You might not guess it to look out the window in downtown East London today but it’s summer. I will be lucky to get to Margate, so I’ve quizzed a couple of suncare brains about avoiding sun damage in Blighty
Moisturizer, sunscreen, foundation. My summer mornings feel like a beauty product layering championship and by the time I get my serum, moisturiser, eye cream, suncream, peptides, primer and foundation on I am about two hours late for work. Thankfully, ‘An SPF 30 can be used as a moisturizer during the summer months,’ says dermatologist Dr Jen Jones at the Royal Free Hospital. ‘I like to mix my sunscreen with my foundation.’ But though it sounds logical, the reverse doesn’t apply. ‘Moisturisers with sun protection factors less than SPF 15 are not enough protection in summer,’ says Dr Jones. ‘Plus, if your moisturizer is SPF 6 and your foundation is an SPF 10, that doesn’t add up to an SPF16. Better to skip the moisturizer and use a good, fast absorbing high sunscreen instead’. Interestingly, she says ‘The most common area of skin cancer in women is the legs because women rarely apply sunscreen to their lower halves. As most women wear dresses or skirts in summer this is a vulnerable area.’
For the face, I am loving Arcona’s Ozone SPF 40 that glides on the face without tin man residue like some sunscreens that shall remain nameless.
It’s from Glowgetter, my favourite wellbeing site ever run by my dear friend and glowing fellow Greek girl Georgie Wolfinden http://www.glowgetter.co.uk/store/category/product/?id=493.
Before I sign off (have you noticed my little blogging binge over the last week?!) here’s a little sun truth you absolutely have to know: DULL DAYS MAKE YOU OLD
Seriously. Here’s how it works. ‘There are two types of UV light,’ explains Dr Stefanie Williams, consultant dermatologist and founder of eudelo.com. ‘UVB rays are most present in direct sunlight (a product’s SPF refers to how well it protects from UVB) and these are the rays that cause burning and skin cancer.’ UVA rays are the sun’s ‘ageing rays, says Dr Williams. ‘UVA rays get deeper into the skin and cause wrinkles. They’re present on both sunny and dull days and penetrate cloud as well as glass.’ Look for the letters UVA in a circle next to the SPF number on the label. Many products also have a ‘Star Rating’ UVA rating system on the back. The Boots Soltan range has the highest level UVA protection, which is five stars. Kevin thinks I am batty when I slap on the SPF 40 and it’s around 15 degrees outside. Now you know why.
