- With spring bringing dry, warm weather, Cult Beauty’s expert team of buyers have revealed the most loved SPFs currently on the market.
- Cult Beauty also teamed up with Dr Deborah Lee, Dr Fox Pharmacy to reveal how much suncream you should be wearing as well as tips for staying safe in the sun.
With spring bringing dry warm weather to the majority of the UK, it’s more important than ever for Brits to be applying a good SPF properly, as well as ensure they keep safe in the sun.
To ensure Brits can enjoy the sunnier weather safely, Cult Beauty’s expert buyers have revealed the current trending SPFs, as well as sharing doctor-backed tips on staying safe in the sun and ensuring that suncream is applied correctly.
What are the most loved SPF products right now?
With a wide variety of SPF products available on the market, Cult Beauty’s expert buying team reveal the ones that are the most popular with the beauty community right now.
Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF 50+ Luminising Skinscreen Serum
Sophia, Senior Buyer, “This is hands-down my go-to SPF for makeup prep. What I love best is how it creates a seamless, hydrated base that actually increases my wear time helping my foundation stay radiant all day. No pilling or oiliness – just a dewy, protected canvas that holds everything in place!”
Caudalie Vinosun Protect Invisible Stick SPF 50
Ellie, Assistant Buyer, “This has become my go-to for on-the-go sun protection – I love how quick and effortless it is to reapply. – no mess, no white cast and no need for a mirror. It’s compact, invisible and perfect for throwing in my bag for top-ups throughout the day!”
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++
Polly, Junior Buyer, “This is my absolute beach day essential. I adore how lightweight and hydrating it feels – like a moisturiser and SPF in one – but what really makes it stand out is that it’s water resistant, so I can spend a day in the sun without worrying about reapplying constantly, making it such a reliable staple in my routine.”
Shiseido Expert Sun Protector Face and Body Lotion SPF50+
Dana, Assistant Buyer, “This product is true versatility in a bottle, it offers robust broad-spectrum protection whether I am heading to the beach or simply going about my day. What sets this apart is its Synchroshield technology, which enhances the protective veil when exposed to heat, water and perspiration, providing me reliable protection from head to go – wherever I go!”
Hello Sunday The One For Your Lips Lip Balm SPF50
Olivia, Buying Assistant, “I’m obsessed with this lip balm! It’s super hydrating, non-sticky and gives my lips high SPF50 protection without that heavy waxy feel – I never leave the house without it!”
Here’s the right way to apply sunscreen
Studies show that 60% of UK adults don’t know the correct amount of sunscreen to use when heading into the sun, this is all extremely worrying from a sun safety perspective.
To help, Cult Beauty has shared how much sunscreen you should use on your whole body, and the answer is around two teaspoons for each area you are covering. Put simply that is:
- Face and neck – two teaspoons
- Arms – two teaspoons, one teaspoon for each arm
- Legs – two teaspoons, one teaspoon for each leg
- Chest and stomach – two teaspoons
- Back and shoulders – two teaspoons
The application of SPF should be a non-negotiable step in your skincare regime everyday.
However, there are many uncertainties when it comes to how to apply SPF the right way, by following these simple tips you won’t go wrong:
- Before you do anything, shake your sunscreen bottle. This will help break up any clumping that occurs over time.
- Use the three-finger rule when applying it to the face. Gently tap the formula all over your face, ears, and neck rather than just rubbing it all on to avoid irritation and to ensure a smoother application.
- When applying to your body, smear small evenly sized dots over all areas exposed to the sun. Gently massage the sunscreen in, until you can’t see it anymore. Remember not to forget those sneaky spots that are easy to miss like the neck and the back of your hands and feet.
- If you are heading out to have fun in the sun, allow the formula to soak into your skin for at least 15 minutes before heading outdoors.
Top tips on how to stay safe in the sun
Dr Deborah Lee, Dr Fox Online Pharmacy shares her top tips for staying safe in the sun:
1. Respect the sun
You only need 15 minutes of sunlight a day to make vitamin D and for darker skin this can increased to 30 minutes. But after this, the sun is not giving you any health benefits. If you overdo your time in the sun, you are likely to end up with sunburn and heat exhaustion/heat stroke. All of these are serious conditions – and heat stroke can be fatal.
Respect the sun by keeping out of direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm in the summer. Sit in the shade, under a parasol, or stay indoors.
2. Use sunscreen wisely
Use suncream with a minimum SPF factor 30 (anti-UVB protection) and a UVA star rating of 4-5 stars (for anti-UVA protection). If you have fair skin or burn easily you should use suncream with an SPF 50 factor. For swimming, choose a water-resistant option.
Sun cream us a much better option than tanning oil which concentrates UV rays and increases the rish of sunburn and damaged (ageing) skin. Getting sunburnt once every 2 years triples your risk of being diagnosed with skin cancer, melanoma, as compared to someone who has not been burnt.
3. Keep cool
Do all you can to keep cool, sit in the shade, wear loose and light-coloured clothes and cover your legs and arms, wear a wide-brimmed hat, tie your hair up, drink plenty of cool drinks, sprinkle yourself with cold water regularly, and put a cold compress on your forehead, make cool baths and showers. If it’s too hot, go inside away from the sun and lie down in a cool place.
4. Drink more water
When the sun is out, we should all be drinking at least 3 litres of water per day. Avoid fizzy or sugary drinks in hot sunshine. The sun causes plastics to break down in plastic bottles and chemicals can leach into the drinks. Plus, sugary drinks can worsen dehydration.
Look out for symptoms and signs of dehydration, these include feeling thirsty, a dry mouth, sunken eyes, not peeing often, headaches and feeling unwell. But it’s too late by the time these symptoms have occurred – you need to drink plenty to avoid these symptoms from coming on.
5. Protect your eyes
If you wear a hat with a wide brim or a baseball cap this will shield your eyes from 50% of the sun rays. If you wear glasses, these should have a glass with a UV filter. Sunglasses block UV rays from entering the eyes, but make sure these have a CE mark to show they meet European standards.
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