Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare blog

Hoorah! Moving on from my last entry I actually do have my suitcase back home, full of unworn holiday clothes it spent a total of 32 days in the ‘care’ of good old British Airways. Just in time, in fact, for me to repack for our trip to Los Angeles. Kim, the team and I are heading out to Santa Monica for the Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare launch in the famous beauty STUDIO at Fred Segal. This Mecca of innovative beauty boutiques is a prime shopping destination for many of the Hollywood elite and will be our first stockist on the West Coast of America –how very exciting! I’ve already checked the online weather forecast and it’s gloriously sunny, which partly makes up for having to travel on a (wet) bank holiday. Needless to say I’ll be taking plenty of our Sun Shade with me and – as we’re travelling from Terminal 5 – again – I’m loading lots of  travel sizes into my hand luggage (along with other emergency ‘essentials’ just in case!). So here’s to a less ‘eventful’ flight…

On the West Coast, sun protection is pretty much an all year round obsession but interestingly, many are only just beginning to realise the importance of checking the ingredients in their suncare and not just the SPF. Last year, researchers at the University of California found that three of the most widely used synthetic suncare UV filters (octylmethoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3 and octocrylene) all generate free-radicals when exposed to sunlight, thus increasing the overall potential for skin damage within the skin. This is obviously not good news for products specifically designed to protect the skin and is another reason to choose your suncare carefully. For us this is nothing new. Last year I gave a talk at our King’s Road store for Sun Awareness Week, the British Association of Dermatologists’ annual drive to promote sun safety. My ‘Sun Safety’ talk, which focused on the mineral vs. synthetic chemical sunscreen research, as well as the best ways to fight photo-ageing and free-radical skin damage, is still available to listen to online.

This year’s Sun Awareness Week begins today to coincide with Euromelanoma Day – a Europe-wide day of action on skin cancer prevention.  Early detection of this disease is key to survival and with new statistics showing that skin cancer is now the fastest growing cancer in the UK. The Association is highlighting its ABCD-Easy guide to checking moles, which could help detect the signs of this deadliest form of skin cancer. I actually went to the doctor last week to have a small mole on my leg checked out. It was slightly darker than I remembered it being and I was reassured to have it looked at by an expert, who thankfully pronounced it OK.The British Association of Dermatologists is also using the week to draw attention to the dangers of using sunbeds, some of which are now shown to carry the same cancer risk as the midday sun in southern Europe. The Association is therefore calling for a ban on sunbed use for under 18s and on coin-operated, unmanned sunbeds as well as their removal from sports centres and gyms which subliminally imply that they are somehow ‘healthy’. Rather alarmingly, a recent study published by the British Journal of Dermatology showed scientists found that 83% of sunbeds produced UVB radiation levels that exceeded the European standard. If  you are determined to use a sunbed, find a salon that has the latest type that cleverly adapt their output according to your skintype, limit the amount of minutes they can be used for and even allow you to switch off the face and neck areas, which is far less ageing.

Less damaging than tanned skin (from the sun or sunbed) is a natural looking self-tan treatment. There’s nothing like golden legs and arms to boost our confidence levels for summer’s invariably skimpier fashions and my favourite way to gain a touch of sun-kissed glamour is with our Sun Shade Botanical Self-Tan Spray (UK, US). I remember when I first started writing and researching for magazines in the early ‘80s that self-tans were a bit of a messy, rather hit and miss affair – you never knew quite how orange you would end up – or how streaky! I’m glad to say that today’s formulations are nothing like their forerunners and can give such a healthy, outdoorsy glow it’s hard for the sun to compete, apart from its glorious feel-fab factor of course. Our own Botanical Self-Tan Spray contains melanin from sunflower seeds and plant-derived dihydroxyacetone – or DHA – an ingredient that reacts with amino acids in the epidermis to lightly kiss skin on faces and bodies with summery gold. Aside from the super-natural colour it is also hydrating thanks to organic aloe vera leaf juice – and best of all, it smells lovely. This is because we use luxurious pure essential oils such as rosemary, patchouli and lavandin to impart it with a lovely fresh, floral fragrance, which leaves skin deliciously scented too. If you’re still in need of reassurance, Marie Claire.com recently raved about just how pleasant the smell of our Self-Tan is compared to most other brands – "this fake tan stands apart, using a sweet orange and geranium scent that is a much more pleasant aroma than the majority on the market."

When it comes to application I find practise really does make perfect and a few simple tried and tested tips can help you get the most gorgeous, golden sunless tan. I always begin by exfoliating to get a really smooth and even base for the most even, natural looking colour. That means Gentle Face Exfoliator (UK, US) on my face then Energising Body Scrub (UK, US) from the neck down, concentrating on areas prone to dryness like elbows, knees and heels. A double bonus: the eucalyptus in both gentle buffers is incredibly uplifting and stimulating too. Next I slather my skin in my absolute body-favourite Nourishing Botanical Body Cream to intensively moisturise any flaky bits before spritzing the self-tan all over. Blend quickly and evenly using long, sweeping strokes and don’t forget to make sure you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. You’ll notice a sun-kissed glow appearing in just a couple of hours. Another of my tips is to build up a very gradual colour on your face and neck simply by mixing a little self-tan in with your daily Skin Repair or Superskin Moisturiser. I could go on but I’ve just checked the time and I’ll be late for the flight if I don’t scoot now. Wish us luck! – I’ll be in touch again soon with the very latest from our LA launch.