After the UK recorded its hottest day of the year on Sunday, with some parts of southern England reaching 31C, many could be waking up with sore, sunburnt skin today. Taking care of your skin after excessive sun exposure is incredibly important, as failing to do so could lead to long-lasting damage. However, if your first course of action after sustaining a sunburn is to immediately buy and apply after-sun, then you may not be doing an adequate job. According to the experts, applying after-sun could do your skin even further harm if you don’t take a thorough look at the ingredients. That’s why it may be a wise idea to opt for an aloe vera gel instead. “After-sun formulas tend to have rich, thick consistencies containing oils, which create an emollient barrier on top of the skin trapping in the heat in the upper layer of the epidermis and exacerbating the inflammation and ‘burn’ feeling on your face,” Michaella Bolder, Time Bomb skincare expert tells to The Independent. “Plus, many over the counter after-suns will contain chemicals and/or fragrance. This will just irritate the damaged skin!” Aloe vera has been highly regarded for a very long time due to its remedial properties, Lorraine Shrivener, director of Eden Skin Clinics, explains. “Aloe vera has been a trusted skin saviour for many years,” she says. “With its immediate cooling effect to the skin, it’s a firm favourite for post-suncare.” According to Ms Shrivener, aloe vera is most potent when attained as a pure, clear gel. While gels allow heat to escape from the skin, thicker creams that have been designed to lock in moisture could trap heat within the skin, making it feel cooler rather than hotter. However, as medical director of CosmedicsUK and GP Dr Ross Perry points out, the medicinal properties of aloe vera have not technically been affirmed by scientific research. “Aloe vera is a traditional herbal remedy believed to reduce sunburn symptoms,” he explains. “There is no scientific evidence in support of its use for sunburn, but anecdotal evidence is that it is soothing and safe and can feel cooling.” Aloe vera is a plant species that can trace its origins to the Arabian Peninsula. Mentions of aloe vera as a curative ingredient can be found in the Ebers Papyrus, from 16th Century BC, and in Pliny the Elder’s Natural History, which was written in the mid-first century AD. Despite the supposed lack of scientific evidence to back its use as a treatment for sunburn, many health professionals still recommend it for soothing irritated skin. “Aloe vera is thought to have a myriad of positive effects on skin, especially sunburnt skin,” says Dr Natalie Spierings, consultant dermatologist at Dermatica. “True clinical effectiveness has yet to be established. But aloe vera is not harmful and it might aid in helping calm down sunburnt skin, so it is worth giving it a try.” While some skincare experts would advise opting for a clear aloe vera gel instead of a heavier, moisturising after-sun when treating sunburn, others would suggest simply finding an after-sun that contains the plant. “After burning the skin you should think cool and repair,” says Ms Bolder. “The best way to do this is to apply a formula with a high water and high aloe vera content - the more natural and gentle the better! “Aloe vera has quite impressive cooling, healing and antiseptic properties so will beat a generic after-sun every time.” Using an after-sun can still be beneficial if you make sure that the ingredients are gentle and natural as possible. However, if you’re not entirely sure of whether a specific after-sun will do more harm than good, then going for a clear aloe vera gel would likely be your safest option. With around 16, 200 new cases of melanoma skin cancer reported in the UK every year, according to Cancer Research UK, looking after your skin is of the utmost importance during the hotter months. Dr Vikram Rajkomar, a consultant dermatologist at Pall Mall Medical who specialises in the treatment of skin diseases and skin cancer, recommends speaking to a consultant dermatologist as soon as possible if pain caused by sunburn persists. Read More The truth about applying after-sun on sunburnt skin, according to the experts Mum’s warning after viral TikTok hack left skin peeling from her face TikTok Influencer hospitalised for after horse falls on her at Arizona ranch Teenagers are increasing their chances of cancer with 'sunburn art' Europe heatwave: Tourists warned as temperatures set to soar

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There's no denying dating can be complicated – and just as we've become familiar with red flags, there's now a rainbow of colours added to the mix. There are green flags (positive indicators the relationship is compatible), pink flags (minor issues or relationship concerns that should be monitored) – and now beige flags. Coined by TikToker Caitlin MacPhail, beige flags essentially outline a dull, uninteresting person with a generic dating profile that gives the impression they can't be bothered. Typical examples are using puppy pics (that don't belong to them) as a substitute to cover up for lack of personality, or making love of coffee your quirk. Beige flags differ from person to person, as everyone has different interests and relationship ideas. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter "If someone has a lot of beige flags on their profile, you’ll probably get to the end of it without having really learnt anything about them," Caitlin told Mashable. "Something about whether chocolate belongs in the fridge or the cupboard, them saying that they’ll probably love their dog more than you, or lots of gym selfies and references to the gym are typical beige flags," she continued. In a viral clip that racked up over half a million views, Caitlin outlined her top beige flags – and if you're into any mainstream sitcoms, you might want to sit this one out. beige is the new red and in other news dating apps are a wasteland ? #hinge #redflags #datingredflags #hingedating @itscaito beige is the new red and in other news dating apps are a wasteland ? #hinge #redflags #datingredflags #hingedating beige is the new red, and in other news, dating apps are a wasteland ? #hinge #redflags #datingredflags #hingedating Caitlin's "beige flags" has become such a TikTok phenomenon that she now regularly reviews dating profiles in a game called "R U BEIGE??" She disclaimed: "Everyone sends their own profiles to me, so I'm not just picking up any randoms off the internet – just so you know." The concept is simple, three beige flag strikes, and you're out. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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Four hidden images in this optical illusion can reveal your most charming personality traits. The oil painting illusion was created by Ukrainian artist Oleg Shupliak and is called “Windy day. Claude Monet.” Out of the four images embedded in the painting, what do you see first? Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter The older gentleman’s face If you spotted the older gentleman’s face first, your most charming personality trait is the insight that you bring. You are an extremely observant person who notices things more than you get on. People get drawn in because they are fascinated by your opinions on things. The woman with a broken umbrella If the woman with the broken umbrella is the first thing you see, people think that your sense of humour is your most charming trait. Essentially, you brighten up whatever room you enter. The woman working with not against the umbrella If your eyes first gravitated towards the woman working with the umbrella, your most charming personality trait is your positive attitude and outlook. The flowers the women appear to stand on If you spotted the flowers first, your sensitivity is your most charming trait, which people can’t get enough of. This quality is expressed as you putting people at ease or entertaining them. People overall can connect with you on a deeper level because you are a pleasure to be around. In other optical illusion news, this illusion that shows a little girl, skull, or scenery can also reveal your deepest personality strengths. Another illusion which appears to be either a rooster or a pair of lips, can reveal how confident you are. The image consists of the primary colours yellow, blue and red. And if you’re interested in discovering if you are more of an optimist or pessimist, this illusion is worth checking out. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 1, 2023--

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