If I may say so myself - I've got a lovely tan.
I'll give full credit to Greece for its balmy climes, complimented by soft breeze (erring on gail force from time to time!) The
pleasant weather enabled me to tan slowly and effectively and protect
my bump (always cover with a towel or in keep in shade please, ladies).
My recent winter hol to Thailand (where I discovered I was
pregnant) left me red-faced, puffing and a little dizzy - I thought
it was mainly baking myself in the high temps, but nope, it was little
bubba making himself known! It was the holiday of a lifetime but for me the nausea combined
with aversion to the sun really made it hard work (not to mention the
motion sickness!)
So with caution on my last summer hol as a couple with no kids, I packed various levels of SPF varying from 15 (for daddy) up to 30 for me. I know many dermatologists implore you to slap on SPF50 but I dont
want to come home paler than when I left, and I do have a decent amount
of melanin production I want to enhance!
First of all a little science lesson to you mummies...
UVA rays can age us by penetrating deep into the
dermis, while UVB are the ones that cause burning on the top of the skin
and these are the ones you find on hols, and when the sun is blazing,
whereas UVA are prevalent every day - even winter. You think you can't get damage on a cloudy day - think again. They
even penetrate glass. Which is why specialists are always drumming into
us wear SPF every day - ideally in your make-up.
So here we go:
This light mist provides immediate protection and has a lovely cooling effect that definitely leaves you refreshed on the beach.It's quickly absorbed, and leaves no gloopy residue or marks on
your skin. Plus its ergonimically designed nozzle helps work from all
angles so you don't have to keep re-pumping and applying - just spray
and go. I didn't burn with this, and I was sad it was used up so quickly -
the only problem I find is you'd probably need 2 bottles for a week hol
and you want t o provide adequate protection - and the cooling effect is
quite addictive!
As a beauty insiders CEW (cosmetic executive women UK) finalist - I'm honestly not suprised.
This
high protection oil keeps legs (this is the only place I use it) highly
hydrated and it contains melitan - which enhances natural tanning (in
vitro test). Ticks every box and helps provide the moisture you lose through
tanning. I like to use this in the garden - but my temperature rockets
up so it's usually a legs out on the table jobby!
Daddy-to-be mainly used this one, but on the last few days
when we had run out of everything else I agreed to give it a go. I
always trust Nivea's tanning lotions so it wasn't like I had to be
coerced into using it, it's just I prefer sprays, oils and mists for
ease. I needn't have worried as it applied with ease and sank in
effortlessly - you're more susceptible to burning when preggers, so I would
always opt to use SPF30. You WILL still tan, and if you are dipping in
and out of water you must re-apply.
Usually eye
wincingly expensive in comparison to the others (£14.99 from Boots) - but you'll often find
an offer on - like we did at Superdrug, so we got this (plus an SPF oil (15) that Dad-to-be
caked himself with - and inevitably burnt to a crisp). As delicately as it's described with 'moisturising ribbons', the
came in the form of recommendation from my little cousin, who was
sporting a rather luscious deep brown tan (she had been for 2 weeks in
Greece though!) The ribbons are designed to hydrate your skin in the sun for up to
12 hours, and has advanced UVA (long wave) UVB (short wave) protection.
You should use 3 tablespoons per full body application - and its a great
combination of daily moisturiser and excellent SPF protection - it
comes in higher factors so just opt for a 30 - and away you go.
I can't criticise any of these as I tanned
effectively, I only wish I had taken another bottle of the NIVEA spray - as
that definitely wins my mummy vote.
LN
