Health & WellbeingProtecting Your Skin From The Sun – The Best SPFs
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Protecting Your Skin From The Sun – The Best SPFs

By Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor Jul 19, 2016

It’s vital to protect your skin against damage from the sun’s rays, in order to reduce the risk of skin cancer and keep skin looking healthy.

Sunscreen can help to minimise risks or exposure to the sun, whether you’re on holiday or just taking a walk. We take a look at the best sunscreens on the market, and what SPF is right for you.

Best Face Sunscreens

It’s becoming more and more common to see SPF in daily facial moisturisers, many of which offer other benefits.

Olay Total Effects 7in1 Anti-Ageing Moisturiser SPF15 (£14.99) face cream helps moisturise, hydrate, minimise lines and pores, as well as containing factor 15 SPF to protect against the sun’s rays.

The fantastic Ark Anti-ageing Skin Protector SPF30 Primer (£36.00) goes on after your daily moisturiser, and provides protection against the sun as well as smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. It’s great to use with or without makeup.

Best SPF For Holidays

The Boots Soltan range offers some excellent moisturising sunscreens for holiday, including body sprays, sensitive creams, and lip protection. Soltan Face Moisturising Suncare Cream is easily absorbed by skin, available in different SPFs, and is one of the best and most affordable sunscreens available.

It can be so hot on holiday that you might not feel like wearing make-up. That’s where a product like Lancome Soleil Bronzer Smoothing Protective BB Cream (£24.50) comes in handy. The BB cream helps to correct your complexion and make your skin feel smooth, while the sunscreen protects against sunburn and age spots.

Best SPF For Swimming and Sports

If you’re planning to take a dip in a pool or go for a hike, invest in a water resistant sunscreen. You should reapply water resistant sunscreens after 40 minutes of swimming, or ‘very water resistant’ brands after 80 minutes.

A very water resistant swimming sunscreen is Ambre Solaire UV Sport Sun Protection Mist SPF30 (£9.00). The mist helps effortlessly apply the sunscreen, and it is easily absorbed into the skin.

A fantastic product for holidays, swimming and exercise is the lightweight Clarins New Sun Care Milk-Lotion Spray Very High Protection UVB 50+ (£19.50). It has a very high SPF so offers great sun protection, is water and sweat resistant and even has the benefit of anti-ageing moisturisers.

Best SPF For Kids

It’s vital for kids to wear sunscreen, as their skin is more susceptible to the harsh effects of the sun. Keep a bottle on hand if you have grandchildren visiting on sunny days, or if you’re going on holiday together. Look for a hypoallergenic, high SPF sunscreen, with no added perfume, colour, or alcohol.

A spray on sunscreen like Ambre Solaire Kids Sensitive Spray SPF50+ (£8.00) can be great to use for children as it’s quick to apply, and the spray goes on evenly.

If children are going to be playing on a beach, then a water resistant sunscreen like Banana Boat Kids Powder-Dri Super Light Dry Lotion SPF30 (£11.50) is perfect. You apply it like a normal lotion, but when it dries it’s more powdery, so sand doesn’t stick to the skin.

SPF Tips

  • The SPF of a product multiplies the amount of time it takes for skin to burn. If you burn in 10 minutes of sunshine, an SPF 15 should give you 150 minutes of protection
  • Many people are well protected from general sun exposure with a factor 15 sunscreen
  • For people with pale skin, fair or red hair, a stronger SPF will be needed in the sunshine, such as a SPF30 or SPF50
  • If you’ve a family history of skin cancer or sensitivity to light, wear a high SPF cream
  • No matter what level of sunscreen you wear, reapply it every two hours or as directed on the product. Even ‘long-lasting’ sunscreens wear off from contact with sweat, water, and fabric
  • Help further protect your skin from sun damage with parasols, sunhats, UVA resistant sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing

Are you loyal to a particular brand of sunscreen?

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Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor

Hello there! I’m Rachel and I’m the Assistant Editor for Silversurfers. I work behind the scenes to bring interesting, informative and entertaining subject matter to the Silversurfers community. I hope you enjoy the features we have shared with you. Please feel free to comment below and share your thoughts with us, we love to hear from you!

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