take a fresh look at our sunscreen. Whatever we put on our skin is absorbed into our skin, so it’s important to look at ingredients and go for more natural products that are kinder to your skin.

by Jakob Owens

We need to consider how ocean safe our sunscreen is too. The chemicals contained in suncreams are thought to be damaging to marine life and coral reefs alike.

Chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate can seep into the water, where they're being absorbed by corals, algae, sea urchins, fish and mammals. Look for sunscreens with natural mineral ingredients aka titanium oxide and zinc oxide.

Choose a broad spectrum, high protection SPF with UVA 4* or 5* protection. Apply liberally and reapply every 2 hours. Don't leave it in the sun - it stops working when stored above 25°C .  And yes, it has a shelf life - once expired it's not effective... so bin it and recycle that tube.

Shade those eyes

The sun's ultraviolet light and exposure to UV radiation is linked to some serious eye conditions... cataracts, macular degeneration, photokeratitis (corneal sunburn) and research has found that 5-10% of skin cancers occur on the eyelid… eek!

By Aral Tasher

Protect your peepers by investing in quality sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB radiation. Over 90% of UV can pass through even light cloud - so don't leave home without them.

It's not the colour of your lenses, it's the percentage of UV protection that matters, so you can go for that pale tint as long as you go for 100% UV. Oversized or wraparound sunglasses block the most sun, especially when those rays are bouncing off sand and sea. 

good Summer habits

UV damage is cumulative, occurring over a lifetime of exposure. Children are especially vulnerable, so get them in good habits of throwing on their sunnies when you do. Burn now and pay later, so stay sun safe this summer.

Check out our range of 100% UV protected sunnies and get ready to turn up the heat.

Jo

The history of sunglasses

It's International Sunglasses day and we think that's a day worth celebrating. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and check out the history of sunglasses…

Ocean vintage sunnies

Sunglasses or 'suncheaters' have a colourful history, from the Roman Emperor Nero who viewed gladiator matches through an emerald, to the Inuits ingenious snow goggles design, featuring small slits to limit the suns access and prevent snow blindness. 

Inuit wooden snow goggles

The Chinese were known to use pieces of smoky quartz as vision aids. Known as Ai Tai, meaning ‘dark clouds covering the sun’, the scrolls say they were worn in court to conceal their facial expressions during trials - handy!

The first tinted sunnies 'Goldoni Glasses' appeared in Venice, Italy in the late 18th century. Named after the famous playwright Carlo Goldoni, they were worn by gondoliers on the sunny canals of Venice. At the same time 'eye preservers' were popular in Britain with peeps that suffered from light sensitivity.

In the 1920s sunglasses were sold off the Atlantic City boardwalk by Sam Foster and became a fashion staple amongst the rich and famous. Actors and actresses loved them as they shielded their eyes from the blinding movie set lights. Off screen sunglasses were perfect for remaining incognito. 

During World War II, the military designed spectacles for pilots that would enhance vision and reduce glare at altitude. The US Army Air Corps enlisted the help of eyeglasses maker Bausch & Lomb, who developed the iconic Ray-Ban Aviator in 1939. They went on to use ground breaking plastic molding technology in the 50’s and the Wayfarer was born.

In the 60s and 70s everything got supersized and we have Jackie O to thank for making oversized sunglasses a thing - and the rest as they say is history (of sunglasses).

Photo by Hust Wilson on Unsplash

Sunglasses are so important for blocking the sun's ultraviolet light. Exposure to light and UV radiation is linked to serious eye conditions... cataracts, macular degeneration, photokeratitis (corneal sunburn), and cancerous growths of the eye... ouch!

Protect your peepers by investing in quality sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB radiation. It's not the colour of the lenses, it's the percentage of UV protection that counts. Go for 100% every time. Although tiny 90s glasses are enjoying a revival, it's oversized or wraparound sunglasses that block the most sun, especially when those rays are bouncing off sand and sea. 

Stay safe and celebrate those sunnies!

Check out our latest summer styles here.

Jo