SPF Guide – Get Protected This Spring

Writer and expert2 years ago

If there’s one golden rule that beauty experts and dermatologists agree on, it is the importance of wearing sun protection. SPF protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays and helps to stop the signs of premature skin ageing. While you may get away with a bit less SPF coverage during winter, it can be hard to know what concentration of SPF you should be using as the weather gets warmer and the sun’s get stronger. Here’s allbeauty’s guide to all things SPF.

What is SPF?

SPF stands for sun protection factor. The numbers that follow SPF give you the sun protection rating - the higher the number, the longer your skin is protected. Basically, the SPF rating tells you how long you can stay in the sun while wearing sunscreen, without getting burned vs how long you can stay in the sun before you burn if you aren’t wearing sunscreen.So with SPF 30 it would take you up to 30 times longer to burn than if you weren’t wearing any sunscreen at all.

This is a simplified version as factors like the weather, pollution or even how much you sweat can cause your sun protection to wear off faster. Also, the higher the SPF number, the fewer UV rays that penetrate through to the skin. So even though you might have worked out that you can hit the sun lounger for five hours, it’s a good idea to reapply your SPF moisturiser every couple of hours or so – especially if you tend to burn easily.

Sunscreen or SPF moisturiser?

If you are going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, you’ll want to use a sunscreen on top of your SPF moisturiser, before you apply your makeup. Choosing a broad spectrum sunscreen like the Jane Iredale Powder-Me SPF30 Refillable Dry Sunscreen means that your skin is protected from UVA and UVB rays.

A sunscreen with higher SPF, like the Peter Thomas Roth Max Matte Shine-Control Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF45 is perfect for spring picnics and long days out in the sun. A higher SPF is also good if you have pale skin, as it tends to burn more easily than darker skin.

If you use chemical peels or exfoliants like retinol, your skin tends to be more sensitive to UV rays which makes it really important to incorporate SPF into your skincare routine. Next, let’s talk products.

Skincare products with SPF

While you may not need or want to use a thick sunscreen all the time, there are plenty of lighter products with SPF that you can add into your daily skincare routine.

SPF moisturisers

Moisturising is one of the most important steps of your skincare routine. Using a moisturiser or day cream with SPF for your face can add an extra layer of protection. Clinique Moisturisers Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturiser SPF20 for Very Dry to Dry Combination Skin is a great everyday use moisturiser with SPF for your face. You can find other moisturisers in this range for your skin type, ranging from very dry to oily skin.

For a moisturiser that fights signs of ageing, check out the Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Moisture Cream SPF30. It smooths, softens and retexturises skin whilst protecting from sun damage, lines, wrinkles and discolouration.

CC and BB creams

If you like the minimal-makeup look and use a CC or BB cream as a part of your everyday routine, why not opt for one with SPF for extra protection.

The Clinique Superdefense CC Cream SPF30 Colour Correcting Skin Protectorand the Clarins BB Skin Detox Fluid 02 Medium SPF25 even out your skin tone and provide coverage without clogging up your pores.

If you’re taking your workouts outdoors now that the weather is warming up, the Shiseido Sports BB SPF50 Creamis the perfect fitness buddy.

It becomes even more effective when in contact with water or sweat as it is formulated with Shiseido WetForce technology, so you can do your thing without compromising on sun protection.

Undereye protection

It’s always important to protect the delicate skin around the eyes, especially since that’s one of the first places fine lines start to appear. The Elizabeth Arden Eye Care Ceramide Plump Perfect Lift and Firm Eye Creamprotects the eye area with SPF15 while hydrating it with ceramides for a youthful boost. It also smooths skin and minimise the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crows’ feet - now that’s what’s called a multitasker.

Foundation

Using a foundation with SPF is a no-brainer, especially through spring and summer. Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue contains SPF 45 and gives great coverage for up to 12 hours. It has a lightweight formula, making it perfect for warm weather too and one of the best SPF products for your face.

SPF makeup

As well as foundation, there are lots of other makeup products that contain SPF for an extra layer of protection. The Clarins Bronzing Duo Mineral Compact Powder SPF15 is a bronzer that gives your face a sun-kissed, just-back-from-holiday glow while protecting it from the harmful effects of the sun.