AS summertime approaches and our hope that the sun may shine for us, we need to remember to protect our skin from the damaging effect of UV rays.

We do need the suns rays in order to create the essential vitamin D, however we only need approximately between five to fifteen minutes of sunlight to our hands, arms and face three times a week.

The term ‘getting a healthy tan’ is not quite true, there is nothing healthy about a leathery skin that has had too much sun exposure.

Historically deep sun tans were very fashionable, now this is not the case, which I am incredibly pleased about.

Some people who would fry themselves in zero factor sun oil are now regretting it by the ageing it has caused to their skin or worst of all if they have been treated for skin cancer.

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Many people say to me that they wished that they had kept out of the sun.

WHY WEAR SUNSCREEN

  •  The most important reason is that wearing sunscreen can decrease the risk of developing skin cancer;
  • To prevent uncomfortable and unsightly sunburn to the skin;
  • It is the best way to decrease the chance of premature ageing due to the sun’s rays, as the sun can damage the elastic fibres in the skin that help to keep the skin firm;
  • Wearing a sunscreen can prevent sunspots which can make the skin look uneven and older.

If that isn’t enough reason to slather on your sunscreen, it is a good example for you to set for the younger members of your family, and some of the sunscreens are very pleasant to use and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.

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GREAT SUNSCREENS FOR 2021

Choosing the right sunscreen to suit your skin type is important, especially when wearing it on the face.

An oily skin would prefer an oil free or light fluid formula, a dry skin may prefer a rich and creamy texture.

Finding the right sunscreen can be an expensive experiment, so ask for a sample to try if you can.

Here are some of my favourites for this year:

  • Phasilab Instant Protect SPF 50 fluid for oily skin, cream for dry skin. They also do a fantastic, tinted cream which many of my clients use as a tinted moisturiser too. I love this cream as it has been great even on people with extremely sensitive skins.
  • LA MER SPF 50 UV protecting fluid. A luxurious sunscreen for the face and neck, goes well under makeup, a little pricey, but a lovely texture.
  • Caudalie Milky Sun Spray SPF50. This is a lightweight formula ideal for the body, it smells lovely.  I love the Caudalie sun care as they do not contain the chemicals that are thought to harm the coral.  
  • La Roche Posay Anthelos Shaka SPF50+ is a good sunscreen for those people who are prone to suffering from rosacea or with super sensitive skin.
  • REN Clean Screen Mineral Sun Cream SPF30 is a good option for darker skin tones as it doesn’t look chalky on the skin and avoids the ghost like look that some sunscreens can give. It is fully vegan and cruelty free.
  • Lancaster Sun Sensitive Invisible Compact Cream SPF 50, easy to apply as in a compact, gives a luminous finish on the skin, could leave some skins chalky but fine on a pale skin.
  • Bondi Sands Lip Balm SPF50+ I love this sunscreen for the lips, it leaves the lips protected from the sun whilst feeling well moisturised. This fantastic product soothes dry lips, is sulphate free, cruelty free, vegan friendly and reef friendly. I recommend this for all who spend a lot of time outdoors, such as golfers, walkers, cyclists, gardeners, farmers.