Although a certain fruit-named sunscreen has been inundating us with catchy ads trying to prompt us to slather ourselves in the stuff for over a decade, it’s only in recent years that we’ve truly embraced the importance of sun protection for healthy skin.
“SPF is the absolutely the most important step in any skincare routine and needs to be worn every day to do its job. If you’re not protecting your face from the ultimate skin enemy – the sun – daily, then there’s really no point in botox/ laser/ filler/ retinols/ chemical exfoliant/ cosmeceuticals. SPF is the foundation of any good skincare regime,” says Ava Matthews, Ultra Violette Co-founder, adding that “UV rays are the biggest cause of premature ageing and they’re around all the time so unless you want to age quickly, you need to wear every day.”
Wearing a sunscreen with at least 30 SPF is essential to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, keep your complexion and skin tone even, prevent signs of premature ageing (like wrinkles and fine lines), and protect against the sun’s harmful UV rays. While “I just don’t like the way it feels” may have been a viable excuse for not wearing the sunscreens of years past, the intelligently crafted, chic formulas of today are a far cry from the goopy varieties your parents used to force upon you at the beach.
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Whether you prefer mineral (i.e. physical) or chemical sunscreens, these nifty lightweight, non-greasy formulas make sun protection a breeze. Add one of our 5 favourite sunscreens to your skincare arsenal, stat.
1. Ultra Violette Supreme Screen SPF 50+ Hydrating Facial Sunscreen
Performing tripe duty as a sunscreen, moisturiser, and primer, Ultra Violette Supreme Screen is ideal for wearing under makeup or by itself throughout the day. One of the pioneers of the the suncare as skincare movement, Ultra Violette’s Supreme Screen is a highly active formula which includes pentavitin for long-lasting hydration, vitamin C from kakadu plum to protect against free radical damage, and anti-ageing antioxidant dragosine plus which protects against lesser-addressed forms of solar damage like blue and infrared light.
Brand: Ultra Violette
SPF level: 50+
2. Medik8 Physical Sunscreen
Medik8 Physical Sunscreen utilises mineral filters to reflect UVA and UBV rays away from the skin. While physical or mineral sunscreens can often be heavier than their chemical counterparts, Medik8 Physical Sunscreen is a lightweight matte-finish formula which glides onto skin, leaving a matte finish. Plus, added antioxidants and actives provide anti-pollution, anti-infrared, and anti-glycation technologies to protect skin from environmental aggressors and prevent signs of ageing.
Brand: Medik8
SPF level: 50+
3. Everyday Humans Resting Beach Face
Another adopter of the suncare as skincare mentality, Everyday Humans Resting Beach Face provides a boost of hyaluronic acid for glowing, well-hydrated skin. Suitable for all skin types and tones, Resting Beach Face glides on smoothly for a dewy look (free of the dreaded white cast!).
Brand: Everyday Humans
SPF level: 30
4. Emma Lewisham Skin Shield SPF 30
This completely natural, mineral sunscreen is rich in botanicals and free from synthetics while remaining lightweight and easy to wear (although this does leave a slight white cast). Ingredients like hyluronic acid, prickly pear oil, raspberry seed oil, and kakadu plum work to provide antioxidants, hydration, and nourishment to the skin, while zinc oxide protects against UVA and UVB rays.
Brand: Emma Lewisham
SPF level: 30
5. Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen Oxybenzone Free Formula
This lightweight, matte-finish formula was designed with makeup wearers in mind, allowing it to replace your primer to provide a smooth, non-greasy base for your foundation or BB cream. Antioxidant vitamin E supports the skin barrier, while pycnogenol protects against free radical damage and promotes skin elasticity.
Brand: Mecca Cosmetica
SPF level: 50+
Words by Arabella Johnson
Feature image courtesy of Shona Joy
