protect and perfect trio

As a society, we've grown too accustomed to seeking comfort and sticking to routines we know we can manage. When things change, we are increasingly prone to stress and our mental health is suffering as a result. We are losing our resilience – our ability to accept uncertainty and to know that we can deal with it, and this is affecting our day-to-day lives.

There are few better ways to improve our resilience than through adventure. In fact, the very nature of adventure is that it is uncertain and that it has a degree of perceived risk – it is supposed to take you out of your ‘comfort zone’. This isn’t to say that we need to be scaling mountains or steering down grade 5 rapids; we all have our own ‘stretch zone’! It might simply be going for a walk in an unfamiliar place, or getting on a paddle board for the first time, or riding a bike on a bumpy track. It really doesn’t matter, as long as we continue to demonstrate to ourselves that we can deal with things that are unfamiliar. The more we do, the more confident we become in ourselves, and the more resilient we are in our daily lives. Belinda Kirk refers to this as the ‘Adventure Effect’. The Outward Bound programme was started on this basis, intended to develop resilience in young men destined for the Merchant Navy, with a view to enhancing their ability to overcome adversity. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Army Adventurous Training and many other programmes followed suit, and all survive to this day. Countless studies and interventions continue to show that outdoor adventure equips us with the tools we need to be better at our jobs, better students, better parents and, ultimately, better people.

Outward Bound, accessed: 13.4.23
Allan, J. F., & McKenna, J. (2022). Trajectories of Resilience in University Inductees following Outdoor Adventure (OA) Residential Programmes. Psychiatry International, 3(1).
Neill, J. T., & Dias, K. L. (2001). Adventure education and resilience: The double-edged sword. Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning, 1(2).
Hattie, J., Marsh, H. W., Neill, J. T., & Richards, G. E. (1997). Adventure education and outward bound: Out-of-class experiences that make a lasting difference. Review of Educational Research, 67(1).

Methodology
1. Study Objectives
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and user satisfaction of in transit skin defence over a 28-day period. Specific objectives included:

- Assessing user satisfaction with the product after first use and over time.
- Measuring overall user perceptions, including texture, application ease, and visual results.

2. Study Design
Type of Study: Quantitative user study with self-assessment questionnaires.
Duration: 28 days.
Product Use Protocol: Participants applied the product once daily to the target area as per provided instructions.
Sample Size: 36 participants.
Assessment Points: Participants completed self-assessment questionnaires at four intervals: after the first use, after 7 days, after 14 days, and after 28 days.
Participants: Women aged between 18 and 55+.
Data Analysis: Results from the self-assessment questionnaires were collected and analysed by an independent statistician.

3. Blinding Procedure
To maintain objectivity, the product was provided in lab sample containers without brand identifiers or final packaging. Participants were informed only that they were testing an SPF day cream.

4. Results
AFTER FIRST USE
75% said skin felt moisturised*
73% said skin felt nourished*

AFTER FOURTEEN DAYS USE
83% said skin felt less dry**
83% said skin felt softer**

AFTER TWENTY-EIGHT DAYS USE
75% said skin felt smoother***
86% said skin felt protected***

*In a panel of 40 participants after first use.
**In a panel of 41 participants over a 14-day period.
***In a panel of 36 participants over a 28-day period.

In transit camera close-up was tested on 26 subjects, men and women aged between 18-70, to assess suitability for sensitive skin. Participants were self-assesed with sensitive skin by completing a skin sensitivity questionnaire. Each subject was exposed to the test and control materials on the upper and outer arm for 4 consecutive periods of 24 hours. Irritation was then measured and the study concluded the product was suitable for use on sensitive skin.