“As a guideline, I always look for an SPF of at least 30 (50 if I’m in a hot country, or on a very sunny day over here) and with a broad spectrum UVA coverage of four or five stars,” says Dr Shotter. The most important thing is to get the SPF and UVA right. “There was a time when more expensive products would provide a better experience while cheaper ones tended to be thicker, whiter and less cosmetically pleasing, but that’s not the case anymore as technology has improved so much in the last few years,” says Partington. The obvious way to cut down costs is to use a more affordable product. If you’re wearing a loose-weave top, then you should put it underneath your clothing too.” Are expensive sunscreens better? “As guidance, you should apply two fingers’ length worth of sunscreen to the face.”Īccording to Partington, “using a foundation or moisturiser with sunscreen in isn’t enough, so I skip moisturiser and just use a hydrating sunscreen instead.”ĭaniels adds that “suncream needs to be applied to all exposed areas, such as your face, neck, chest. This is the basis on which an SPF rating and UVA rating is given, so it’s really important to apply liberally,” explains Dr Shotter. “When a sunscreen is tested in a laboratory it is tested using a relatively thick layer – much more so than we would usually apply to our skin. While no one wants to overuse expensive products, a 2016 study from Anticancer Research found that most people don’t use enough suncream to prevent UV rays from penetrating the skin. I always say that unless you need a torch to see, you should be using sunscreen.” How much suncream should I wear? The changes can be more than skin deep, says aesthetic doctor and Melanoma Fund Skin Ambassador Dr Sophie Shotter: “UVA is the wavelength which causes DNA damage and can therefore cause skin cancers. These are there all year round and can penetrate both glass and clouds, which is why I do recommend wearing sunscreen 365 days a year,” says beauty editor Lucy Partington. “As well as UVB rays that burn, the sun emits UVA rays which are responsible for premature ageing and hyperpigmentation. If you keep up with beauty advice via magazines or TikTok, you’ll know that SPF has become a non-negotiable in the cosmetic world too. Lifestyle I'm fat, so why aren't I allow to say I'm unhappy with my body? Read More Between April and September, UVB rays are at moderate-to-high levels in the UK, so we should be wearing sunscreen as part of our daily routine.” But we shouldn’t rely on the sunshine as an indicator for our SPF needs, says Daniels: “We all know people who have burned on cloudy days, and that’s because it comes down to UV strength, rather than sunshine. In the grey UK, it’s easy to feel as though everyday suncream isn’t essential. ![]() Until then, how can you get the most from your SPF and wallet? Do you need suncream every day? ![]() ![]() This would be a cost-effective way to cut the overall incidence of skin cancer and could help save lives,” says Daniels. “The Government could help make skin protection more accessible to all, regardless of income level by removing VAT from high-factor sunscreens. Now, Melanoma Focus is asking the government to remove VAT on essential SPF products. “Most people have concerns about what they’re spending their money on at the moment, and with the country getting hotter and hotter each year thanks to climate change it a certainly a problem that people aren’t using sunscreen because of cost.”Īround 25,000 skin cancer cases a year are linked to deprivation, according to the charity.
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