Enjoying the sunshine - safely!

I love how the bold and exuberant yellow of the daffodils, primulas, tulips in bloom right now reflects the source of the awakened spring energy, the return of the sun! Brightening, vivifying, the sun sustains all life. How we welcome its radiant light and warmth after a long winter! How glorious to walk along lanes that are stirring back to life with hedgerows popping bright green buds and wild greens erupting from the bare ground. Winter’s bare branches will soon be just a memory as spring surges forward into summer.

I have been enjoying sitting out in the garden during the recent bright weather, angling my face into the sun to fully receive its blessing. The sun is at its zenith at around 1pm at this time of year; and at this time its vital force can be felt most strongly.

In yogic and other spiritual traditions it is thought that the sun emanates cosmic energy, a manifestation of prana, which is one of the reasons why we are instinctively drawn to the sun and can feel irritable and even depressed during its absence in winter. Vitamin D3, essential for bone health can only be synthesised through sun exposure, we can rightly consider the solar body to be a source of nutrition.

According to science, the sun emits UV rays, light on a wavelength that is imperceptible to the human eye. It is further understood that prolonged exposure to UV can be a major if not the major factor in skin aging. As I contemplate this, I recall a visit to the rooftops of Fez in Morocco, where artisans stretch animal skins to dry under the seemingly permanent African sun. The equation is simple: sun + skin = leather.

Let us cover up then, particularly as summer advances and the strength of UV light intensifies. I favour a physical barrier that shades the face, it’s important to keep a cool head! Since the Spring Equinox in March I have been diligently applying sun block to my skin. Make this part of your daily routine, so that it becomes as automatic as brushing your teeth. Cleanse and re-apply at midday, particularly if you tend to perspire, touch your face a lot or are physically active. Use a generous amount of product to ensure good coverage and include the area around the eyes, which is the most fragile. Remember too, to cover the décolletage (area between the collar bone and bust) and apply any spare to the back of the hands, perhaps mixed with a little hand cream.

Here are some recommendations of products I have personally used across a range of budgets:

JASON Organics Facial Sunblock spf 20 150g approx £8.50 Fragrance and paraben free 150g approx £8.50

Clinique City Block Sheer spf 25 40ml £15 Invisible under make-up. Widely acclaimed and rightly very popular.

Lancome Soleil DNA Guard spf 30 50ml £22.50 A personal favourite, a high quality product

Clarins Sun Wrinkle Eye Contour Care High Protection 20ml £16 A specialist product that really works, especially useful if you prefer not to wear sunglasses.

Boots Soltan Face spf 30 50ml £8.75
A competent budget buy, available on every High Street and often available as buy-one-get-one-free

Enjoy the sunshine!