You will have heard that wearing SPF is crucial year-round to maintain healthy and resilient skin.
It’s known to help prevent potentially deadly skin cancers and can also help keep skin looking bright and evenly toned, preventing pigmentation and other challenges.
In our experience, skin experts are almost unanimous in the importance of daily SPF use. Regardless of the advancements out there and new product developments and even their backgrounds or what we are there to talk to them about, they generally all say the same thing: Buying into the latest skincare and treatments are akin to money down the drain if you’re not first adequately protecting your skin from the effects of UV exposure. This UV exposure can happen even on a cloudy day.
Wearing SPF is one way to help protect skin. Of course we know that many still don’t wear it every day, particularly over the winter months.
Which is why at this time of the year, as the sun begins to peek out again (occasionally!) and the potential for long, lazy days in the sun begins to seem a possibility again, SPF returns to our consciousness.
If you’ve been a bit relaxed about your approach, let the appeal of modern SPFs that make the most of texture and formulation developments motivate you to boost your routine once again.
And when applying, remember to include those places dermatologists say are regularly missed, including lips (a dedicated SPF lip balm can help with this), eyebrows, the front and back of ears and your neck.
Go-To founder Zoe Foster has regularly spoken of her desire to create a texturally superior SPF you’ll actually want to wear everyday. The brand founder has been working on SPF since launching her company back in 2014. The short lived zinc-based Zincredible was discontinued since the SPF rating was low, to make way for this SPF50 arrival. The updated version is made with modern SPF filters rather than zinc which Foster says is why she’s moved on from her previous advocacy for mineral sunscreen. It’s designed to be hydrating and work well under makeup, plus it comes with antioxidants CoQ10 and Kakadu plum for free radical defence.
Natio Clear Zinc Mineral Sunscreen SPF50
Natio has always had reliable sunscreens but the brand’s developers have recently spent three years reimagining their offering into an advanced range of SPF 50’s. It includes this zinc oxide-based formulation that uses physical mineral filters as well as nourishing coconut and vitamin E. The range also features a gentle SPF for sensitive skin, and ultra-light spray sunscreen, a quick dry moisturising sunscreen and an ‘invisible fluid’ sunscreen the brand calls it’s ‘lightest weight sunscreen yet’.
Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+ Brightening Sun Serum
Skincare meets sun care in this liquidy number. Intended to deliver a gentle (and shimmer-free) glow, the ingredient mix also features niacinamide to smooth the appearance of fine lines, boosts radiance and hydrate as well as liquorice root extract, an antioxidant that helps address pigmentation. Because it is so fluid, it comes with a dropper to apply with which is a bit fiddly to use but once you get the hang of it, makes it quick to apply during your makeup routine.
Naked Sundays Golden Glow Body Sunscreen SPF50
Naked Sundays was the breakout SPF hit of last summer, so its great to see further releases from the emerging Aussie brand. Another multi-tasker, this can be used as a body cream and SPF and contains golden shimmer designed to flatter and enhance your skin. It also has added g
MECCA MAX SCREEN SAVER SPF30 Broad Spectrum Facial Sunscreen
While it has slightly lower SPF rating, this is an option for those that like a simple, invisible matte finish for their facial SPF. It is designed to sit well under makeup and ticks a few boxes by also being vegan, cruelty-free and fragrance-free. Skincare additions include aloe vera, goji berry extract, vitamin E and chamomile that are known to have useful antioxidant and calming properties for skin.
