SPF is the one true beauty essential …
We know this by now, but it’s always worth repeating: UV light is the number one cause of visible skin damage. If you don’t protect your precious skin with SPF, that’s what you’re signing up for … whatever other fancy skin creams and serums you splash out on. The sun causes 80 per cent of premature skin ageing – that’s wrinkles and pigmentation appearing on your face earlier than they should.
We all need to wear SPF daily, even when it’s cloudy. If you’ve ever met an older person who’s been religious about protecting their skin throughout their life, you’ll see the difference – their skin will look bouncier, clearer, and with far fewer dark spots and lines.
These are the SPFs we’re wearing now: easy to wear, while doing their vital job.
I use Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil (€43) a lot when travelling as it’s light and easy to wear, but gives robust protection. It comes in lots of shades, and regularly sells out as it’s so highly rated. It works well as a tinted moisturiser, giving skin a bit of glow and coverage, without feeling heavy.
Emma Lewisham’s Sunceutical SPF50 Mineral Face Crème (€55) is intelligently presented in an air-resistant pump-action pot. It’s a lovely, light SPF that melts invisibly into the skin, leaving a great base for make-up. It’s a mineral-based SPF, yet there’s no white sheen or chalkiness – it feels more like a skin-smoothing primer. I like the skin-smoothing formula and pink tint. It’s not a cheap option, but it’s worth its weight in gold; a New Zealand-based brand that knows suncare.
3 For a lightweight, moisturising option, No7 Future Renew Damage Protection UV Defence Shield SPF50 (€33) is light yet hydrating, and without leaving any white cast on your skin. Easy to wear and handy to travel (50ml tube), this is a pharmacy favourite worth the investment. See more: Wake up to glowing skin
Augustinus Bader The Sunscreen SPF50 has launched from the brilliant prestige skincare line; a combination of suncare and skincare, as you’d expect from this prestigious brand. In trial results, pigmentation was reduced by 65 per cent, with smoothing and hydrating effects over 12 weeks. It’s undeniably beautiful, but I’d worry that, at this price, the tendency would be to use too little. When it comes to investing in our skin, protection is one area we should be taking seriously, unlike many fripperies we waste our money on. €125, at counters nationwide.
If you’re out in the sun, don’t forget to protect the tops of your ears and hands, plus your lips. Consultant dermatologist Dr Rosemary Coleman warns that people forget that lips are susceptible to skin cancers too, and it’s an easy one to prevent. She recommends Colorscience’s Lip Shine SPF35 (€25) in four shades. “It contains 6.6 per cent zinc oxide, but is magically invisible. Also, the Mesoprotech Sun Protective Repairing Stick SPF100 is versatile, invisible and non-greasy to apply – great for lips, nose, cheeks and back of hands.”
La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVAIR SPF50+ (€20.80) is also a handy and reliable little bottle of advanced sun protection, with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to moisturise skin while it’s protected. At 40ml, it’s the perfect size for a weekend away. And if it’s good enough for Andy Murray (he’s an ambassador for the brand) …
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