Sun, Sand and ... Cancer?

As the summer is well underway in the northern hemisphere, I was very surprised to find out that Britain has more skin cancer deaths than Australia (yes, the one with the ozone layer hole)!!!!!

What is even more outrageous is the amount of people out on the streets in this unusually hot and sunny weather without sunglasses and, possibly, without applying sun cream!

You see, statistics show that on average 7850 cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed in Australia every year, compared with 5990 in the Britain, however whilst only 1000 people die of the disease Down Under, the number of deaths in Britain amounts to 1600 per year.

The reason for this difference? 90% of cases in Oz are cured as they are detected so early. Australians are also much more aware of the risks of cancer and take necessary precautions (there are even free sun cream pumps in some public spaces as I recall from my time spent there).

Perhaps it is the constant lack of sunshine that has put many Britons in a state of ignorance. After a long winter and a very cold and wet spring many have rushed outdoors to catch some sun rays.

Of course there is nothing wrong with that. Sunshine uplifts moods, provides much needed vitamin D and helps lower blood pressure. 

What I am suggesting here is that people enjoy the sun responsibly by taking the following precautions:

• Use a sun cream which has at least a factor 30 UVA protection and a five star UVB protection.

• Invest in high quality sunglasses which also have UVA and UVB protection (yes, your eyes can burn too, the signs of which are redness and itchiness after a long day in the sun).

• Avoid staying in the sun for too long and reapply sun cream every two hours or after bathing.

Off you go now. Enjoy the sun before the rain starts pouring!

Stay safe

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Graduand on a Budget (How to be a Smart Shopper)

Photo by Yi Lei

So a few days ago I had my graduation ceremony and realised how expensive such affairs can be. Dresses, shoes, hair & beauty... such events can quickly break your bank if you are on a tight budget. Fear not! There are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself without falling in debt. Being the thrifty shopper that I am, I managed to kit myself out for about £50 making my total graduation expenditure just over £100 (including memorabilia and academic dress hire). So what did I wear? Let's take a look:

BALLY shoes from TK MAXX for £35 (RRP £479)

Promod dress for £15 (pre-sale price £40)

Love the sequin print combo!

How did I do it? Well, first and foremost I strongly believe that you can look good without spending a lot. With that in mind, here are three tips on how to be a savvy shopper:

• Paying full price for something? Think again. You could be entitled to a discount by showing a student ID or a loyalty card.

• Wait for the sales! Special offers, online promos, seasonal and flash sales happen regularly and often back to back. Hold your horses for a while and you may save some money.

• Outlet shops are your best friends. These stores stock up on branded items (high street AND luxury) from past seasons or window displays and sell them at huge discounts. The best part is they have clearance sales as well so you save even more! Think TK Maxx and SportsDirect.

Stay smart, save money and enjoy life (don't let the banks bite you!).

Beauty Products and Toxicity

We're all aware that the beauty products we use are made up of a long list of ingredients, some of which we can hardly pronounce. And the fact that over the years there have been plenty of media panics about the various stuff that goes into cosmetics does not make things any easier.

So what do we do? Do we abandon all manufactured beauty products and go DIY/all natural? Or do we ignore the hype and keep on using what we know works best for us?

Well I've been digging around the internet and found some useful scientific information to help you make the right decision. Here are a few things which you should be wary of:

Photo by Aih.

• Eyelash serums: requiring application for up to four months to see results, these serums can permanently darken the skin around your eyes and turn your irises brown. A safer option would be using eyelash extensions.
• Tanning beds: frequent trips to the solarium have been scientifically proven to raise your risk of melanoma and cause premature ageing (i.e. wrinkles and brown spots). Avoid the UVA rays by using a spray tan instead.
• Parabens: the most common preservative in cosmetics, parabens are often blamed for breast tumours, however scientific research has not found any direct links between the two. If the p-word still bothers you, look for products which use vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or vitamin E (tocopheryl acetate) as preservatives instead.

Photo by alli

A final word of caution, no matter how "chemical-free" and "natural" your beauty products may seem, they can become toxic beyond their expiry date. Make sure yo change your foundation and lipstick after a year, your blush powder after two years and your mascara every three to four months.

Stay safe

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