It's not unusual to struggle with suncream. If you have sensitive skin, suncream can irritate it, it can heighten oily skin and cause spots - none of which are ideal when on holiday. However, suncream is crucial to protect our skin from dangerous UV rays that could lead to aging skin or have even worse effects. The good news is, however, that there probably is a suncream out there which does agree with your skin so you can stay safe in the sun! Here are 5 tips for 5 different kinds of skin:
Dry Skin
Dry skin will likely need a creamy formula. This will typically be a moisturising suncream which has a creamy texture to keep your skin soft throughout summer. Opt for a creamier cream than a dry-touch or oily one!
Oily Skin
For everyone with oily skin: is suncream your nemesis? Especially when sweat gets involved and you end up with an oily face. Well, it needn't be. Try a light, oil-free suncream or one which gives a matt effect to help reduce the oil left on your skin. The lighter the formula, the better it will sit on your skin throughout the day.
Acne-prone skin
If you suffer with acne, you know how painful it can be to apply suncream on inflamed skin. If you haven't, imagine applying cream to a painful spot that's brewing. If you struggle with acne, the wrong suncream can block your pores and cause breakouts. Luckily, there are formulas out there which are designed not to block pores. Look out for the word 'non-comedogenic' on the label of suncream, which is a fancy (and scientifically correct) way of saying 'doesn't block pores'. You could also try using suncream designed for babies if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Ageing skin
Not only is suncream imperative for skin cancer protection, it's also very effective at preventing ageing skin. To boost the anti-aging effect of a suncream, add antioxidants to the suncream which suits your skin type best. This ingredient might be L-absorbic acid (vitamin C), niacinamide (vitamin B3) or tocopherol (vitamin E). For mature skin, it's important to prevent UV rays from damaging collagen and elastin, whilst also helping to repair any existing damage. Sunscreen and antioxidants work well together to neutralize free radicals. FR are molecules which cause destruction on your skin and are released by UV rays. By adding antioxidants to your suncream, you'll also minimize skin cell damage.
Darker skin
Typically, suncream is thick and white which can be a nightmare when you have a darker complexion. These types of suncream can't be absorbed well and can leave an ashy sheen. If you have a darker complexion, use a light, thin formula that can be absorbed well.
Our favourite place to shop for suncream is NINI Organics. They sell organic sunscreen with a vareity of different consistencies, and even one for babies and kids! You can check them out here: https://www.sonaturalbeauty.com/en/search?controller=search&s=sunscreen