My sunburn experience :(

So guys... I did something really really silly. I spend time in the sunshine without sun cream on and severely burnt my arms and legs! My shoulders blistered and I've shed at least 3 layers of skin from the burnt areas. It's already been a week or so, but it's still pretty pink and painful. I have definitely learnt my lesson and want to share some sun safety tips so that no one else makes my mistake, I cannot stress enough how painful this was!

1. Don't be fooled by the temperature, wind can make is seem deceivingly cool while the UV rays are still bearing down on our skin! If the suns out, top up that sun cream. Preferably SPF 15 and above, reapplying often and using after sun once you've come out of the sun.

2. Remember that the sun is at its strongest between 10am and 4pm, so try to avoid sitting in the direct sunlight for long periods of time between those hours, especially if you do not have sun cream.

3. Don't forget about your face! We're always applying to arms, legs, tums and backs but I'll bet a lot of you forget about your face. I've seen many a sunglasses white patch on someone's face before, it's not an ideal look!

4. If you do get burnt, apply after sun and moisturise the skin regularly, although avoid any scented moisturisers as they are likely to irritate the tender skin. E45 lotion or anything with Aloe Vera will keep the skin from drying out and will cool it down/take away some of the redness. If your sunburn is really severe, I suggest a trip to your GP for medical advice.

5. Another trick for cooling and calming sunburn is natural yoghurt. Now, I'm not going to lie, the yoghurt will sour and it isn't a pleasant smell, but it will ease the pain and help restore pH balance to your skin.

If none of that advice was enough to convince you, then here are a few photos of the various stages of my sunburn so far on my shoulders. Ew.