Boy, do we ever suffer from fashion. Elizabethans were stuck with the ruff, 18th-century beauties were killed off by the white lead they applied as foundation, Victorian belles toted smelling salts in case the pressure of the whalebone corset on the rib cage caused them to pass out, and let’s not forget centuries of Chinese gals with size zero feet.

Fast forward to the 20th century when up reared one of the worst fashions in history – tanned skin. We can blame F. Scott Fitzgerald and his cronies. When they pitched up in New York in the 1920s with their Mediterranean suntans they revolutionised the way everyone wanted to look. Still, every cloud has a silver lining – they did leave us the legacy of the best holiday playground in the world – the Cote d’Azur.

So, this month’s message comes in five succinct words: sun screen, sun hat, always. Past 60, you might think it’s a tad late to start worrying about the ravages of the sun on your complexion. But here’s the thing: past 65, chances are you’ll spend much more time outdoors – in the garden, on the golf course and, if you are lucky enough to live near the sea, taking long walks on the beach. Without ever actually lying down to sunbathe you could get more sun in the first year of retirement than you’ve had in the past ten.

That said, the sun is a great source of Vitamin D, essential for good health. For starters it’s our best ally in the maintenance of bone density; vital for over-sixties. In a recent review of women hospitalised for hip fractures, 50 per cent were found to have vitamin D deficiency. It can also enhance our immune system function, something to bear in mind with the swine flu threat hanging over us. Just keep your face out of the sun: the transformation from peach to rawhide is irreversible. When I’m gardening I find that a baseball cap is the most practical headgear.

The sad fact is that most of us look healthier – and younger – with a light tan. I was a sun-worshipper in my youth. I used to slather myself with cheap coconut oil (nil Sun Protection Factor) and I kick-started my tan with a session under a tanning lamp, until the appearance of sinister beige moles sent a signal that this wasn’t a good idea. Received wisdom has it that our faces should be exposed to direct sun for no more than 15 minutes a day, and sun block (SPF 15 or greater) should be used daily year-round, and SPF 30-50 in strong sunlight. The fairer the skin, the higher the SPF needed.

At any age, hydration is the key to a good-looking skin, which means moisturising with a vengeance, drinking enough water in hot weather and, a tip given me by Joan Collins many years ago, always carrying a facial mister for use in hot climates and on aeroplanes. Evian makes a good one, small enough to go in your hand luggage. It’s available over the internet.

For daily use in anything but strong sunshine the product that works for me is Dove Summer Glow, a facial moisturiser with just a hint of self-tanning agents, SPF15. It’s as subtle as they come. Having applied it (and scrubbed my hands well) I add a light dusting of bronze blusher, hint of pink lip gloss (more flattering to sixty-something lips than solid lipstick) and I’m ready to go.


Tip of the month
If, like me, you’re a magnet for midges and mosquitoes, try the only advice I have ever found helpful. An African doctor gave it while treating me for an allergic reaction to a bite in Botswana’s Okavanga Delta – where they know a thing or two about biting insects. Take vitamin B complex tablets year round, or at least six weeks before going on holiday; apparently, mosquitoes can’t stand the smell. Second, in areas where there might be midges or mosquitoes (i.e. near water) never wear perfume of any description – that includes deodorants and hair preparations – it will attract them in hordes. Happy holidays!