I had been on my Island getaway for less than 3 hours before the sting of sunburn hit. It seems I manage once every summer to get stung, ordinarily it’s at the Aus Open mid January, but this year I didn’t even see out the decade. There are so many theories about sunburn – best time to not get burnt, best remedies – but my best advice? Don’t get burnt in the first place! Its bad for your skin and your overall health, it’s uncomfortable and unsightly.

This years’ inopportune sunburn occurred after 4pm, when I went for a simple walk along the beach to fill in time. Urban myths will tell you that the sun is at its most dangerous between 1pm and 3pm – maybe daylight savings has changed that cause my shoulders got toasty between 4 and 5. Wearing an Ojay tank singlet (slight racer back) with a normal bra, I now have sunburn lines around the neck (front and back cause my hair was up), shoulders and two slits on my back when my bra didn’t meet the singlet. Lovely, isn’t it?

After liberally applying after sun lotion, I have endured an unpleasant nights sleep, only to discover I was still lobster red the next morning. One friend suggested aloe vera; another the hottest shower I could endure; a third thought anti aging creams were the best cure. I think I should have just avoided alcohol, rehydrated with a truckload of water and vowed never to step outside my door without SPF 30+ again.

To make it even worse, on the day of the inopportune suburn I also had a facial. One of the best facials I have ever had. Relaxed bliss. My skin felt refreshed and fabulous! But the downside of this is fresh, shiny new skin doesn’t take well to time spent in the harsh Aussie sun and though my face is not burnt (god knows how I avoided that but thank you!), it does feel dry and tight again. It seems my cheap and cheerful Natio 15+ moisturiser has done an alright job and for that I am grateful.

I would like to sing the praises of Wax Beauty Therapy at Docklands for my brilliant facial though – Dr Spiller lotions and potions are used and after just a week using his (hers?) cleanser, I am pleased to have noticed results. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen, or so they say!

And while this sunburn won’t go away overnight, I do hope that you all take heed of my lesson and make the effort to slip slop slap this silly season. Its not worth it ladies!!