CLAIRE SPREADBURY FINDS OUT HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF SUN PROTECTION
AS the sunshine threatens to make an appearance, more of us start thinking about using SPF.
Of course, we should all be wearing it year-round – we know this, yet lots of us don’t. In fact, according to new research by skincare brand No7, only 26% of women use SPF on their face every day.
“My advice is always that the best sunscreen is the sunscreen you wear every day, because it’s vital to ensure you include a high
SPF in your daily skincare routine, to protect your skin from incidental sun damage,” says Clare O’Connor, No7 senior research scientist. “However, for prolonged, more deliberate sun exposure – for example, sitting outside in the sun for 30 mins at lunchtime, either reapply your daily moisturiser or apply a sun-protection product.”
Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, medical consultant skin expert and founder of award-winning Adonia Medical Clinic, has been working with retailer Westfield’s How We Shop platform to showcase the latest skincare technology to help protect the skin from pollution.
“The SPF in moisturisers typically ranges from SPF 15 to 30, but for adequate protection, especially in sunny climates, I recommend using a standalone sunscreen with at least SPF 30 or higher, or even better, an anti-pollution SPF, to protect the skin from environmental impurities and UVA and UVB rays.”
HOW TO APPLY SPF
Sun protection should always be applied after your moisturiser, notes Sara Salih, senior facialist at Pre- salons. “It’s always the last step, so it can be on the surface of the skin to give the best protection. If it’s put under the moisturiser, the moisturiser would act as a barrier between the SPF and the sun.”
Clare recommends applying a teaspoon or two finger lengths of product to your face and neck, to provide the protection promised on the label.
HOLIDAY ROUTINE
When holidaying abroad, Dr Ejikeme advises using a higher SPF sunscreen, reapplying it every two hours – especially if you’re swimming, sweating, or spending extended periods outdoors.
Clare agrees: “Regardless of the season, or whether you’re at home or in different countries, you should still be applying sun protection every day.
Incidental sun damage – which is defined as any brief exposure to the sun, or sun exposure that seems inconsequential – can be responsible for much skin damage. In the UK, we tend to think about sunscreen when we are going overseas or intentionally spending all day outside. But even short bursts of sun exposure cause damage to cells and structural proteins, such as collagen.”
SPF AND MAKE-UP
What happens when you’re wearing make-up and it’s tricky to reapply? “One of my best tips is to reapply sunscreen using a make-up blending sponge,” says Clare. “This is a great way to top up your sun protection throughout the day without budging your make-up.” Sara advises using an SPF in spritz form, which you can lightly spray over make-up. “This will give a light top-up when needed throughout the day,” she says.