Chloe provides an invaluable insight into the importance of SPF and provides straight talking advice on sun safety for your skin.
So, are we all in agreement that sunscreen is a must for preventing wrinkles, sun damage, ageing and skin cancer? Honestly your skincare routine is useless if you aren’t protecting that face from the sun… it is the single most important step to prevent ageing.
Still, so few people actually wear a facial SPF daily – that one bit of skin that is exposed to the elements every single day. It should be an essential part of your daily routine. You do need it, even in the winter and yes, even when it’s cloudy. I would recommend an SPF of 30-50 if you’re in the sun and 15-20 if you’re just going about your business. This of course depends on your skin type and how easily you burn.
I know, I know, sometimes these things are an effort and you haven’t got time in the mornings for an extra step but these days, there’s a whole new generation of great products – hydrating, weightless, oil-free and SPF’s that work like a dream under makeup. Gone are the days of the heavy, oily, white cast formulas, so there’s no excuses.
Now the same principles obviously apply for body SPF, especially the areas exposed to the sun. Try not to forget that décolletage (or those hands)… that is where I am really starting to show my Algarve lifestyle, eek!
I have gone through my fair share of products on a never-ending quest to find the perfect one for my skin. Some days my skin is as dry as the Sahara, other days it’s an oil slick so I have a couple on hand, depending on my needs for that day. I tend to choose a lower SPF if I am working, when I have a full face of makeup on, as I know I won’t be directly in the sun and my makeup also offers some base protection.
Now one thing that I feel is important to discuss (without getting too technical) and is worth a little bit of your time to research – is harmful chemicals. There is a whole load of research going into this and I am certainly not the expert in this field but since I am addicted to personal education and learning, (researching way too many subjects!) there are a few ingredients that I try to avoid, as they have either been deemed unsafe to us and our environment, or thought to potentially cause long-term health issues when entering the bloodstream (oxybenzone, homosalate, octinoxate to name a few!) Two of those ingredients are actually banned in Hawaii as of 2021 due to proven damage to coral reefs. Go Hawaii!
It is of course entirely up to you what you choose in terms of sun protection but if you are health and environmentally conscious like me, you may want to do a little digging, especially for kiddies SPF. I am by no means fully chemical free but think we can all make small important changes to a better future.
I could go on and on but unfortunately I am not allowed to take up the whole magazine so on that note I will leave you with a few of my favorites and some information to digest until next time.
Chloe X
