Melbourne journalists Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald otherwise known as the hosts and creators of the Shameless Podcast began January 2020 with a pledge: To wear sunscreen everyday, to get skin checked if something doesn’t feel right and to push against the glamorisation of sun tanning online.

They made this pledge not only to help raise awareness to their growing audience but to support the founders of Call Time on Melanoma: Journalist Lisa Patulny and Advocate Natalie Fornasier.

Quite frankly, this is a phenomenal way that the girls have used their platform. The glamorisation of tanning is something that many young men and women know all too well. It is on our instagram feeds, our television shows, advertisements- the list goes on. Unfortunately sun protection through wearing sunscreen, protective clothing and avoiding the rays during higher UV levels has developed a reputation as unimportant and even daggy in our society.

The reality however is that Australia and New Zealand are the most affected by Melanoma hence the prevention and protection against the sun must be a priority as of right now. It is foolish not to think so. The response from Shameless podcast listeners as well as beauty brands including Mecca and Go To are already beginning to make an impact by changing the way we look at protecting ourselves through campaigns and products.

This movement is not a means to frighten us with the sun or going outside during Summer. It is about changing our mindset that we do not look silly and unattractive by wearing a floppy hat and a rash-vest. It means looking after the largest organ in the body, protecting it from sunburn, UVA/ UVB exposure, practising more acceptance of our natural skin colours and making skin checks a regular priority.

So thank you Shameless Podcast and other brands for reminding us of such an important thing to do for our bodies and skin. You may have even saved a life in the process xx