Factor up and protect yourself from the sun
May is Melanoma Awareness Month. Whether your preferred activity is weekend walks along the beach, a game of golf, water sports, football, or your daily cycle to work, incorporating an SPF into your daily routine is particularly important for your skin’s health.
Many think SPF is season-specific and although the sun's rays can be particularly strong in the summer, they can cause just as much damage on a cold cloudy day. 95 per cent of UV rays penetrate glass and cloud cover, all year round, so your skin can be affected even while sitting at your desk.
P20
P20 provides trusted sun protection without compromise. Easily absorbed, it has a light consistency and helps protect against UV-induced skin damage such as the visible signs of premature skin ageing. P20 sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays and retains its effectiveness for up to ten hours.
UVB is responsible for causing most sunburns, while UVA is the dominant tanning ray. UVA, however, damages the structure of the skin and penetrates deeper into the skin compared to UVB rays. Both UVA and UVB radiation increase risk of skin cancer. To prevent damages to the skin, and thus preventing signs of aging from sun damage, it is advisable to choose a sunscreen with a high level of protection from UVA. Available from pharmacies from €20-€30.
Avene
Avene Intense Protect SPF 50+, for €22.50, offers an ultra-light texture and an invisible finish for the darkest skin tones. The texture is ultra-fluid a formula that penetrates the skin in three seconds. It offers an eight-hour hydration and anti-dryness properties. If you are a sporty type, it is ultra-sweat and water-resistant formula and protects for two hours in water. For all skins it has nude shade - transparent finish, on all skin types. Ocean-friendly, it is formulated with sun filters which have no impact on corals, phytoplankton and zooplankton.
Eminence the Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturiser, SPF 40
Lilikoi is another name for passion fruit, and its seed oil is an excellent source of vitamin C and other antioxidants that improve the appearance of dry skin exposed to environmental stressors. In the Eminence latest SPF format, it treats the skin while the skin is being protected from the sun and blue light from screens. It is an all-in-one lightweight daily moisturiser formulated with cocoa seed extract, satsuma mandarin peel and SPF 40 all mineral protection to improve the appearance of skin exposed to blue light stress and pollution. It is suitable for all skin types.
La Roche Posay
Creators of the cult sun protection range Anthelios, recommended by dermatologists worldwide, La Roche Posay has launched its first active SPF Anthelios Age Correct SPF50, for €28.00. Formulated for sensitive skin, this revolutionary new face cream protects the skin whilst correcting signs of ageing in just four weeks.