Photograph by Louis Botha

Want to know how Boity Thulo always looks so damn good? It’s not make-up… She shared her perfect-skin secret with us, so we could share it with you!

So, how does Boity really achieve such gorgeous, healthy-looking skin?

1. The simple solution

“Water, water, water and more water. Hydrate and hydrate – hydration is your skin’s best friend. It’s very tough for your skin to survive very dry conditions.”

READ MORE: 8 Signs You’re Dehydrated

2. Then make it taste nice…

“Lemon water – it does wonders! I drink that a lot,” says Boity.

3. And don’t leave home without this one thing!

Lastly, never forget to apply sunscreen. “It’s so simple: just use your skin’s best friend [water], protect your skin and keep it hydrated. The sun is incredible harsh, especially during these times of global warming. The sun ages our skin 10 times faster than anything else, so sunscreen will do your skin good,” says Boity.

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What the experts say…

“Sunscreen products mainly protect against two types of radiation [UVA and UVB rays],” says Percy Sibanda, scientific and regulatory affairs advisor for L’Oréal South Africa. UVB, the “burning radiation”, is responsible for redness seen 
on sunburnt skin, he says. But
 it doesn’t penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, so only burns the surface. “Sunscreen with SPF 30 or more can adequately protect against UVB,” he says. But, he warns, UVA is more intense because of its wavelength and frequency, which penetrates the deeper layers of the skin, resulting in DNA damage that can lead to melanomas and other skin cancers. It’s also responsible for other visible skin damage, such as premature ageing and wrinkles. So, choosing a product that protects against both UVA and UVB is vital and, while these claims are usually displayed on the product, examine your sunscreen thoroughly to ensure that you’re protected against both, says Sibanda. “This applies to skin of every colour,” adds dermatologist Dr Steven Wang. The active ingredients in physical sunscreens (titanium dioxide, zinc oxide) may appear chalky on darker skin. Try using a liquid marked “sheer” or look for a broad-spectrum chemical sunscreen.

Skin still suffering the effects of our relentless South African winter? Clear Up Your Skin FAST With This Easy DIY Cure!