SUNSCREEN shouldn't be just for heatwaves and holidays – over summer especially, you need to boost your sun protection factor (SPF) armoury. Luckily, the beauty world is making creams easier to apply (tick) and way more niche for your individual skincare needs (double tick).
Yes, these sunscreens have broad-spectrum protection to guard the skin against UVA (ageing) and UBV (burning) rays, but the newest formulations are going that extra mile to make sun protection more bespoke.
Meet the innovative new sun potions you need to know about this summer...
FOR SKINCARE ADDICTS
:: TRY: Clinique Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream SPF30, £18 (clinique.co.uk)
Trust skincare giant Clinique to come up with a sunscreen that simultaneously protects and de-ages. Its new Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream SPF30 includes a blend of antioxidant and repair ingredients to help strengthen and rebuild your skin's moisture barrier as you bask in the sun.
FOR TAN SEEKERS
:: TRY: Ultrasun Body Tan Activator SPF30, £28 (marksandspencer.com)
Boost your bronze with Ultrasun's new Tan Activator range. You still get a high SPF hit but the natural tan enhancer (BronzylTM) activates your production of melanin and accelerates the tanning process by about 40 per cent in 10 days, so you can spend less time chasing a tan.
FOR SPEED DEMONS
:: TRY: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine Invisible Fresh Mist SPF50, £14 (Boots)
Go hands-free with La Roche-Posay's new anti-shine wonder. The super-fine, invisible mist gives you an even protection that's easily absorbed, so there's no need to rub in. Its patented molecule Airlicium leaves oil-prone skin shine-free so you can spritz over or under make-up.
FOR SPORTY TYPES
:: TRY: Shiseido WetForce Sports BB Cream SPF50, £32 (escentual.com)
Outdoor workouts have never looked so chic, thanks to Shiseido's sweat-proof tint. Enhance your sporty look with the high-protection BB Cream that's light, dewy and won't rub off when you're putting in a Wimbledon-worthy performance on the court.
FOR SENSITIVE BITS
:: TRY: Tropic Skincare Sun Balm SPF50, £16 (tropicskincare.com)
Avoid lobster-red zones in awkward spots with Tropic Skincare's transportable Sun Balm. The high-protection balm comes in solid form, so you can smooth over tricky areas like the nose, ears and feet to be that bit more thorough.
FOR BEACH BABES
:: TRY: Vichy Ideal Soleil Anti-Sand SPF50, £18 (vichy.co.uk)
No need to camp around the pool if you're sand-averse with Vichy's clever lotion. The lightweight formulation is easily absorbed with an ultra-dry finish that allows sand to be brushed off easily, so you can make sandcastles to your heart's content.
FOR SKIN ZEN
:: TRY: Eau Thermale Avene Cleanance Solaire SPF50+, £16 (Boots)
When sunscreen and skincare combine... Step forward Avene's forward-thinking lotion that actively fights blemishes. Cleanance Solaire contains an ingredient that inhibits the excess sebum common in acne-prone skin and protects existing blemishes from sun side effects.
FOR GLOW-GETTERS
:: TRY: Piz Buin Instant Glow Skin Illuminating Sun Lotion SPF30, £8 (boots.com)
Sunscreen meets skin finishing with Piz Buin's glowy new potion. Infused with light-reflecting particles, the non-greasy lotion instantly peps up skin with an oh-so subtle shimmer, so your walk to the pool is worthy of a red-carpet saunter.
FOR CITY SLICKERS
:: TRY: Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF50, £45 (murad.co.uk)
You don't have to be beach-bound to protect your face. Whether it's city break or daily grind, Murad's high-tech mineral sunscreen ticks off protection against pollution, infrared radiation and blue light, as well as UVA and UVB rays.
TRIED AND TESTED
:: Can a face mask really give you a speed facial and tan? Lisa Haynes tests St.Tropez's latest tannovation...
My name's Lisa and I'm a tanoholic. Each and every towel in my house is purposefully black, thanks to my self-tan habit, and I'm rarely without some sort of glow (real or fake). So when tan gurus St.Tropez launched the revolutionary Self Tan Express Bronzing Face Sheet Mask this month, I was eager to see if I could achieve speed bronzing with skin benefits before an event. Once you open the sachet, it feels just like a normal sheet mask that's soaked in serum. The only difference is that once you've placed it over your face, you need to wash your hands to avoid tell-tale palms. It's advised you leave the mask on for five minutes for a light glow, 10 minutes for medium, and 15 minutes to go dark. I resist my dark urges and play it safe with 10 minutes. Afterwards, any excess serum (and there is a lot) needs to be rubbed around the eyes, hairline and neck for even results, followed by another all-important hand wash. It takes another 20 minutes or so for the product to absorb but I'm left with a light, instant glow. Also of note: no smell whatsoever. The tan continues to develop over eight hours so the real surprise is in the morning... I wake up with an even, natural colour but my face is glowing as if I've just stepped out of a spa. At the equivalent of £7.50 per mask, this isn't cheap, but it's tanning with skincare benefits. Just don't forget that double hand wash.
:: St.Tropez Self Tan Express Face, £15 for pack of two (sttropeztan.co.uk)
BUY IT NOW
Give your jet-set beauty a major upgrade. Elemis' limited-edition set includes a chic travel bag by British designer Misha Nonoo. Inspired by Elemis products, Nonoo's graphic print includes accents of Pro-Collagen teal and Frangipani Monoi red. The Luxury Travel kit includes seven transportable products, £62, available end of May.
:: Elemis x Misha Nonoo Luxury Travel Essentials for Her, £62 (elemis.com)
BEAUTY BULLETIN
:: TRAVEL TONICS
Spending more money at the beauty salon than the bureau de change? Holidaymakers are shelling out up to £200 on beauty prep before travelling, according to a new survey by Transform cosmetic surgery. Four in 10 travellers are splashing out up to £200 on diet, hair removal, skin treatments and tanning - and that's after spending an average £661 on their actual holiday, excluding spending money. Julie Jackson of Transform says: "The influence of Instagram means there's more pressure to look fabulous on our travels."
STEAL OF THE WEEK
Get fragrance layering for summer with a purse-friendly scent duo. Monsoon's Rose Gold Eau De Toilette Gift Set, is on offer at £20 (usual price £29) at The Fragrance Shop. The set contains 50ml rose fragrance with matching 100ml body lotion.
:: Monsoon Rose Gold Eau De Toilette Gift Set, £20 (thefragranceshop.co.uk)
