For UV Awareness Month, Platinum’s beauty expert Dottie Monaghan shares everything you need to know about SPF and staying skin-smart in the sun.
WORDS: DOTTIE MONAGHAN. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK & VARIOUS BRANDS.
July is UV Awareness Month and with the increased knowledge of the effect the sun’s rays have on our skin and hair, it leaves us in no doubt that we need to be applying protection before we head out the door. You should never assume that because it’s a cloudy day you don’t need sun protection; in fact, grey clouds block only 30-35 per cent of the sun’s rays, while white clouds will still allow 90 per cent to come through.
According to a national YouGov skin survey* commissioned by online beauty retailer Face The Future (facethefuture.co.uk), 55 per cent of those in the UK only wear sunscreen when it’s sunny. As part of their 366 Days of SPF campaign, Face The Future aims to support the UK public to be more sun savvy by making SPF products accessible to all.
STAYING SUN SAFE
One key piece of advice, and something I swear by, is to wear sunscreen daily, and top it up throughout the day. ‘No matter the weather, the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays are ever present throughout the year, causing damage to the DNA in your skin cells that can result in premature ageing, skin cancer and a host of other skin-related issues,’ says Kimberley Medd, head of clinic at Face The Future. ‘Because of this, it’s important to wear UV protection every day to protect your skin against the likes of melanoma skin cancer.’
Knowing how to apply your SPF is just as important as why. Sunscreen should always be applied at least 15 minutes before you head outside and reapplied every two hours throughout the day, and more frequently if you are swimming or sweat heavily. And be generous with the amount of sunscreen you apply – it’s only too tempting when you have spent extra money on a more luxurious brand to skimp when using it.
SKIN-WINNING APPLICATION
I love a multi-tasking product, so look for ones that offer added skincare benefits such as vitamin C or hyaluronic acid, which provide extra hydration, or perhaps one with gradual tan. And what about using your other skincare with your SPF? I often get asked if it is safe to still use retinol in the summer. The answer is yes, but with precautions, as it makes the skin more sensitive to the sun. Perhaps only apply at night if skin is not damaged or sunburnt, and
