It’s the most important part of your skincare regime: find the perfect formula to suit your skin and protect your future face!
WORDS: STEPHANIE MAYLOR. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY
You could use that family-sized bottle of sunscreen on your face, but the beauty of facial SPF is that the textures are lighter, more easily absorbed and formulated for different skin types. Because here’s the thing – protecting your skin isn’t just a summer holiday thing. UV rays are always active, even on a cold, wet, windy day, and damage occurs through everyday activities like nipping to the shops or pottering in the garden.
Shockingly only 22% of the UK apply SPF daily, according to a survey commissioned by Face the Future. If you’re one of the 78% not wearing it, consider this: the sun is the biggest cause of premature ageing, so applying a high factor sun cream should be as much a part of your morning routine as brushing your teeth.
TOP TIP Apply your sunscreen with a make-up brush to get into every nook and cranny.
Decode the bottle
UVA These long-wave rays cause skin to age and wrinkle, and can lead to cancer.
UVB Short-wave rays are responsible for sunburn. Make sure your sunscreen is labelled as ‘broad-spectrum’ or shows both the UVA and UVB icons to protect against both types.
STAR RATING A five-star system shows the level of UVA protection. Some brands use the letters ‘PA’ followed by plus signs.
SPF The Sun Protection Factor refers to the level of UVB protection. An SPF30 shields against 97% of UVB rays, while SPF50 filters out 98%.
USE-BY DATE The jar symbol shows how long you can keep your sun cream once opened.
Best for lips
The skin on your lips is the thinnest on the face and requires special protection against the sun. Slather Hello Sunday SPF50 Tinted Lip Balm, £10, Boots, on throughout the day. Available in two juicy shades, lips benefit from nourishing shea butter and hyaluronic acid, as well as top-notch protection and a splash of colour.
Best for on the go
Did you know you should be reapplying your sunscreen every two hours?
Garnier Ambre Solaire Over Makeup Super UV Protection Mist SPF50, £13, Boots, makes this easy. It’s feather-light so you can top-up regularly without disturbing your make-up.
