To help educate us we’ve recruited the help of Dr Tomassian, a dermatologist from Kansas. Best known for his interesting and informative social media channels, he has rocketed to fame amassing over a million followers on TikTok alone.

We all know that the sun can do all sorts to the skin – but what is a tan?

Getting a tan is your body’s response to UV damage. You can get immediate tanning from UVA(tanning beds) which is just oxidation and redistribution of pigment (melanin) or delayed tanning which is your body’s response to create more pigment producing cells and pigment. Both processes are your body’s attempt to protect itself from further UV damage.

How does SPF actually protect our skin from the sun?

SPF either blocks or converts harmful UV damage (UVA/UVB) from damaging the skin. UVA/UVB exposure leads to mutations within your cells DNA, cell death, and with chronic exposure leads to skin cancer, hyperpigmentation and break down of collagen.

There are a lot of tanning oils with SPF in them, which seems counterintuitive. Do they actually work?

This is really just marketing. Yes, having a low SPF (4-15) will give you some UV protection, however, it is typically not adequate enough and will just convince people that tanning is okay. To be clear tan skin is damaged skin.

What type of SPF should I wear? What are the arguments for ‘physical’ ‘synthetic’ and ‘chemical’ sunscreens?

There is a famous saying in dermatology, “the best sunscreen is the one you will use. “ Just make sure it is broad-spectrum and SPF 30 or greater. Mineral sunscreens contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which are chemically inert and reflect UV damage. They tend to take longer to blend in and may have a white cast if not tinted. Chemical sunscreens are absorbed into the skin and convert UV damage to longer less harmful wavelengths. These tend to blend in well and are great for those with facial hair.

Which sunscreen would you recommend to those who break out easily?

I recommend mineral-based sunscreens for those who easily break out or have sensitive skin.

What’s the most common mistake you see women making with sunscreen and what’s your advice to fix it?

Not using enough. Many people think that the SPF in their makeup is enough for the day. Though your makeup has sunscreen, you likely need to use quite a bit of it to get the desired level of SPF. Incorporating a mineral-tinted SPF as your foundation can be a great way to get two uses out of your sunscreen.

In what order should we be applying our SPF in our skincare routine?

SPF should always be the last step of your routine.

How often should we be reapplying sunscreen, and what’s the best way to do this if we are wearing makeup?

Ideally every 2 hours, especially if you are out in the sun all day. However, that is not realistic for many people. I would try to reapply every 3-4 hrs and especially before you know you are going out in the sun. I find that many women like using SPF powders or mist is a convenient way to reapply over makeup.

What SPF products are in your toiletry bag? Any recommendations?

Currently I have been using Mdsolarsciences Mineral Tinted SPF 30 and daily perfecting SPF moisturizer, Supergoop glowscreen and unseen sunscreen, La roche posay ultra light invisible SPF 60, and ELTAMD UV restore. Honestly these are all great products for men and women to try!

What are some common SPF myths you want to be debunked?

“The higher the SPF the better.” – This is not always true, after SPF 30, you are not getting much more benefit from your sunscreen, but can potentially lead to more irritation especially if chemical-based.

“Sunscreen can cause cancer” – This can be further from the truth. There was a recent study showing benzene as a contaminant in several sunscreen products, however, this had nothing to do with the sunscreen ingredients themselves.

“You don’t need SPF if you are inside” – FALSE! If you have any windows in your house you are still getting UV damage. UVA is able to penetrate windows and glass, so make it a habit and wear sunscreen every day.

Now we know about SPF for our skin – but what about our hair? You probably have a go-to sunscreen for hot weather, but most of us don’t think of how damaging the sun can be for our strands. Excessive sun exposure is one of the most damaging factors for the structure of your hair and here Dr Tommalison explains why.

SPF is typically associated with sunscreens for your skin – why does our hair need sun protection?

Just like our skin, our hair can be easily damaged by UV radiation. UV damage leads to loss of hair protein (keratin), decrease hair shaft integrity, and alterations in hair pigment.

How does UV protection products for the hair work?

Just like the sunscreen for skin, sunscreens for the hair can be either mineral or chemical based. The either reflect(mineral) or absorb and convert(chemical) UV damage.

Can women with fine hair use SPF products or will they weigh the hair down? Which type of hair will benefit most from SPF?

Women and men with all hair types can benefit from SPF products. Many of the products on the market are either powders or mists which are lightweight. This is especially important to use if you have fine sparse hair as using some form of SPF protection will also help protect the underlying exposed skin.

Which is your favorite brand and why?

No favourites but I have used Sunbum and Coola, I like both products

Would you recommend using SPF all year round?

The answer is simply YES. A product that decreases my chance for cancer and limits signs of aging…Sign me up!

Dr Tomassian’s top SPF picks:

£ 15

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 30

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£ 12.60

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid SPF50+ Sun Cream

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£ 20.85

MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 Sunscreen

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£ 12.40

Avène Very High Protection Tinted Mineral Fluid SPF50+ Sun Cream

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£ 8.70

Cetaphil Daily Facial SPF50+ for Sensitive Skin

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£ 18

Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion

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£ 25

Coola Classic Sunscreen Spray SPF30

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£ 50.40

EltaMD UV Restore

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So now you are armed with the knowledge on how to protect yourself all year round. With hundreds of different formulas on the shelves, it’s so easy to find products that cater for your skin or hair type, and there’s no better time to invest in savvy SPF products to supercharge your skincare routine.

Words And Interview By Rosina Findlay, Graphic By Emily Chapillon

The post Dr. Tomassian Answers All Our Questions On SPFs appeared first on Voir Fashion.

It’s a scorching hot day and I am picking my way across the rock pools on a familiar beach. The sun is high in the sky as I make my way back to the cobbled streets of the town above when all of a sudden the people around me start to gasp. The sun gets brighter and brighter in the sky and then rapidly dims as if the power has been cut. A week earlier, I woke up convinced that I had been in some kind of plane crash and had to swim through the wreckage to rescue my entire family. Bizarre and vivid dreams have become a fairly routine part of lockdown for me, and it appears that I am not the only one.

During the first lockdown in March 2020, google searches for ‘why am I having weird dreams lately?’ more than tripled. Twitter accounts like @quarandreams started popping up to retweet the crazy night terrors many of us began experiencing. People around the world started sharing stories of the dreams and nightmares they were having, ranging from finding a cure for Coronavirus to running from a tsunami. 

Although scrolling through these accounts is a great new form of entertainment, it didn’t answer why someone like me who would never normally experience dreams was suddenly waking up each morning with a new action movie plot to share around the breakfast table. 

According to Deidre Barrett, assistant professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and author of The Committee of Sleep and Trauma and Dreams, it is because people are sleeping longer. Coronavirus and the new normal of working from home have meant that for many people there is no need to get out of bed as early for the daily commute. Barrett explains that the ability to stay in bed longer has increased the amount of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep people are getting. In a normal sleep cycle, REM sleep comes after a sustained period of deep sleep and it is when we are most likely to experience vivid dreams.

So what about the crazy visions and strange scenarios that we conjure up? 

Professor Mark Blagrove from the Sleep Laboratory at Swansea University claims that our dreams are an extension of the emotions we have felt in our waking life during the day. Blagrove explains that during the Coronavirus pandemic, people are feeling stressed about the health of their loved ones, especially the families of healthcare workers, and are carrying this stress into their dreams.

Megan Crawford from the Strathclyde Sleep Research Unit clarifies that this stress could also be why more people seem to be remembering their dreams during lockdown. Disrupted sleep and emerging repeatedly from the REM phase throughout the night could be part of our fight or flight response, Crawford explains, because in this anxious state our bodily functions are ramped up. The most typical anxious dreams, therefore, tend to involve highly stressful scenarios that require us to fight or flee, such as tornadoes, flooding, or tidal waves. 

So is there anything we can do about it?

Blagrove argues that during this time when people are cooped up at home with each other, the best thing to do is to share our dreams. 

“We have evidence that when people discuss dreams, the one who’s listening becomes more empathetic towards the person who’s sharing the dream. They start to understand the emotions and life circumstances of the other person” [Professor Mark Blagrove, Swansea University]

The experts are therefore hopeful that this strange period of time at home will encourage us to reach out to others by learning more about our relationships with sleep. It’s time to start more of our conversations with the line:

‘I had the weirdest dream last night…’

Words by Becca Seib

The post Why Am I Having Crazy Dreams In Lockdown? From The Experts appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Covid-19 has introduced an interesting dynamic to love and relationships. The lockdown effect of the virus in several regions has led to many people redefining their search for love and relationship. Gone Is the time of fuckboys and situationships (although no one had time for that) and say hello to the quarantine boyfriend and socially distanced relationships. Voir fashion speaks to Susan Winter, the Relationship expert on love and relationships during the time of Covid-19.

Relationship Expert, Susan Winters

Susan Winter is a best-selling author and renowned relationship, expert. She has gained world recognition from her best-selling book Older Women/Younger Men. She has also appeared on The Oprah Show, The Today Show and even the BBC News. Susan writes, speaks and coaches on cutting-edge partnership models as well as traditional relationship challenges from a place of self-esteem and personal empowerment. She has been published in Harper’s Bazaar, People Magazine, Cosmopolitan and The New York Times. Her understanding of human behaviour has helped her connect to the heartbeat of people and their relationships.

When speaking to Susan, we were excited to finally find answers to all our questions on love and relationships, especially during this time. First thing first, we had to find out if it is all doomed. Considering everything else happening in the world, for many love has taken a back seat compared to all their other challenges due to the lockdown. If it is not all doomed, how stable can the relationship be, if it is formed during such a stressful time?

“Being open to love can soothe even the most stressful of times. But if you find yourself too stressed to focus on what you need in a relationship; you could be making poor romantic choices due to desperation or loneliness,” says Susan. She advises checking your mental state before you embark on your search as more than ever, people are online and looking to connect with other human beings for a sense of belonging, community, and romance. On the worry of the stability of your newfound romance, Susan revisits her statement on the intentions behind getting into a relationship as relationships formed based on desperation, need, or loneliness probably won’t survive when lockdown ends.

Now that we have the vote of confidence to go ahead by the professional herself, we were wondering if she could give us advice on the best approach or a “how-to” find love during this time. (For all the single people out there, this one was for you)

We need to have an adequate selection of prospective mates to choose from. This part of the process requires culling through all the candidates we meet in order to narrow the field to those qualities most desired in a mate.

In the process of combing through the many to find the one, Susan cautions on the need to know yourself as you will need to identify what kind of bait trips the wire to make us spin into a fantasy. Everyone is susceptible to beauty and charisma; we’re also susceptible to praise and adulation. That’s why players are so effective in their game of love bombing. If you find yourself, frustrated Susan says you have probably let your eyes do the choosing, and your wishful thinking creates the storyline. This then leads to manipulation, insecurity, and illogical behaviour, sounds familiar?

As no one can date IRL, video dating and online apps are our only medium for connection. Susan cautions that you may feel as though you know a person because you speak to them continually, but you don’t really know them. Anyone who seems ‘too good to be true’ may be playing you, and anyone who wants to go too fast, too soon, is not it for the long haul.

If you do find that special someone how can we ensure a genuine connection is formed as a physical meeting is not so safe due to lockdown regulations? Now more than ever, Susan highlights the importance communication plays in building a solid relationship. Rather than rely upon physical attraction to be the barometer of connection, we must now use conversation to grow affection. She continues to state that slowing the pace of sexual expression enables a couple to get to know each other. This is the legwork that creates a sturdy foundation for healthy, loving partnerships.

For those who have managed to find relationships or are already in relationships, congratulations, you are part of the lucky few. However, the statistics show that the lockdown may not be so positive for you either, with the 40% rise in divorce inquiries. The lockdown has given some ample time to review our relationship goals. If you are unsure of your relationship Susan has provided a way to test the merit of your relationship, she says to ask yourself, Do the two of us align in terms of life goals? Relationship goals? Lifestyle goals? Are we both motivated and excited about entering a committed relationship? Have we processed and handled our past relationships and are now ready, willing, and able to be present to love?

Some new couples have found themselves living together for the last three months for one reason or the other. Susan says by ‘playing house,’ they’ve skipped past the rigours of formal dating and moved straight to living together. Additionally, they share the bond of being united during an extremely difficult time period. This creates an intense feeling of closeness. She advises new couples to communicate with each other and set boundaries. Being cooped up in the same space requires a lot of negotiation. This can be a steep learning curve for new couples. How well you work together (or don’t) will provide vital information on the viability of your staying together.

For those already in relationships and have been for a long time Susan advises on the need to continue to date each other. She continues to state that as humans, we get complacent and begin to take our partner for granted, which is natural, but relationships are living things that require time and attention. If both partners continue to make an effort to be thoughtful, romantic, and attentive, the relationship should flourish. Lack of appreciation and unresolved resentments kill a relationship.

We understand that not one shoe fits all and we know that not everyone is looking for something serious. Hence, we asked what advice Susan would have for those in casual relationships or the non-relationship seekers?

Be clear about what you want from the start. And be clear about the rules of engagement. Everyone thinks they can do ‘casual’ with ease, yet oftentimes find themselves catching feelings. The intersection of intimacy and emotion is a potent mix of hormones and magical thinking. So, learn the fine art of authentic communication to manage those tricky spots of duelling desires.

Find out more from Susan Winter’s website here: https://www.susanwinter.net/

Words by Precious Njoki

Cover by Katie Janes

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