Stay Sun Safe - All about SPF

Longer days, brighter skies, salty air, sea breezes, sandy beaches, holidays, pink sunsets, floaty dresses, colourful gardens, the smell of food sizzling on the BBQ, Rosé all day. All these fabulous things that bring so much joy mean one thing………SUMMER is finally here!!!

Now, let’s stay SUN SAFE while we enjoy all these glorious things and keep our lobsters on the BBQ and not on our bodies!!!!

 May is skin cancer awareness month. Did you know, skin cancer is one of the highest rates of cancer in Ireland. We are on a mission to help reduce those rates. 

Here’s some of our TOP TIPS to stay Sun Safe this summer.

Lets be clear, a tanned skin is a damaged skin therefore, prevention is better than cure.

Choose an SPF that suits your skin type and re-apply appropriately & regularly throughout the day. Things to consider when choosing your SPF include, is it Chemical or Physical, what Factor & PA rating is it, how much & how often do I apply?. Here’s our lowdown.

Chemical or Physical sunscreen, which is right for me?

Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and turn them into heat in the body. These need to be applied a minimum of 15 minutes before sun exposure so they are absorbed into the skin and ready to work. While Chemical SPF tends to be a thinner consistency, spreads more readily and less is needed to protect the skin, they also carry an increased chance of irritation for sensitive skin types. Not ideal for anyone who suffers with Prickly heat, redness in the skin or anyone with sensitivity.

IMAGE Prevention + SPF 50

This high-level sunscreen offers effective protection against damaging UV rays. It’s an ideal choice for sports, outdoor activities and high sun exposure, yet gentle enough for post-procedure skin. It contains SPF 50 along with a blend of plant stem cells and potent antioxidants to protect skin against the effects of free radical damage caused by environmental exposure.

WHY IT WORKS
+ Provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection to help prevent sunburn
+ Decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun
+ Protects against oxidative damage
+ Hydrates the skin

Physical Sunscreens are commonly known as Mineral Sunscreens. They block UV rays and deflect them away form the skin. They contain Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide and protect the skin as soon as they are applied. These sunscreens must be applied generously, accurately and frequently to achieve maximum protection. Ideal for all skin types including more sensitive skins and those who suffer with prickly heat. Some physical sunscreens can leave a white film/cast on the skin but nowadays, most companies incorporate a sheer formula to prevent that chalky appearance.

Heliocare Mineral Tolerance Fluid

A light, breathable fluid with mineral-only filters that absorbs quickly into the skin with a silky finish. The Mineral Tolerance Fluid is fragrance free and tested on the most sensitive skin. It dries completely clear and is suitable for all skin types; including sensitive skin and is a popular choice for men. Its light texture allows for an invisible finish. It contains specific filters and repairing and antioxidant active ingredients, and protects against the 4 types of radiation (UVB, UVA, Visible and Infrared), while neutralises and repairs sun damage. 

What factor to choose & what to look out for?

When it comes to choosing what factor number, we recommend SPF 30 or more, once it is labelled as Broad Spectrum (this means it protects against BOTH UVA & UVB) and preferably water resistant. Interestingly, SPF50 offers only slightly more protection from UV radiation than SPF 30, filtering out 98% of UV rays compared to 96.7%.  

As we live in Ireland, lets face it, sunny days are few and far between. But that does not mean we are safe from the harmful rays. We are highly exposed to the UVA (the aging) rays. These rays are so strong they can even penetrate glass, think windows, cars etc and are present on even the cloudiest, rainiest of days. For this reason, it is important to create a habit of applying your SPF daily, 365 days of the year, as NO ONE is exempt from their damage.  It is not just for your Summer Holidays.

As mentioned above, it its important to check that your SPF is Broad Spectrum and Water Resistant but many SPF brands will also include a PA rating.  This will tell you the level of protection against the UVA rays. A PA++++ rating is the highest level of UVA protection you can get.

We now live in a digital based world, with technology all around us. Evidence suggests our screens (including our phones) all emit what’s called HEVL (High Energy Visibility Light), better known as Blue Light. Exposure to this Blue Light causes rapid aging. Many high end sunscreens have now included Digital Age Defence to protect against this ageing light.

Another aspect to consider is the amount of infrared light you are exposed too. We experience this type of radiation every day in the form of heat. The heat we feel from sunlight, a fire, a radiator, etc is all infrared. The temperature sensitive nerve endings in our skin can detect the difference between inside body temperature and outside body temperature. IR-A is another marker to watch out for when choosing your sunscreen.

How much SPF should I apply?

Application, you may think is obvious, however so many people get it wrong. To achieve the level of protection stated on most SPF packaging, you must apply either a tea spoon full or three finger lengths full per application of the face and neck. (One full shot glass per application for the body). It is a much larger quantity than one would expect, and, when compared to your moisturiser, could be almost triple the amount. Re application is also essential. Don’t be lured into a false sense of security, thinking that if you applied SPF in the morning, or your make up has SPF in it, that you are covered for the day. Shockingly, the reality is you only have protection (to some degree) for up to 2 hours. So, in short, if you put your SPF on first thing in the morning and you go for a walk at lunchtime, you have no protection.

Re application is VITAL to ensure you have full SPF cover throughout the day.

Regarding make-up containing SPF – in my humble opinion, this is a waste of time. You couldn’t possibly have the stated level of protection when you think about the amount that is needed per application to achieve it. How much foundation do you put on? Is it a tea spoon full……I THINK NOT!!!!

Also, lets say your moisturiser has SPF 50 and you pop a foundation on top that has SPF 15, that DOES NOT mean you have SPF 65. In fact it can lessen the higher number of the two significantly due to the application technique. Stick to one SPF product per application and allow it absorb into the skin before applying anything on top. (Re application, after some time has passed is the key).

Heliocare Spray SPF 50 200ml

This fast-absorbing, broad spectrum, water-resistant and easy-to-spread lightweight texture is perfect for protecting the body’s skin.

This SPF contains:

• Supercharged antioxidant Fernblock® protects skin health

• Antioxidant green tea extract

The convenient multi-position spray format makes it easy to apply the product with an excellent finish.

High protection formulated with Fernblock®, sunscreens and repairing and antioxidant active ingredients, which protects, neutralises and repairs sun damage. Tested under dermatological control.

How do I re-apply if I have make-up on?

This is one of the major questions/problems I hear in the clinic regularly. Luckily, nowadays many companies have solutions to this from powders to sprays. My personal favourite option Is ULTRASUN Face and Scalp Mist SPF 50. It can be sprayed over your make-up and as it is translucent, leaves no residue. It’s a handy little size that can travel neatly in your handbag too. Ideal for on-the-go top ups.

Ultrasun Face and Scalp Mist

Our NEW UV Face & Scalp Mist delivers high UVA and UVB broad spectrum protection in a super lightweight, easy, non-greasy, quick-drying transparent spray. It can be worn on top of, or beneath make-up and is gentle enough for the most sensitive of skins.

This face & scalp mist with PA++++ rating, also contains InfraGuard® a power anti oxidant complex from organic sunflower shoots and the tara tree that inhibit light induced skin ageing, protecting skin cells from blue light (HEVL) and infrared rays.

Perfect for the face and scalp, ensure eyes and mouth are closed during application. Spray generously and evenly on the whole face in a horizontal movement at a minimum of 15cm distance. Fast absorbing and touch dry within a few seconds.

“Interesting fact - most of the sun damage we see appearing on our skin later in life, was likely done as a child.”

It can take years for sun damage to appear topically. It lurks underneath the top layer of your skin and as we age, due to the degradation of skin cells & structures, starts to appear on the surface in various forms - Tanned skin, Freckles, Pigmentation, Melasma, Moles, Sun Spots/Age spots, Actinic Keratoses, Actinic Cheilitis, Bowen Disease, Basal Cell carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma.

If you think back, when you were a child, did you wear SPF?? Truth be told, probably not as the knowledge simply was not available. I have wonderful memories of summers in my past, always spent outside. By the time September came & I returned to school, I had natural bright highlights in my hair and an olive tone, sun-kissed skin. To me now, this screams sun damage, as now, 25+ years later, I see the pigment changes in my skin.

It is vitally important we protect our little people and their precious skin. Many companies have Children specific or Paediatric ranges within their brands designed to be kind and gentle to children’s delicate and sometimes very sensitive/atopic skin.

All the same rules apply as previously mentioned regarding factor/application and what to look out for.

My favourites are Heliocare Paediatric range.

Heliocare Paediatric Range

For use on babies and children from 6 months old on the face and body.

Click on image for more info.

As you have probably guessed, SPF is quite complex. There is nothing straight forward about it. I could stay writing about it all day but I fear it may be information overload. If you take home one piece of advice for this blog post, be it this -

Wear your SPF every day and don’t forget to re-apply regularly.

While I have included some of my personal favourites in this blog, at Secret Essence we have quite a varied collection of Sun protection ranges IMAGE, Ultrasun & Heliocare. Certainly something to suit everyone, from Children, to Men, to Dry skin, to Oily skin, to Pigmented skin. Browse at your leisure and if you have any questions before choosing the right one for you, please do get in touch. Remember, stay SUN SAFE.