The perfect sunscreen for your skin

If you need advice on choosing the perfect sunscreen for your skin, then look no further.        

If you are on the hunt for the number one anti-aging product that works immediately upon application then look no further than sunscreen! It continues to keep your face looking healthy, wrinkle-free, and youthful for years to come and it is cheaper than most anti-aging products.

Did you know that it is essential to wear sunscreen every single day of the year, come hail, rain, snow or shine? Ultraviolet rays that are the cause of sun damage and more importantly, skin cancer are always present. The sun’s ultra violet rays are completely independent of cold or hot weather, and contrary to common belief they are not blocked by clouds. This is a common misconception so make sure not to fall foul of this myth and wear your SPF even on overcast days.

There are two types of ultra violet rays, UVB and UVA. UVB rays are responsible for producing sunburn whilst the UVA rays penetrate more deeply in the skin and play a greater role in premature skin aging such as wrinkle formation. The best way to protect the skin from this damage is with sun protection.

There are so many sun screens on the market now it’s almost impossible to find the protection that is right for you so we have broken it down for you below.

Chemical sunscreen ingredients, such as PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) and cinnamates, absorb UV rays and convert the sun’s radiation into heat energy, while physical sunscreens (such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) deflect and scatter the rays before they penetrate your skin. Both types can be effective and safe if used properly.

It so important to make sure that the sunscreen that you choose is "Broad Spectrum". What this means is that it can protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Anywhere that you see the SPF level on packaging please note that this only describes protection from UVB rays, the sunburn rays that also damage your skin's DNA, UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply causing wrinkles and brown spots.  TOP TIP: So instead of looking for a product with the highest SPF value why not look for a product with at least an SPF of 30 that is also labelled with UVA and UVB protection or broad-spectrum protection and then you are ensuring your skin is protected to the highest degree.

For those of us that feel the SPF in our moisturiser is enough to protect us from the sun’s rays, we suggest adding an additional daily SPF on top of it to ensure you are fully protected from the suns harmful rays.

If you have an oily or acne-prone skin, use a water-based sunscreen. These do not cause your skin to break out like oil-based creams.

Dry skin can benefit from moisturizing sunscreens. Some of the ingredients in moisturising sunscreens include lanolin, oils, and silicones

The only safe way to be beautifully bronzed is to fake it. Applying sunscreen to fake tan can be a bit of a disaster, many Sunscreens contain ingredients that react to the DHA in fake tan. Alcohol will dry out the skin and can cause a patchy, uneven fade. A lot of the heavier products contain oil. oils in sunscreen are not moisturising and will cause your tan to fade prematurely.

Individuals with darker skin who tan easily and rarely burn may feel they do not need to use sunscreen. However, like sunburn, a tan is the result of DNA damage from exposure to the sun’s harmful UV radiation. Darker-skinned people may also be wary of using physical sunscreens, especially titanium-based products, because they can look chalky and white on the skin. Chemical sunscreens are also an option; look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15+.

Kids need sunscreens as much as we adults do. But be very careful while choosing a sunscreen for them. Children have sensitive skin, and the ingredients in the sunscreen may cause allergic reactions. Its so important to make sure to choose a brand that is reputable, reapply as often as you can especially if they are swimming or excessively sweating.

If you are going for a walk or to the beach, playing any sport or swimming it is really important to top up your SPF regularly. Consider a formula that can be applied to wet skin to make the application easier

Some newer sunscreens come with additional benefits such as added antioxidants or hydrating ingredients. Also, you can save time by using a tinted sunscreen instead of a foundation, super handy for those days you want to feel and look fresh.