Roll Your Eyes... But Here's the Rub: SPF.
I know, I know. You're probably sick to the back teeth of every magasine, beauty editor and expert banging on about wearing SPF. But honestly, it's the single most important part of your skincare routine.
Even if you don't have a skincare routine, just slap some on. It could genuinely save your life.
We've had our fair share of heatwaves this year. It's been too hot to walk the dog, too hot to sit in the garden and, on some days, too hot to do much of anything.
The upside? Washing dries in record time, we get a healthy dose of vitamin D and, a bit of sunshine can make you feel bloody marvellous!
Anyhoo... let's get to the rub and get the boring bits over with!
The sun gives off three types of energy: heat, visible light and ultraviolet (UV). It's the UV rays we need to think about because we can't see or feel them and they're responsible for most of the damage to our skin.
There are three types of UV rays:-
UVC – Thankfully, the Earth's atmosphere blocks these rays, so we don't need to worry about them.
UVB – B for Burning. Responsible for sunburn. It can damage the DNA inside your skin cells and is a major cause of skin cancer.
UVA – A for Ageing. Associated with premature ageing, pigmentation and wrinkles. They are around throughout daylight hours, even when it's cloudy. They even pass through window glass.
So, the next time you’re shopping for a suncream, here’s what to look for:-
Broad Spectrum. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
UVB. This is shown by using an SPF number and tells you how well it protects against UVB, the burning rays.
UVA. Look for either a PA rating (such as PA++++) or a PPD rating.
Errr, what? Basically, they're just two different ways of telling you how much UVA protection you're getting.
PPD stands for Persistent Pigment Darkening (rather catchy!?), while the PA system simply uses plus signs instead. The more plus signs, the better the level of UVA protection.
As you'll see in the image below, the Altruist sunscreen has a PPD rating of 52. It means the sunscreen provides a very high level of protection against UVA rays (in laboratory testing, skin protected with this sunscreen tolerated around 52 times more UVA exposure before showing the same level of pigmentation as unprotected skin). I'm very freckly and have plenty of pigmentation already, thank you very much, so I always look for the highest SPF and UVA protection I can get!
The good news? You don't need to remember any of that! Just look for a sunscreen with a high PPD rating or PA++++, and you're off to a good start!
One thing you might notice is that most sunscreens don't actually tell you their PPD rating. Don't panic! That doesn't mean they haven't been tested. Many brands simply choose to display the UVA logo instead, which tells you the sunscreen meets European standards for UVA protection.
I have to admit, I do wish more brands told us their PPD rating. It doesn't mean they're hiding anything if they don't, but as a consumer I like knowing exactly what I'm buying. The more information, the better, if you ask me!
For me? I wear SPF 50 every single day of the year, even in winter. It takes less than a minute to apply and, in my opinion, it's one of the best investments you can make for your skin.
ALTRUIST DERMATOLOGIST FACE FLUID
So, what is this little tube telling us?
SPF 50 – high protection against UVB.
PPD 52 – exceptionally high UVA protection.
UVA logo – confirms it meets the European UVA standard.
Broad Spectrum UVA and UVB – protects against both types of UV rays.
Added Vitamin E and anti-oxidants – a nice added bonus against environmental damage.
“I love it when a sunscreen doesn't make me play detective! This little tube tells me exactly what I want to know. On my third tube now so I think it's fair to say I'm a fan! It's lovely and lightweight, sits great under makeup and doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy. I literally wear it all year round. It’s affordable too, £9.
Altruist was founded by a consultant dermatologist and skin cancer specialist, Dr Andrew Birnie.
If you would like to know more about this little beauty, or any products, mail me at sally@youlittlebeautybeeston.com.”
