10 ways to be…suncare savvy
enjoy the sun the safe way with our essential guide to suncare
1 A tan doesn’t equal protection
your skin going darker in the sun is a sign that its dna has been damaged. instead of blasting yourself in the sun, try one of the new tan and protect lotions such as St moriz Gradual Tan & Protect Cream SPF30, £9.99, Boots, which contains levels of the fake-tanning agent dha as well as sun protection, to turn your skin golden without needing to sizzle on that sunbed.
2 Medication may make you more sun sensitive
oral contraceptives, antidepressants, retinoids that are used to treat wrinkles and acne, and over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen can make the skin more prone to sunburn, so cover up and avoid those rays. protect with murad City Skin age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF50, £55, murad.co.uk. it’s pricey but it packs a potent protective punch, shielding from uva/uvb and infra-red rays, blue light from your phone or tablet and pollution.
3 Watch the use-by date
your sun cream has a shelf life, just like food. most sunscreens are stamped with an expiration date – however, ‘if the product does not, standard practice is to assume it has a three-year shelf life,’ says dermatologist dr howard murad. ‘But with proper application, a sunscreen should not last you that long!’ our advice? Buy a new one each year so you know you’re properly protected. Vichy Idéal Soleil Solar Protective water with Hyaluronic acid SPF30, £19, protects against uva/b damage as well as keeping skin super-hydrated.
4 Wear suncream – even on cloudy days
‘uva rays can even penetrate through clouds and are the most damaging for your skin,’ says dr murad. ‘they can contribute to premature ageing, collagen degradation and even skin cancer.’ so make sure you follow through with your suncream application even when the sun isn’t out, using a broad-spectrum spf, which means it protects from UVB and uva rays.
5 Check the level of UVA protection
the spf on the bottle tells us our level of UVB protection, but when was the last time you checked how well it shields you against uva rays? ‘uva protection is indicated by a circle with uva in the centre,’ says Boots suncare expert clare o’connor. or look out for the star system. ‘Five-star uva-rated products provide more than 90% protection against uva,’ she adds. try Soltan Protect & moisturise Suncare Spray SPF30, £4.50, Boots.
6 Use generously
most of us fail to apply enough sun cream to properly protect our skin. ‘apply the equivalent of a shot glass to the entire body and face and continuously reapply when out in the sun for long periods of time,’ advises dr murad. the new Calypso Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF30, £8.49, asda, has a handy guide on the back of each bottle explaining exactly how many pumps of lotion to apply on each area of your body.
7 Don’t worry about spots
suffer from breakouts when you use suncare, so avoid it at all costs? keep protected with Eucerin oil Control Sun Gelcreme SPF50+, £16. it has been formulated for problem skin, has a mattifying effect and even regulates sebum levels to prevent blocked pores and reduce shine. it’s the ideal base under make-up.
8 Keep your sunscreen cool
keep your suncream in the shade, as its effectiveness deteriorates in temperatures above 25°c. ‘heat accelerates the ageing of the product and if it’s been exposed to heat, i would recommend disposing of it,’ advises clare o’connor. ‘and never leave your bottle of sunscreen on the dashboard of a car as these temperatures will be in excess of anything the sunscreen is formulated to withstand.’
9 Make-up with an SPF is not enough
mineral powders and foundations aren’t thick enough to shield your skin from harmful rays. the best way to prevent burning and premature wrinkles is to use a high-factor, tinted spf such as Bioderma Photoderm max Tinted aquafluid SPF50+, £13.20, Boots, which is a lightweight, non-oily base with a hint of colour to shield your skin and keep it looking flawless.
10 You can burn through your clothes
unless you’re wearing specialist spf clothing, the maximum level of protection you can expect from a t-shirt is about an spf10. go for black and dark-coloured fabrics, which give better protection than white. But as well as staying covered use a total sunblock like Ultrasun Professional Protection Extreme SPF50+, £37.50, qvcuk.com, and when you feel like your skin has had enough, seek refuge in the shade.