Demystifying ingredients, clarifying how to apply products and revealing everything you’ve always wanted to know about skin types; Eliza Explains will help you become a beauty pro.
Does SPF really prevent sun damage?
Here’s how I know SPF has already saved my skin from loads of damage: every year, I go to Portugal on holiday. I always wear SPF and have done for years, but when I swig from a water bottle, it removes the bit that’s just above my upper lip. I didn’t notice that this was happening for ages, until a line of very deep, pronounced pigmentation started to make itself known every time I went in the sun.
This started around five years ago, and every single year without fail, that very damaged bit of skin darkens, while the rest of my face remains pale.
The gifted Pamela Marshall, clinical aesthetician at London’s Mortar & Milk clinic, confirmed my diagnosis, telling me that, yes, it was the result of unprotected sun exposure and, yes, it would rear its head with every further episode in the sun.
It’s too late for my upper lip, but I’ve learned a lesson and am now militant about SPF. I wear it every day. Even when it’s overcast during deepest, darkest December or when I am inside (remember that a large proportion of UV rays can penetrate through clouds and even windows). And, honestly, it’s not a faff at all.
The key lies in finding the right formula that sits nicely on skin and doesn’t pill under makeup. (Wondering what pilling is? Have you ever applied a product to find it collects in small balls on your skin rather than soaking in? That’s pilling, something we most definitely want to avoid to achieve a flawless base). Once I’d switch to an SPF formula to avoid it, it started to become routine in the way brushing my teeth is, and I don’t even think about it any more.
I want that for you, too – it’s the most foolproof and effective way to avoid premature ageing, and will help to safeguard your skin’s health.
Here are some tips you need to know when it comes to using SPF on your face:
Why do I need to wear SPF every day?
This is where knowing about the difference between UVA and UVB is handy. Both do cause harm, but UVA causes skin to age, while UVB (responsible for giving you a tan) will burn skin.
Good quality broad spectrum SPFs protect against both, so even when UVB doesn’t make it through a shroud of wintery fog, you can bet that UVA will – and those are the rays will still cause the deep damage (like wrinkles and skin cancer), which you want to avoid.
How do I apply face SPF? Can I use it instead of moisturiser?
You absolutely can – but you don’t have to. If you’ve got dry skin, you can apply it over moisturiser as the final step in your skincare routine. As long as it goes on, that’s the main thing.
Where else do I need to apply SPF?
And don’t forget your neck, chest and, if you’re wearing your hair up, ears – which the NHS explains is one of the spots where non-melanoma skin cancer most often develops, along with other areas regularly exposed to the sun, including hands and shoulders.
Oh, and on hot days pop a little bit in your hair parting, too. Nobody likes a burnt scalp.
How do I reapply SPF if I’m wearing makeup?
You do need to regularly top up SPF throughout the day. If you don’t want to mess up your makeup, keep a spray formula in your bag or on your desk at work and just mist over your face to make sure you’re properly topped up every three to four hours.
Which are the best SPFs for face?
Here’s a guide to some of my favourites, and how they differ:
Best lightweight SPF: Carbon Theory Day-Lite SPF 50+, £16
Want your sun protection to be a very fine, moisturising veil? This is the one. It sits nicely on top of moisturiser without adding any bulk, and doubles up as a makeup primer, too.
Best SPF for oily skin: Murad Oil And Pore Control Mattifier SPF 45, £44
You can use this all over your face, or just in oily zones, using a different formula on more dry parts (it may cost more to buy two, but they’ll last double as long that way).
Best SPF for anyone who hates the feeling of moisturiser on skin: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Aquagel SPF30, £36.70
This gel will feel like you’ve got no product on your skin, plus when you apply it, it feels refreshing. Win, win.
Best SPF with skincare benefits: Templespa Life Defence SPF 30 Moisturiser, £42
If your skin needs a boost, or if you want a 2-in-1 moisturiser and SPF, this is the one to go for. It contains vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and a host of other skin-nourishing goodies.
Best SPF for sensitive skin: Avène Very High Protection Mineral Fluid SPF50+ Sun Cream, £18.50
Try this one if SPFs make your eyes water or your skin react – the mineral-based filters are perfect for sensitive skin.
Best face SPF for easy top-ups: Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Hydrating Face Sun Cream Mist SPF50, £12
This formula is specially made to be misted over makeup, so you can spray away without any concerns that it’ll make your base or eyeliner smudge.
Best SPF for glow: Sun Bum Original Glow SPF30 Lotion, £19.99
For plump, dewy looking skin alongside broad-spectrum SPF protection, you need Sun Bum’s Glow 30. Made with antioxidant rich Kakadu Plum, it leaves skin looking radiant while SPF30 ensures skin is kept happy and healthy.
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