Every bride-to-be wants to look sun kissed - and be showered with kisses - as she walks hand-in-hand along a tropical beach with her adoring new husband. But the reality is often a week trying to cover up the sunburn from the first day and wincing with pain every time hubby tries to touch you. For a dream tan rather than a nightmare frazzle, look after your skin before, during and after your honeymoon.
Before you go
- DO Start your suncare plan before you leave home. Pre honeymoon creams and supplements can prepare the skin to be more sun tolerant. Fake tan will also give you a little extra confidence and make you less inclined to overdo it on your first day.
- DON'T Be tempted to hit the sunbed before the wedding in a bid to get a base tan. Not only could you risk looking red and burnt in your wedding dress, it also won't be worth it, since the risk of burning in the sun is just as high, even if you've had a few sunbed treatments.
- DO Get into the habit of exfoliating once a week in the weeks preceding your honeymoon. This will get rid of dead skin cells, leaving brighter, smoother skin that will allow the tan to last longer and look more even.
- DON'T Pack that old sunscreen you've had for two years. Sunscreens do have a "use by" date and the longer you have them, the less effective they are. Choose a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection from UVA (which causes skin aging) and UVB (which causes burning and melanoma) and with a SPF15 or above.
- DO Take into account your honeymoon destination. A sunscreen that is OK for Europe might not be suitable for Australia or Africa. If you're going to a high altitude location or anywhere near the equator where the sun is closer to the earth, you'll need to increase your SPF.
When you're there- DO Wear a sunscreen of SPF 30 or more for the first few days, and nothing less than SPF15 for the rest of the holiday as this will give you 90% protection. Don't worry about going home pale - you'll still get a tan, you just won't burn.
- DON'T Be tempted to lower the SPF once you have a tan. While being bronzed might protect your skin a little, you could still end up with red bits.
- DO cheat! Use a tinted sunscreen to make you feel like you're tanning faster and to boost your bikini confidence. By tanning slowly and building up your time in the sun gradually, you'll get a longer lasting colour and be less likely to peel.
- DON'T Forget to protect your skin if you're prone to sun sensitivity or prickly heat. Apply sunscreen generously 15-30 minutes before heading out in the sun, reapply once you're outside to ensure even coverage and repeat every two hours.
- DO Remember that your honeymoon isn't just about sun worshipping. The less you worry about getting the perfect tan and the more time you spend with your new hubby, the more likely you are to end up with a healthy glow from something far more powerful than the sun. Love!
When you get back
- DO Moisturise and exfoliate your way to a lasting tan. It's the only way to keep your skin smooth and sun-kissed for longer.
- DON'T Forget to show off that brand new tan line...from your wedding ring!
Photo Soneva Fushi Resort
