I know you're probably thinking why is Laura writing about sunscreen when the temperatures are plummeting and the clocks go back tonight, but I believe it's the most important bit of beauty advice I could possibly provide - especially on a lovely sunny autumnal day like today.
Here's the deal - you should be wearing some form of sun protection EVERYDAY
This is a particularly sensitive subject for me as I was recently diagnosed with Melasma, a form of hyperpigmentation which appears as irregular brown patches on my face and is very common with pregnant women (except I'm not pregnant!). There are a number of possible underlying causes - hormones, the pill, stress - but it was triggered and made worse by the sun. I will elaborate on my experiences with this skin condition in future posts as I research various "miracle" creams and cover ups and re-build my confidence with my skin, but more than anything it has made me obsessed with sun protection. Prevention is better than cure - believe me!!
Let's start with the basics. SPF stands for sun protection factor and is included in all sunscreens and in some skincare and makeup, from as little as SPF 2 in coconut oils (don't go there!) to SPF 50+ in broad-spectrum creams, and is designed to protect our skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
There are two types of ultraviolet rays - UVB and UVA - and these are the evils that cause skin damage, premature ageing and, in some cases, lead to skin cancer.
Here's the deal - you should be wearing some form of sun protection EVERYDAY
This is a particularly sensitive subject for me as I was recently diagnosed with Melasma, a form of hyperpigmentation which appears as irregular brown patches on my face and is very common with pregnant women (except I'm not pregnant!). There are a number of possible underlying causes - hormones, the pill, stress - but it was triggered and made worse by the sun. I will elaborate on my experiences with this skin condition in future posts as I research various "miracle" creams and cover ups and re-build my confidence with my skin, but more than anything it has made me obsessed with sun protection. Prevention is better than cure - believe me!!
Let's start with the basics. SPF stands for sun protection factor and is included in all sunscreens and in some skincare and makeup, from as little as SPF 2 in coconut oils (don't go there!) to SPF 50+ in broad-spectrum creams, and is designed to protect our skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
There are two types of ultraviolet rays - UVB and UVA - and these are the evils that cause skin damage, premature ageing and, in some cases, lead to skin cancer.
- UVB causes sunburn (which at least you can see develop!)
- UVA penetrates the skin more deeply but takes a little while to show its true colours through wrinkles, sun spots, sagging and leathering. You know the beach prunes in Benidorm? Pure UVA.
| I've been un/fortunate enough to have a UV skin scan of my face by a dermatologist on Harley Street and I burst into tears when I saw the results. What lurks beneath is scary. NB. This isn't me! I didn't get to keep my scan. Shucks. |  |
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- If you work near a window or enjoy the warmth of sun through the window when you're driving, you're still catching UVA rays and speeding up the ageing process.
- On a really cloudy day, 40% of the sun's ultraviolet rays makes its way through the clouds to your skin, so you need to protect yourself even when it isn't sunny.
- The highest SPF you have on your body will provide the highest protection - a moisturiser with SPF 15 and a foundation with SPF 15 won't give you SPF 30 protection. You'll only have SPF 15 protection.
- From the age of 25 your skin is known as 'mature' and will start ageing, so don't wait until lines find a permanent place on your face or brown spots start appearing. You can slow this process down by wearing sunscreen - whatever you age!
so what sunscreen should you wear?
Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen offering protection against both UVA and UVB rays everyday - look specifically for this on packaging. You can easily achieve this by making sure your daily moisturiser provides it, nourishing and protecting your face and neck in one. Marie Claire recently recommended some good SPF moisturisers and you can also look out for the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation logo.
The higher the SPF, the better the protection. I'd recommend wearing the same high protection all year round so that you don't have to think about switching it in the summer, but if you'd prefer to mix it up then I'd suggest wearing an SPF 15-30 throughout the winter and SPF 30-50 in the summer (remembering to reapply if you're sunbathing or dipping in and out of the pool). Of course you'll need additional sun protection for your body when sunbathing or spending long summer days outside, but at least you'll know your face is constantly protected if you forget about your body (tut, tut).
The SPF number relates to how much longer it will take you to burn when using sun protection, e.g. SPF 20 will take you 20 times longer to burn than without sun protection. You can do a small calculation to work out roughly what protection your sun cream will offer you:
How long it usually takes you to burn = 30 minutes X SPF number you think you need = 20
= 600 minutes of protection (10 hours)
The higher the SPF, the better the protection. I'd recommend wearing the same high protection all year round so that you don't have to think about switching it in the summer, but if you'd prefer to mix it up then I'd suggest wearing an SPF 15-30 throughout the winter and SPF 30-50 in the summer (remembering to reapply if you're sunbathing or dipping in and out of the pool). Of course you'll need additional sun protection for your body when sunbathing or spending long summer days outside, but at least you'll know your face is constantly protected if you forget about your body (tut, tut).
The SPF number relates to how much longer it will take you to burn when using sun protection, e.g. SPF 20 will take you 20 times longer to burn than without sun protection. You can do a small calculation to work out roughly what protection your sun cream will offer you:
How long it usually takes you to burn = 30 minutes X SPF number you think you need = 20
= 600 minutes of protection (10 hours)
does makeup provide sun protection?
Yes - a lot of makeup now includes an SPF which will help you even further with your everyday protection, e.g. BB/CC creams, foundations, powder, blushers, lipsticks, etc. However, don't rely on your makeup to give you protection alone as it will not be applied thickly enough or with an even coverage. It is best to use a moisturiser with a broad-spectrum protection underneath and a BB/CC/foundation with an SPF on top. It not only provides a smooth, serum-like base for your foundation, but gives you ultimate protection. Your lips are sensitive to the sun as they have hardly no melanin, so make sure your lip balm or lipstick has an SPF, especially when sunbathing - beware that lip gloss acts like oil and attracts the sun.
what about vitamin d?
| There is a concern that wearing sunscreen will act as a barrier for Vitamin D from the sun reaching your bones and teeth, but research proves that you will still get your daily dose even when wearing sunscreen. If you are concerned, then spending 15 minutes in the sun without sun protection will provide you with all the Vitamin D you could possibly need, and of course you can take vitamin supplements and eat lots of oily fish, cereal and drink milk. It may be sad to say goodbye to the nice tanned glow and freckles of a day spent in the sun, but with great moisturisers, BB creams and bronzers on the market you can now tan more youthfully and beautifully.... and you'll thank me in the end! Laura x |  |
