THE SPF CHEAT SHEET: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUN SAFETY – PASS IT ON

Right, I covered this in a reel last week but let’s do a quick reminder of the basics…

*Your SPF only lasts a year (you can’t use last years, it won’t be effective) and it must have UVA and UVB on the bottle – this means it targets UVA rays (cell Ageing) and UVB rays (skin Burning).

A rays penetrate deep into skin, attacking elasticity causing crepey skin, wrinkles and other signs of ageing.

B rays cause skin damage on the surface (b for burning) altering the structure of skin cells & can possibly lead to skin cancer.

*If you are sitting in the sun, you need to reapply SPF every 2 hours, no matter the factor. Most people apply too little, so lets try to imagine what you should be using:

Imagine a teaspoon – now fill that teaspoon with SPF. That’s the amount you need per limb. So a teaspoon-full for each leg and arm. Then it’ll be two teaspoons per chest and back, per adult. If you are particularly tall or have a large frame you may want to use more.

I’m starting to get a little worried at the number of messages I get saying SPF has nasty chemicals and we are better off without it. It’s such a false, dangerous, alarming narrative. Cases of melanoma are expected to rise to around 26,500 by 2038, according to Cancer Research UK.

SPF is NOT toxic. It will not harm you. Any beauty product that you buy has gone through rigorous testing processes before it is even put into production. Every year there is some scaremongering story that does the rounds. Please, please don’t buy into this – wearing SPF is so important. The confusion may lie here in the fact that there are two ‘names’ for the different types of SPF, so I’m going to try and explain it here…

*Mineral sunscreen (often referred to as natural on social media) are often thought of as better for sensitive or acne prone skins that react easily. Mineral filters (such as Zinc Oxcide and Titanium Dioxide) sit on the skins surface, reflecting UV light. In the past they were know to leave a white cast on skin, but the more recent launches are far more invisible – check out Gemma’s edit here). But they are not ‘natural’ as they are created in a lab.

*Chemical sunscreens work like sponges by absorbing UV rays so that they can’t damage your skin. Historically they are more light weight, easier to apply and invisible than mineral sunscreens so there are more on the market to choose from. They often come in more varieties, such aerosols.

*All SPF’s contains some chemicals, no matter what you read on social media. Don’t label one ‘bad’ or one ‘good’ – just use what suits you in terms of formula and budget – and what will keep you safe in the sun.

Please, please Say Yes To SPF! No ifs, no buts.

Here are some of my personal favourite SPFs – a pleasure to apply with brilliant protection for every skin type and tone:

La Roche Posay is a go-to for the face; *they have invisible, tinted and matte formula’s, some designed for sensitive skins, or some to protect against pigmentation. Whatever you need, they’ll have it. Plus they are excellent at SPF for kids too.*

Garnier Over Make-up UV Mist*. A game changer if you’re out all day and not up for reapplying makeup. Use for top ups only.

Ultra Violette has a tinted sunscreen which is wonderful if you’re self conscious about your skin and want some coverage too. I wore this religiously last year. Also very much a fan of their HUGE Extreme Screen Factor 50 body lotion. I took this to Spain last August and we all used head to toe each morning. Obv topped up with something more beach bag sized throughout the day.

Supergoop genius (Re)Setting Mineral Powder *- takes down shine while adding SPF and comes with a built in make-up brush, making it brilliant for top ups on-the-go.

Can’t deal with sticky creams or oils? Vichy’s Solar Tanning Water * feels just like the name suggests, yet with a super high factor. I prefer the Tan Enhance version with a little tanning agent in.

Prefer a stick formula? Need to swipe onto kids quickly? You need an SPF Stick. They’re compact and lightweight, so you can slip one into your pocket, plus using a sunscreen stick can be more hygienic than liquid-based formulas too. You won’t have to scramble to find a bathroom to wash your hands, simply twist and swipe, and you’re UV-protected. Clarins Invisible Sun Stick SPF50 is the one.

*code THISISMOTHERSHIP gets you an extra discount at checkout