Ultraviolet Beauties

I’m sure many of us are guilty of heading out in the sun without protection, but with this summer set to be the hottest yet in the UK should be starting to think more about the unseen damage the sun is doing to our skin? Brooklyn based Cara Philips shows us why we should.

Cara Philips first became involved in the beauty industry as a child model for Ford Models before working as a make-up artist at a department store. Later she returned to study and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 2007 having studied photography. Other recent works include “On Beauty” and “Singular Beauty”.

Beauty At A Cost

Inspired by dermatological offices, Philips uses UV lights in her series Ultraviolet Beauties to demonstrate the unseen damage the sun can do. In an interview with the Huffington Post Philips describes the pictures as anti portraits, saying they focus on the imperfections rather than the traditional flawless portraits. Whatever the focus on flaws, the portraits remain beautiful and intimate, Philips says.

Here Comes The Sun

Sun damage is caused by over exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Melanin, a pigment found on the surface of the skin, is caused to clump together when exposed to harmful rays. The result of this is seen as freckles, sun spots and other brown spots on the skin.

The best way to avoid the damage is to stay out of the sun, particularly at the hottest time of the day, which is midday to 3pm. Failing this, avoiding sunbeds is advisable, and wearing sun cream with a minimum SPF of 15 every day.

For more about Cara Philips and to see the 'Ultraviolet' series in all it's equal splendor and horror please visit her website for the complete collection.