Everything you need to know about SPF, sunscreen and safer tanning

The ultimate guide to staying safe in the sun We're sorry, orders are taking longer than usual. Thanks for your patience. [Find out more]( [The Journal]( | [Click here]( to view online version [Mr Porter]( [What’s New]( [Designers]( [Clothing]( [Shoes]( [Accessories]( [Watches]( [Grooming]( [Sports]( [Sale]( [What's New]( [Designers]( [Clothing]( [Shoes]( [Accessories]( [Watches]( [The Journal]( [MR PORTER’s Foolproof Guide To Sunscreen, SPF And Safer Tanning]( [Grooming]( [readtime]( [MR PORTER’s Foolproof Guide To Sunscreen, SPF And Safer Tanning]( Words by The MR PORTER team [Skin is the most exacting of record keepers. Every late night, glass of rioja and stressful deadline is logged in its fine lines. For proof, you need only look at Mr Keith Richards, a man whose face is the ultimate ledger of – how can we put this? – a life well lived. But of all the things that can leave their mark on a man’s skin, the sun is the most troublesome. It’s customary to extol the virtues of fake tan over a real one, but let’s face it, few things ruin a man’s credibility quite like a pair of streaky orange calves or the tell-tale biscuity smell of self-tanning lotion. And while pale may well be interesting, it doesn’t show off a crisp white cotton Oxford shirt quite like a tan does.]( [01. How the sun damages your skin]( [Sunscreen]( [Safe sunning requires a basic understanding of ultraviolet radiation. There are two kinds of rays that penetrate the Earth’s ozone layer: UVA and UVB. UVB causes superficial damage, such as sunburn, and is responsible for non-melanoma cancers. It also plays a pivotal role in the production of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium and phosphate and strengthens bones (there is growing evidence to suggest that vitamin D3 can also help prevent chronic diseases and fight infection by regulating the genes that control the immune system).]( [02. Heed the red flags]( [Categories]( [Looking like a cross between Elmo and Darth Maul is not a particularly strong look. Redness, along with the symptoms listed below, are surefire signs that the body’s inflammation response has kicked in and that you need to seek shade sharpish. First comes a flushed face, the result of dilated blood vessels. Then there’s the dehydrated and itchy-tight skin, often accompanied by an unshakable internal heat. Last but by no means least comes peeling, a sign that damaged skin cells have jumped ship in an effort to protect the rest of the body.]( [Read more]( [SHOP THE STORY]( [VID1]( [Salt & Stone]( [Sunscreen Lotion SPF50, 88ml]( [VID2]( [Shiseido]( [Expert Sun Aging Protection Lotion SPF30, 100ml]( [VID3]( [Sisley]( [Super Soin Solaire Facial Youth Protector SPF30, 60ml]( [VID4]( [Elemis]( [Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF30, 50ml]( READ ALL ABOUT IT [Latest]( [Read More]( [Grooming]( [Read More]( [Watches]( [Read More]( [Travel]( [Read More]( [Lifestyle]( [Read More]( [Fashion]( [Read More]( [Sale]( [Gone Surfin']( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( [Pinterest]( [Download the app] [Download on the App Store]( [Get it on Google Play]( MR PORTER is a registered trademark of THE NET-A-PORTER GROUP LTD 1 The Village Offices, Westfield, Ariel Way, London, W12 7GF. UK company number: 3820604 To view our Privacy Policy [click here]( unsubscribe [click here]( [Mr P.]