WHAT I USE: FACIAL SPF

WHEN YOU GET PAID TO TEST BEAUTY PRODUCTS FOR A LIVING, WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY PAY TO USE? ELLE’S BEAUTY DIRECTOR Katy Young COMES CLEAN

Our beauty director’s comprehensive guide to protecting your skin from the sun’s rays

“IF YOU’RE HOPING TO SIMPLIFY MATTERS WITH SPF MAKE-UP, YOU JUST WON’T BE GETTING enough coverage ”

I know: you’ve been wearing moisturiser or foundation with SPF in it all winter and certainly don’t need me to wax lyrical about the best sun filters for your face now it’s summer. Wrong. As much as I love a streamlined routine (and I do), I’m afraid I’ve got to be that beauty editor, and say you need just one more product in your cabinet.

Here are the facts. To adequately protect from UV damage, we need to apply two milligrams of dedicated sunscreen per square centimetre of skin – that’s a 1Op-sized dollop for our face. If you’re hoping to simplify matters with SPF make-up, you just won’t be getting enough coverage. The message? Apply a ‘broad spectrum’ product between your skincare and make-up to protect your face all day.

Broad spectrum? SPF is your filter against UVB; rays that cause sunburn. But it won’t protect against UVA, which causes wrinkles, sun spots and ageing. For complete protection against UVA and UVB, both of which are linked to skin cancer, you need to look for filters labelled ‘broad spectrum’, which shield against the two.

For some of you, this will be an easy summer switchover. For others, the beginning of a hot-weather headache: do you up the ante with sun cream, which might weigh down skin and cause spots? Or do you keep skin happy today by going without, risking more longterm damage? Sorry… Sun protection is not negotiable. Not ever. Thankfully, there’s a range of textures, formulas and finishes to try.

First, if you have temperamental skin, look for non-comedogenic sunscreens, which won’t clog pores or cause angry skin. It’s usually flagged on the bottle, but most dermatologist brands – including La Roche-Posay and Dr Sam Bunting – stick to these non-sticky formulas.

If you suffer from sun-cream irritation, avoid chemical filters (which stop UV rays from sinking into skin, but can aggravate sensitivity) and go for mineral filters, which act as a physical barrier to reflect rays off the skin. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the most commonly used. (While we’re reading the small print on the ingredients list, whatever your skin type, step away from anything with oxybenzone and octinoxate, chemicals that run the risk of washing into oceans and destroying reef and sea life.)

Sometimes, loading my face with serum, SPF and foundation feels a bit much, so I love city protection that comes with tint and skincare, such as Sarah Chapman Skinesis Skin Insurance SPF 3O, £52, and Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart SPF 5O Hydrating Shield, £55. For maximum effectiveness, go for SPF 3O+, apply 15-3O minutes before you leave the house, to give it a chance to sink in, and pay attention to your hairline and ears – both hot spots for melanoma.

Forget peptides and acids: using daily sun protection is the best thing you can do for your face. And the best sun cream is the one that you’ll be happy to use every single day. It’s out there, I promise.