Here comes the sun
For many of us, August means summer holidays and in particular seeking out the sunshine (whether we’re lucky enough to have this at home, or searching for it abroad). Like a lot of you, I love the feel of the sun on my skin and the look of a sun-kissed glow, but I also battle with not wanting to look like an old leather bag any time soon. Ageing is obviously an inevitable part of life, but I think there are ways to stay looking ever so slightly more youthful with just a few summer tips…. and one of them is finding a good SPF.
It may surprise you to learn that even though I live in England (renowned for a lot of cloudy, dreary days) I wear SPF on my face all year round. And although this does leave me looking particularly ghost-like when I’m makeup-free, it’s nothing that a good bronzer can’t rectify, so I feel that it is worth the pale look to save getting a few more lines, age spots and of course the big C.
I wear Factor 50 from May to September, and then Factor 30 from October to April. Also, I make sure to wear a hat if I’m going to be in the sunshine all day so that I know that my face is protected.
Over the years I have tried A LOT of different products with SPF and some are certainly better than others. For me, the key is that they provide good protection without leaving that tell-tale chalky white finish. Here is a selection of my favourites that are helping me keep those lines to a minimum:-
SPF30
1. Ultra Sun SPF 30 Face Anti-Ageing Sun Protection 50ml, £17
I love the Ultra Sun range because even in “proper” sunshine (ie full on sun exposure), you only need to apply the product once and it provides lasting protection all day. This one is the SPF30. It does come out a little white, but rub it in properly for 30 seconds or so and it disappears without a trace. This is so much more than a sunscreen, it provides great anti-ageing properties too that not only prevent further skin damage, but actually help reduce the appearance of existing lines and discolouration.
2. Ultra Sun SPF 30 Face Tinted Moisturising Anti-Ageing Sun Protection 50ml, £20
This is the equivalent of number 1 (above), but it has a lovely natural tint to it. It’s really easy to blend in and leaves my skin with a lovely natural glow and gives a healthy hint of colour.
3. LimeLife by Alcone SPF30 Perfect Sunscreen 44ml, £32
A brilliant sunscreen which is on the more natural side, being made from plant based ingredients and free from harsh chemicals, so this puts it on the more expensive end of the scale. It absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving a slightly dewy texture which acts as a perfect makeup base, whilst providing Broad Spectrum SPF30 skin protection.
SPF50
4. Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel SPF 50+ 30ml, £28
This gel-like formula is so light to apply, easily absorbed and there is absolutely no trace of white. It’s a full protection SPF50 and provides great application for anyone with an oilier complexion and perhaps doesn’t like the more moisturising formulations of face protection. This one is definitely lightweight and leaves a smooth, shine-free base.
5. Ultra Sun SPF 50+ Face Moisturising Anti-Ageing Sun Protection 50ml, £24
As with the other Ultra Sun products mentioned above (numbers 1 and 2), this only as to be applied in the morning, then you are all set for the day. It provides amazing skin protection, as well as anti-ageing properties. However, it is slightly thicker than the SPF30 version and it does take a bit more effort to rub in to get rid of the white cast, but I think the once-only application makes up for this.
6. Boots Soltan Face Protect & Moisturise Suncare Cream SPF 50+ 50ml, £6
This is great value for money and has the full spectrum UVA and UVB protection you would get from the more expensive brands. It provides good protection, but it is slightly on the heavier side so might not be suitable for oilier complexions. It requires a little bit of effort to rub in properly, but then leaves a nice moisturised finish.
7. SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial Defense SPF50+ 30ml, £26
A good SPF50 that absorbs quickly, easily, leaving a lovely smooth and soft finish, which acts as a fab primer ready for makeup, and no white residue. It is often recommended by dermatologists so is a great option if you have problematic skin and if you have a tendency to break out when using other SPFs. Give this one a try!
As an extra layer of protection, my daytime foundation (Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder) or my tinted moisturiser (Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue) also contain SPF. (Just make sure that your evening foundation does not also have SPF, otherwise you will get that horrid camera flashback, where your face will have a really white glow on all photos! For evening I like MAC Face & Body Foundation or Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, as these are SPF free.)
If, like me, by protecting your face all year round you end up with it being a different colour to the rest of you, you can even everything out with an everyday bronzer, or maybe try a couple of my favourite bronzy products:-
8. Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster 15ml, £20
This is a clever self-tan product that you mix with your regular daily moisturiser and it provides a lovely healthy glow that you can build up over a few days.
9. By Terry CellulaRose Brightening CC Serum in Sunny Flash 30ml, £60
A little indulgent as far as price is concerned, but the effect is really worthwhile. It is a tinted serum that can be applied on its own or before foundation. It gives a lovely sun-kissed effect to the skin, as well as blurring imperfections and providing some amazing anti-ageing properties such as reducing discolouration over time.
There is an area of my face that is ageing slightly more speedily than the rest… my eye area. Whilst I do wear sunglasses a lot when out and about, and have always used an eye cream both day and night, I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the only area of my face which has more lines than the rest is where I don’t protect with SPF. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with laughter lines, but if I could just lessen these a bit, I’d like that too. I think my next product search will be to find a great daily SPF eye cream. If you have any recommendations, then let me know in the comments below.
I’d love to hear as well whether you’re someone who avoids SPF altogether. There is of course the other side to the story, in that some people believe it is the chemicals in SPF that actually cause skin cancer and not the sun itself. Getting 30 minutes a day of natural sunshine on bare skin is thought to be super beneficial for all aspects of health (both mentally and physically), as well as upping our much needed Vitamin D levels. I think in any event, it is always wise to be safe in the sun and stick to the guidelines (avoid the midday sun, wear a hat and sunglasses when out and about and stay in the shade if you have very fair skin). And if all else fails, just stick to one tip… try not to fry!
L x
Do you have a favourite SPF face product? Anything you can recommend (particularly a good eye cream)? Or are you against SPF completely and prefer the natural approach? Let me know in the comments below.