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

World Oceans Day

Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash

Make a splash and come celebrate WORLD OCEANS DAY with us. 

Our country is full of idyllic coastal resorts, made special by one thing.. our ocean. Being surrounded by water brings a sense of calm and wellbeing. I become more obsessed each year in my quest for the perfect alfresco sea view. It got me thinking about the need to to preserve this beauty and what we can do to #saveourseas

Photo by Alex Perez on Unsplash

save our seas from plastic pollution

Plastic pollution is becoming a serious problem for all our seas...

80% of all pollution in the ocean comes from people on land.

8 million tonnes of plastic per year ends up in the ocean, wreaking havoc on wildlife, fisheries and tourism.

Plastic pollution costs the lives of seabirds and marine mammals every year.

Fish eat plastic, and we eat the fish.

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash.jpg

Healthy Oceans, Healthy Us

A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. Every year, World Oceans Day provides a unique opportunity to honor, protect, and conserve our world’s shared ocean.

Our ocean is so important it...

Generates most of the oxygen we breathe
Helps feed us
Regulates our climate
Cleans the water we drink
Offers a pharmacopoeia of medicines
Provides limitless inspiration

Photo by Joel Vodell on Unsplash

change gonna come

It has to. So what can we do?

Ditch the plastic.

Use less and recycle the plastic you must use. 

Go for alternatives like glass and metal.

Go vintage - a little make-do-a-mend - they had to, but now we need to;

 reduce, reuse and recycle

Use these hashtags on social to spread the word and help clean up our ocean: #WorldOceansDay #TogetherWeCan

www.worldoceansday.org

Photo by Teddy Kelley on Unsplash

Summertime Shine

Summertime and we're all livin easy; whether exploring our beautiful Isles or jetting off to far flung shores. But it's not all palm trees and pineapples - we're talking sun protection and here's the lowdown from Peep before you go...

Use your threads

We're big fans of the straw hat, the bigger the better. They do a great job protecting our vulnerable areas; face, neck and ears.  Steer clear of wet t-shirt competitions - they offer nothing in the way of protection or a place in modern society.  

Loosely woven fabrics and light colours also offer little protection, so pass the sunscreen!

Eye Eye

In our glorious summer months, radiation is three times greater than in winter. The sun's ultraviolet light and exposure to UV radiation is linked to some serious eye conditions... cataracts, macular degeneration, photokeratitis (corneal sunburn), and growths on the eye... ouch!

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 the lenses, it's the percentage of UV protection that matters. Go for 100% every time. Oversized or wraparound sunglasses block the most sun, especially when those rays are bouncing off sand and sea. 

Save Face

OK here's the science...

The two types of ultraviolet we know so well, UVA and UVB, both cause misery - UVA skin ageing and UVB causes sunburn and skin cancer. Mother nature takes care of UVC for us. UVA rays damage DNA and cause skin ageing  - wrinkles, collagen damage and liver spots... say what?

There's also the new kid on the block. IRA rays. These InfraRed rays may penetrate skin more deeply generating free radicals and causing mayhem... still with me?

Solution: choose a broad spectrum, high protection SPF with UVA 4* or 5* protection, one with antioxidants if you're feeling fancy. Apply liberally 15-30 mins before venturing out and reapply every 2 hours, especially after hitting the pool.

Don't leave your suncream baking 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... now. 

Don't panic! You'll still tan with SPF 30+ product. Yes it takes longer, but bonus, your tan lasts longer and you'll be saving your skin.  

Never let your skin burn - it's not the 80s - we all know better. Everyone's skin offers different levels of protection from the sun - if you're pale skinned you're more at risk.  Out with the baby oil and in with factor 50!

Seek out shade

Step out of the sun before you start to lobster - turning palest pink is a warning. Eleven until three pm is the danger zone when the sun is strongest - we recommend long lazy lunches under canopy.

Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate

Keep well hydrated, as the temperature soars, it's easy to dehydrate and be left a little limp. Up the anti and add cucumber, mint, citrus and fruity ice cubes to water, or snack on strawberries, cucumber and melon to keep cool.

All Peep sunglasses give 100% UVA & UVB protection enhancing sun protection and reducing glare, to make the most of our beloved summer days.

School's out for summer kids... Enjoy!

Jo

Coral ... shades of summer

The sister of blush and part of the new neutrals family, coral slots right in amongst our wardrobe staples. Summer in a shade, this pretty colour casts pink overtones and orange undertones, calming down high energy colours and adding a pop to whites and denims.

We're loving the corals in this Algae Illustration by Miss Capricho

Easy to wear and flattering to almost every skin tone, coral looks perfect with sunkissed skin (from a bottle or with a dollop of UV protection of course) - it's our go-to for summer lips, nails and sunglasses.

Our version is a beautifully made, original late 60s sumptuous optyl frame, by Italian brand Correna. Oversize vintage style with delicate peaches and cream tones and sculpted detail.

Coral was crying out for peach tinted lenses, we've added an anti reflection coating to give a little extra in the UV department.  See them modelled by the delectable Caroline Jones from Knickers Models Own.

Best of all - now you can win your very own pair of vintage sunglasses in our competition to take home Coral - check out our Peep meets Knickers Competition and enter here.

Good luck peeps!

Jo