Image from Refinery29’s article: Here’s Photographic Proof Of What The Sun’s Doing To Your Face
In case some of you haven’t noticed, we are in the middle of our first heatwave this summer, and I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely loving it! But with this beautiful weather, something that we all need to take very seriously is Sun Protection! There is so much information out there, so I have done my research and thought I would pull together a short guide:
The sun creates 2 types of rays, UVA and UVB. Both of which are harmful to us and our skin, so ensure you buy sun protection with both UVA and UVB protection.
UVA rays are the main cause of wrinkles and skin ageing as they penetrates deeper then UVB rays. They penetrate the skin even when you are not on direct sunlight, so ensure you are always wearing some kind if sun protection. UVA rays can cause depleted collagen, skin pigmentation, eye damage, DNA damage and skin cancers. UVA protection on sun protection is rated using a star system, from 0 stars to 5 stars, the higher the star rating, the lower the percentage of rays that make their way through the sun protection. You should be using a suncream with a minimum of 4 stars.
UVB rays are the burning and tanning rays, and are also cancer inducing. SPF (Sun Protection Factor) and their numbers relate to the amount of UVB protection they can give. SPF15 blocks around 93% of rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% and SPF 50 blocks 98%.
Tips
- Apply your sun cream 20 minutes before planning to go outside (You also still need to apply SPF if you are planning to sit in the shade.
- Ensure you sit in the shade during the sun’s hottest hours (11am and 3pm).
- You should apply a 10p coins worth of cream to your face, and a large shot glass amount for your body.
- Reapply your sun cream every 2hours.
- Ensure you are drinking a lot of water, dehydrated skin is more prone to sun damage.
- Reapply sun cream after swimming.
- SPF in foundation is only enough if you aren’t spending a lot of time outside. (It is spread too thinly and you do not use enough).
- Do not layer SPF’s on top of each other, they will cancel each other out and start to breakdown.
- Perfume also breaks down SPF so do not spray after applying sun protection.
- Ensure you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays.
- Check your suncream has not expired. Look at the back, if there isn’t anything then it means 3 years. Ingredients become ineffective, inactiv and start to decompose after their exiry date and will not protect you any more.
My absolute favourite suncream ever is the UltraSun Sport. It is a gentle, fast absorbing, non greasy and non sticky sun protection gel.
It is a once a day sun protection gel. Depending on how fair your skin is, and what the sun is like where you are, the gel can last up to 10 hours. I have personally used this any time I have been in the sun over the last 3years or so, and can categorically say that I have not been burnt at all whilst using this. I would usually put this on in the morning, then reapplying usually halfway through the day to top up, and also after any swimming.
Although UltraSun do not use the star rating. Their gels protect you from 93% of the sun’s UVA rays, which makes it 5stars. They also come in SPF20, SPF30 & SPF50. I have added their tinted face protection to my next order, as this is make up reversed! You never use the right amount of foundation with SPF, so how about SPF with colour?!
It is a little pricy, but you cannot put a price on your skin’s safety. It also has a shelf life of two years, and if you buy the larger bottle it works out cheaper and can last for a number or holidays. My boyfriend and I took a new bottle to Mexico for 10 days and didn’t make out way through the whole thing.
What are your favourite sun protection products?
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