Slap on see-through some sunscreen

Traditional lotions can leave you looking basted like a turkey or smeared in white. But a new generation puts them in the shade

Still think wearing sun cream either means basting yourself with oil, like a turkey, or looking like a ghost? think again. the latest sun protection is genuinely

invisible — and non-greasy, too.

With temperatures set to skyrocket later this week, pharmacy shelves are groaning with clear liquids, gels and sticks that leave no trace and yet effectively protect you from UV damage.

So what’s sparked the change? in part, it’s down to technological advances in ingredients, but it’s also because the past few years have seen an increasing amount of awareness about the dangers of the sun for people with darker skin.

‘Dark skin tones can still develop skin cancer, and when they do, the cancer tends to be aggressive as it is usually spotted late,’ explains Dr ifeoma Ejikeme, NHS consultant and medical director at london’s Adonia Medical Clinic.

But if you’ve ever found yourself a whiter shade of pale after dutifully slapping on the right amount of sun protection, you’ll understand why regular sun creams are not ideal.

‘traditional sunscreens tend to use high levels of zinc and titanium oxides — white, chalky ingredients that leave a residue on the skin that’s particularly noticeable on darker skins,’ says Dr Ejikeme.

to compound this problem, suncare products are not usually marketed at those with darker complexions.

However, last year the Black Skin Directory teamed up with Ultrasun to produce the UK’s first suncare advert aimed at people with darker skin.

increased awareness seems to have galvanised the industry, with the result that pretty much every sun protection brand now has an invisible formulation that won’t leave those tell-tale white marks behind.

But while the products might be better for us, are they better for the planet, too?

there’s been a lot of debate in recent years about the impact that the ingredients in sunscreens are having on the environment.

And while some have been identified as harmful to aquatic life, and even banned in certain parts of the world, that doesn’t mean all the others are ‘ environmentally- friendly’, as some suncare manufacturers would have you believe.

French beauty blogger Dominique Archambeau ( atrecherche.blogspot.com) has pointed out that all sun creams are potentially harmful as they are transferred from skin to the sea where they float on the surface, blocking the sun’s rays and disrupting plankton development.

So if you really want eco-friendly sun protection, you need to cover up and stay in the shade instead.

But, if you are taken with the idea of going clear, there’s a huge range of options, which means you’re bound to find a formulation that suits you . . .

Sun cream is rarely aimed at women with darker skin