3 NEXT GENERATION: daily sunscreens – the ultimate anti-agers
Dermatologists used to be reluctant to recommend day creams with added sunscreen. ‘The SPF level tended to be low and there often wasn’t any UVA protection at all,’ says Dr Anjali Mahto, a consultant dermatologist. But things have been turned on their head in recent years. Broad-spectrum SPF50 daily facial sunscreens with antioxidants and added skincare ingredients now come as moisturisers, serums, powders, mists, oils and even primers. They span the gamut of textures from oil-free gels to rich creams, seemingly making them the ultimate all-in-one skin health-boosting formulas. But do they pass muster with doctors? ‘Yes!’ says Anjali emphatically. ‘Provided you use enough – a generous ½tsp for your face and neck – this generation of cosmetic sunscreens has all you need, even on the beach.’ She recommends that those with dark skin look for formulas with iron oxides, as ‘they properly protect against blue light, which is strongly implicated in the formation of dark spots in brown and black skin, and in melasma in those with Mediterranean skin or darker.’ Meanwhile, Dr Fiona Mccarthy (getharley.com), a cosmetic doctor and oncologist, is keen on high doses of antioxidants in your chosen sunscreen, particularly vitamin C. ‘They help mop up the 50% of free radicals that make it past your UV filters and spell trouble for your skin cells if not neutralised,’ she explains. Beyond that, look for DNA repair enzymes for cell protection, niacinamide to fight sun spots and oiliness, and subtle tints to create fresh-looking, perfectly protected skin.