When I was about 20 years old, I was living in London. In the summer, a friend and I took a vacation in Portugal with a single goal in mind – to get the deepest, most outstanding tan possible. Living in London had left us both with pasty white skin and an over-consumption of tea, so it was to be sunshine, dancing, and various forms of alcohol for one week.

Sitting on the beach for our first day as sallow-faced sun-worshippers, my friend pulled out her bottle of baby-oil and we coated ourselves in the greasy substance. We then fell asleep in the hot midday sun like two very white, round sausages.

When we woke up, I had the worst sunburn of my life, and had to cover up for the rest of our holiday, not to mention the lizard skin and massive pealing that ensued.

Now, as a 54-year-old woman with sun damaged skin, I really wish I had tossed that baby oil in the garbage!

Many of you have similar stories, and the consequence for most of us is that now we religiously apply our sunscreen, wear our hats, avoid the sun, and learn makeup techniques to cover brown spots.

Having said that, even though we are more aware of the benefits of using sunscreen, the rates of melanoma skin cancer have tripled in the last 35 years. What’s going on?

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has published some fascinating and crucial information regarding the usage and effectiveness of sunscreen. Here are my seven truths about sunscreen that every senior woman needs to know.

Sunscreen Alone Doesn’t Prevent Skin Cancer

There is no proof that sunscreens alone prevent most types of skin cancer! You need to also wear a hat, reapply often, and trade-off wearing protective clothing. Be aware that tanning beds increase your risk of melanoma by 75%!

SPF Is Misleading

A high SPF content in a sunblock is very misleading. For example, SPF 100 only marginally protects you more and longer than say an SPF 30. Stick with 15–30 SPF for the best results and reapply every two hours if out in the sun.

Watch out for Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a common ingredient in sunscreen products, yet studies indicate it may contribute to skin tumors and lesions when used in the presence of sunlight. According to the EWG, we should avoid  “retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl lineate, and retinol in sunscreen products.”

The FDA and Chemicals

European sunscreens provide more protection than those manufactured in the US. Why? Because the EU government bans the combination of certain ingredients which make “broad spectrum” products weaker and less effective, while the US government does not.

According to Safe Cosmetics, “The EU (…) bans 1,328 chemicals from cosmetics that are known or suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutation, reproductive harm, or birth defects. In comparison, the U.S. FDA has only banned or restricted 11 chemicals from cosmetics.”

Avoid Oxybenzone

When the FDA finally began to examine sunscreen safety, it did so in regard to active ingredients from the late 1970s and without reviewing the toxicity of the ingredients.

In February 2019, the FDA released information which says there is “insufficient health and safety data to designate 12 of the 16 sunscreen filters allowed for use in the U.S. as generally recognized as safe and effective, or GRASE. These 12 ingredients include some of the most commonly used UV filters, including oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and avobenzone.”

According to the agency, “nearly all of these sunscreen active ingredients (…) have limited or no data characterizing their absorption.” In other words, we don’t know if or how much they disrupt hormones and cause allergies. The EWG advises avoiding sunscreen products with these ingredients, especially oxybenzone.

Get UVA and UVB

Sunscreen doesn’t protect the skin from all types of sun damage. Free radicals from the sun can damage DNA and skin cells, accelerate aging, and may cause skin cancer.

If you pick a sunscreen with poor UVA protection, apply too little, or infrequently, you may inhibit sunburn, but not necessarily other risk factors. Today many experts realize that both UVA and UVB exposure may contribute to melanoma risk.

Are You Low in Vitamin D?

25% of Americans have borderline-low levels of vitamin D. This is partly because we don’t go out very often, and when we do, we use sun protection which inhibits the production of vitamin D in our skin.

If this is you, you should be taking a vitamin D supplement. Symptoms like fatigue, bone pain, joint pain, sour mood, low energy, and weight gain are all signs of Vitamin D deficiency.

What to Buy

Most sunscreens contain the above questionable ingredients; but the EWG has a list of products considered safe. From among them, my favorite are 100% Pure Body Sunscreen Stick, 100% Pure Everywhere Sun Stick, and Aveeno Positively Mineral Sensitive Skin Face Sunscreen Lotion.

Wear a Hat with UPF

Do you need a good summertime hat with UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor)? My favorite line of hats is the Wallaroo Hat Company, based in Boulder, Colorado. They offer an excellent assortment of hats recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

My encouragement to all of you is to go outside and be in nature! At the same time, use non-toxic sunscreen, wear your hat, and take Vitamin D. Happy Summer!

How safe is your sunscreen lotion? How do you know? How do you shop for sun block products? Please share with our community!

Lisa Rinna’s Crystal Fringe Earrings in Confessionals with her Pink Dress

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 10 Fashion

In the words of TLC, don’t go chasing waterfalls. Unless they happen to be in the form of Lisa Rinna’s crystal fringe waterfall earrings in confessionals, that is. And we’ve made the pursuit even easier by teaming up with our longtime favorite Haute Headquarters to offer you 20% off these earrings and other celeb loved styles that will have you emerging as the quarantine queen on your first big night off the couch back out in the wild.

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Too many people in society believe that older women aren’t
interested in fashion or that mature women should stick to boring, conservative
clothing in neutral shades.

Luckily, more and more mature women are changing these ideas, including today’s guest, Josephine Lawlan, former image consultant and owner of her own website, Chic at Any Age. Josephine speaks with Margaret about how mature women are changing these ideas every day.

I Don’t Have Anything to Wear!

Who hasn’t looked into their closet and thought “I don’t
have a single thing to wear!”? Josephine says that most of us have plenty of
clothing options, we simply need to think outside the box.

She demonstrates her point by showing off a leather jacket,
which can be worn in the traditional manner with a white t-shirt and jeans, but
why not mix it up by pairing it with navy A-line midi-skirt and a cream or
white pussycat blouse?

White Shoes: You Love Them or Hate Them

Your choice of footwear will vary tremendously, regardless
of which outfit you choose. Josephine loves her white Adidas tennis shoes while
Margaret says she’s never, ever owned a pair of white shoes!

White tennis shoes are the current funky fashion you will
see all over Instagram, but if you don’t like white or dislike tennis shoes,
that’s fine. Most women either love their white tennis shoes or they hate them.
There is no right or wrong. When it comes to shoes, as long as you are
comfortable wearing them, then whatever shoes you choose to wear are the
perfect ones.

Don’t Be Afraid to Mix Different Items

Margaret mentions how she once saw an outfit that paired a
black and white striped top with a deep colored, large floral print skirt. She
says that she never would have thought to mix those two patterns and perhaps
not all patterns would work together, but in this case, it was a beautiful
pairing.

She demonstrates with a floral kimono and black and white
striped pants and Josephine agrees- it was a good match!

Think of Dressing Down Your Dress Up Items

One way to spice up your wardrobe is to “dress down” items
that you usually reserve for dressy occasions. For example, a classic cut
Armani jacket with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

Alternatively, you could take an everyday denim jacket and
combine it with a more upscale type of formal dress and heels.

Go Extreme with Colors

You can also add an unusual splash of color to make your
outfit stand out. The same navy Armani jacket that was mentioned earlier,
paired with perhaps a purple or red scarf or orange beret will cause people to
take notice.

Josephine demonstrates how you can take a pair of plain
white pants or a plain white dress and put a sheer red leopard print blouse
over the top and create a dramatic statement.

Don’t Forget Accessories

You can take the most basic top in a solid color and add a
chunky necklace or a sparkling brooch and create something that can’t be
overlooked.

Other unusual touches that can be used to create funky new
fashion include leopard print anything, wide knit hair bands in bright colors,
and brooches or pins placed in unusual spots, such as on hats or jacket
collars.

Margaret and Josephine talk about current trends and how they have used wardrobe items to create new looks, when you watch this video, you will wish it was much longer!

What are your favorite mix and match wardrobe items? Are there any prints that you feel should not be worn together? How many pairs of white sneakers do you own, and would you wear them with dressy outfits? Tell us your favorite funky fashion mixes and join in the conversation!

If you were looking for work when the lockdown began or have since lost your job, then you may be concerned about navigating the job market during these unprecedented times. Many sectors have slowed down on hiring or postponed hiring altogether for the foreseeable future.

However, the pandemic has created a shortage of farm labourers in many countries. These workers are responsible for picking and packing fruit and vegetables – so at the time of writing this, the demand for farm workers has never been greater.

As a result of the shortage, Concordia, HOPS, and Fruitful – three key ethical providers of farm labour in the UK – have launched a Feed the Nation Campaign, to encourage as many people as possible to apply for roles on UK farms. No matter where you live in the world, it’s very likely that local farms need extra hands.

If you’ve never thought about farm work before, then you may be wondering what exactly it entails and whether it could be an option for you. So, I’ve outlined what sort of roles are available, the pros and cons of working on a farm, and how the application process works.

What Sort of Roles Are Available?

The majority of farm roles involve picking and packing fruit and vegetables. Those with extra skills may also be able to take on roles that involve the use of heavy machinery.

Workers are usually given placements – which can last anywhere from between six weeks and six months – and will be offered accommodation. It’s completely up to you whether you decide to take the accommodation, and this will often depend on how far you will need to travel to reach the farm from home.

British Summer Fruits (the industry body representing 95% of all British grown berries) have created a handy map to show the location of berry farms across the country that need workers. It’s worth having a look to see which farms might be a convenient option for you!

It’s understandable that you may have concerns about the implications of going out to work during the pandemic. But Concordia and HOPS have confirmed that they are complying with the government’s social distancing measures and create safe working conditions for workers to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission.

Farm workers will also be considered key workers, so will be free to travel to and from work with as little restriction as possible.

The Pros of Working on a Farm

If you’re fed up of being stuck indoors, then farm work offers you the chance to get outside and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air – especially now that we’re heading into the summer months. It’s also a great way to stay active because the work is physical, and you’ll be on your feet for much of the day.

You’ll have the added benefit of feeling that you are giving something back to the community by helping to ensure that fruit and vegetables are still able to reach supermarket shelves.

Many people that have taken up farm work since the shortages began have also said that they’ve enjoyed being given the opportunity to try something a bit different!

The Cons of Working on a Farm

Farm work requires early starts and long hours. It’s also physically demanding, so you’d need to be comfortable with the idea of being on your feet all day doing lots of bending, stretching, and lifting. Some see it as a chance to keep busy and get fit, whilst for others it can be quite overwhelming.

What Is the Application Process Like and How Can I Apply?

The application process is really straightforward. All you need to do is enter a few personal details into an application form on Concordia, HOPS, and Fruitful Alliance’s Ethical Labour portal.

Once Alliance receives your application, they will send you a link to their video interview platform, where you will be asked to record a short video. There’s no need to worry about this if it’s something you’ve never done before as you will receive clear guidance and instructions.

If your application is successful, you will be matched up with a farm based on your preferences. This information will arrive by email, and you will be given the option to accept or reject any offers to work at a given location (also via email).

Once you’ve accepted an offer to work at a farm, you will be given up to three weeks of paid training. You’ll receive at least the National Living Wage – or possible more depending on your role type and/or the amount of fruit or veggies you harvest (which is where your training comes in handy).

Looking for a Different Kind of Job?

I understand that farm work isn’t for everyone, so if you’re still looking for work and you’re in need of some inspiration, then we have a detailed job ideas section on the Rest Less website.

It’s difficult to know exactly what the future of the UK job market will look like, but it can still be helpful to explore a few ideas in the meantime. Many people are using time at home to consider how they can go about making a career change when the lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Are you looking for a job? Would you consider applying for a farm role? If you are working on a farm already, what can you share about the experience? Please use the comment box below!