When packing for your holiday have you really considered if your sunscreen has the right protection factor for you and is appropriate for the outdoor activities you’re looking forward to? It’s worth spending some time making sure you have exactly what you need so you can enjoy your holiday to the full without fear of burning and causing skin damage. But when it comes to purchasing supermarket and branded sunscreens, it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you. Branded products aren't always better, supermarket alternatives can work just as well for you, it all depends on personal preference and your budget. Whichever you decide to purchase, the packaging will tell you if its the best option for you. What are you likely to see on the packaging and how do you know what protection a sunscreen offers? Looking carefully at the packaging can reveal alot about how much protection is offered. You are looking for three things: SPF (Sun Protection factor) – this is the number on the front of the packaging and usually ranges from 2 (very low) to 50+ (very high). People often think this is an indicator of how long you can stay out in the sun - it isn’t, it tells you how protected you are before your skin burns and this usually depends on the type of skin you have. If you have fair skin, you need a higher protection factor. But this isn’t the whole story, you need to look at the UVA and UVB rating as well. UVA and UVB - what does it mean? UVA and UVB are two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. While both can cause skin damage, they differ in their intensity and the type of damage they cause. UVA rays are more intense, penetrate deeper into the skin, and can cause wrinkles, age spots, other signs of premature aging and skin cancer. UVB rays are less intense but can still cause sunburn, skin cancer, and other forms of skin damage. It is important to understand the difference between UVA and UVB protection so that you can protect your skin from both types of radiation when spending time outdoors. Ideally, using creams with a high protection for both UVA and UVB is the best option. Star ratings are visible on the packaging for UVA and occasionally UVB. The ratings are often displayed on the back of the packaging as well as the front so take a close look. If you can only see a UVA protection symbol it doesn’t mean there is no UVB protection - the higher the UVA protection, the higher the UVB protection. The following are examples of symbols you should be looking for on UK and EU packaging:

Sunglasses can be a fantastic fashion accessory but It’s easy to focus (forgive the pun) on what’s fashionable and whether they match your general style. They can be a significant part of your identity if you wear specs all the time – so it may be very important to you to carry this through in your eyewear collection. However, fashionistas beware! What’s really important is just how much protection your sunglasses give you. No matter your age, it’s never too early or too late to start giving some serious consideration to making sure you have the correct lenses for maximum sun protection.

The convenience of having a bank account that includes travel insurance can be an attractive offer, especially if you’re thinking about taking several trips a year. Banks will often cover your worldwide travel for a monthly fee, or it may be offered as an incentive when you open an account. This type of cover can certainly provide peace of mind and you don’t have to worry about organising insurance for each trip. However, being human, we often neglect to read the small print, which could be a costly mistake if you become ill abroad and need treatment.