By chance I chatted with three different people in quick succession who all went on (separate) holidays and all got sunburnt. One said she never wears sunscreen at home, would normally while away but seeing as she was swimming, she didn’t think it mattered. The second person hated sunscreen because: “It is just so thick and sludgy and leaves a white cast.” Then there was the one who just doesn’t bother because they feel it interferes with them getting a tan. The misinformation around SPF gives me a headache but here goes, again. Unless you live in a house with no windows, you need sunscreen all year round. Formulations have changed so the dense, white-casting iterations are less of a thing – most mimic the texture and the results of great skincare. The sun is your “frenemy”. It’s a glorious source of vitamin D, aka your friend. But it is also your enemy as it damages your skin. There is nothing healthy about a tan: that’s just sun damage. Sunscreen is protection against skin cancer and skin burning, but it also protects you from hyperpigmentation and premature ageing. If nothing else, I’m hoping people will start wearing sunscreen out of sheer vanity.
1. Hello Sunday The One That’s a Serum SPF 50 £23, hellosundayspf.com
2. Origins Ginzing SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer £34, johnlewis.com
3. Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+ Brightening Sun Serum £38, meccacosmetica.com
4. Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF 50+ Lightweight Skinscreen £38, ultraviolette.co.uk
5. Innisfree Daily UV Defence Sunscreen High Protection SPF 30 £22, sephora.co.uk
6. Murad Multi Vitamin Clear Coat SPF50 £42, lookfantastic.com
7. Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance, SPF 50 Body Lotion £40, cultbeauty.co.uk
8. Shiseido Expert Sun Protector Lotion £19, shiseido.co.uk
9. Supergoop! Play Mineral Lotion SPF30 £35, spacenk.com
10. Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen £32, glossier.com