USING ALL-NATURAL SPF

Slightly contentious, but sun cream has never been my favourite beauty product. Thick and pore clogging, or sprayable and drying (from all the alcohol it contains) and full of questionable synthetic ingredients, I really didn’t want it left on my skin — let alone under the rays of the sun. Using it has always been more of a pain than a pleasure. I remember during my modelling career whenever we were shooting outdoors in the sun, the makeup artist would cover you in it from top to bottom and then paint foundation over the top. Strap marks and a burnt nose are not good for business.

The thing is, I love the sun. My whole well being improves with a bit of sun but not too much. As a Vata-Pitta, laying out in the midday sun on a summer's day is way too overwhelming and would have me feeling hot, sweaty and a little panicky, but give me that 9am or 4pm sun combined with the fresh air and I’m in heaven. The sun over the years has proved really great for my skin too — any dryness, oiliness, spottiness, childhood eczema and general greyness disappears when I get a little time in the sunshine. It’s also great for my mood and overall constitution, and I Iove that soothing feeling of the warmth on my back and my face — it’s not just the all important Vit D I get, but all the other lumi-nutrition that comes with it.

My attitude to the sun is this: I like to allow the sun (when we have it) on my bare skin for 20 minutes or so in the early hours of the day or late afternoon as it suits me well. If I have to be out any longer than that or in the midday, and certainly blazing, sun I cover up with protective clothing, a hat to shield me and sun cream on any exposed areas.

Over the past 30 years or so there has been a love-hate relationship with sun exposure — we know it has the feel-good factor (unless you’ve burnt yourself) but we also hear the scare stories and have had it drummed into us that sun exposure can be detrimental to our health. Scientists and health professionals meanwhile are trying to help people to understand that safe exposure to sunlight is very beneficial to health — there is a really important balance to be had. Expert bodies state that in the Northern Hemisphere short daily periods of sun exposure without sunscreen are enough for most people to make enough vitamin D during the summer months (April to October), so we should get it while we can (!) and then supplement in winter.

Since being pregnant and perhaps being in my 40s, I’m more prone to dark spots and pigmentation on my face. My hands, from all the gardening, are starting to look a little more wrinkled. Let's face it when you’re out and about you might intuitively protect your eyes and face with sunglasses and a hat on feeling the sun’s rays, but your hands are always in the firing line, so being in the market for a sun protection update (even more so with a heatwave on the cards in a week) has come at a good time.

There is now a bigger demand for sun protection without the coral reef and human-harming synthetic ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone and homosalate (there are many more commonly used). Many of these sunscreen ingredients have already been banned in places like Hawaii, where protecting the oceans is of utmost priority and it is now widely understood and recognised by mainstream health organisations that synthetic sunscreen does absorb into your bloodstream rather quickly after application. As a result, there is a greater need for high-performing natural alternatives, so many more amazing suncare products have arrived on the market since my last post on sunscreens a few years ago. When looking for a natural product that has to perform, I turn to one of my besties, Sjaniel Turrell, a trained nutritional therapist and holistic makeup artist, who can get into the nitty gritty of the small print and understands the ingredients, so over to Sjaniel:

When you start looking more intensely at ingredients and what is classified as “reef-safe” or “ocean-safe,” it can get a little complicated because there is some thinking that not all mineral sunscreens are safe for marine life as they can become unstable when degrading. My top tip would be to look out for non-nano versions of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide — the label should legally tell you when their mineral sunscreens contain nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are microscopic in size and therefore have the ability to penetrate much deeper into the skin layers than non-nanoparticles. This often helps the cream absorb better and avoid that “white layer” we often associate with natural sun block; however, formulators now use micronised (not as small and penetrable as nano) versions of these minerals which gives the same “easily absorbed” effect on the skin but still stays within the upper layers of the epidermis. Minerals like titanium dioxide also come with a health warning for inhalation, which is not a problem if you’re applying it in a cream onto your skin, but with nano versions, no one is quite sure what the long term effects may be, so it’s probably best to avoid those.

Another consideration is that sunblock needs to come with a high dose of antioxidant ingredients and that is not always the case with traditional sunscreens; because our environment and air around us is so polluted, the sun’s rays are being filtered through a great deal of pollutants to get to us which may enhance skin-harming oxidating effects and make rays more harmful. The food we eat can also cause sun damage to our skin (especially diets high in omega 6 seed oils), so applying a good antioxidant serum to your skin that absorbs well is a good idea before applying sunscreen, or, like the brands we recommend below, choose a product that is filled with a good amount of effective plant based antioxidants which helps to combat the overall effect of external and internal pollutants on our skin.

This all being said, when you live in the Northern Hemisphere especially, getting rays of sun directly onto your bare skin at the safer sun times of the day, is essential for your health — Vitamin D is more important than ever in our current climate and a lot of people are currently deficient without knowing it with a vast list of negative health implications. Avoiding sun exposure completely is not doing any favours for your health long-term. 15-20 minutes of sun directly on your skin in the day is enough to create Vitamin D in the summer months, though applying sunscreen is recommended if you know you’re going to be outside for long periods of time. However, the idea that you need to wear sunscreen throughout the winter months even if you’re just going to the shops or a meeting might be stopping you from getting any sun exposure at all — you’re better off investing that energy in a good anti-pollution serum. The sun is life-giving and essential to our wellbeing — the most important thing to remember is to be sensible, don’t ever burn, but enjoy the myriad of health benefits physical, mental and emotional. There’s a good reason they call it a “sunny disposition.”

TWELVE BEAUTY ARTEMESIA POWER PROTECTION MOISTURISER SPF50+

Twelve Beauty has been a firm favourite in natural and sustainable skincare for years, but the advent of the Artemesia Power Protection Moisturiser SPF50+ was met with much excitement.  It’s not always understood that a good sunscreen needs to be worn with a high level of antioxidant support for your skin, and because formulator Dr Pedro Catala understands this, he has jam-packed this new SPF with amazing antioxidant-rich plant extracts and aptly named it an Anti-Pollution Day Emulsion. This is the perfect sun protection for those with really sun-sensitive and pale complexions as it contains no fragrance and offers high levels of protection. It goes onto the skin quite white at first, but don’t get a fright: as you work it on it leaves you with a matte finish rather than the sheen that you can often get from natural sunscreens. However, if you have darker skin and are averse to a pale product on your skin, this may not be the best option for you.

FRESHLY COSMETICS HEALTHY PROTECTION FACIAL SUNSCREEN SPF50

For a factor 50 facial sunscreen, this is a great natural option.  It has a light pink colour and fast absorbing formula which does not leave a thick residue but rather a healthy glow effect for those who like to look a little brighter rather than matte. It’s full of antioxidant plant extracts including vegan hyaluronic acid which is so important for keeping moisture in the skin and combating the drying effects that too much sun exposure can have. Even though there is a picture of a pineapple on the packaging it definitely does not smell of pineapple, but rather a lovely “no fragrance” smell which is always better for those with more sensitive skin.

RUDOLPH CARE SUN FACE CREAM SPF30 

Andrea Rudolph’s amazing Danish skincare range has a great selection of natural SPF options for all occasions and the whole family. I love the Sun Face Cream SPF30 because it has a lighter texture, no fragrance and absorbs really fast without leaving any visible residue, perfect as is or under makeup — it’s also great to use as a daily moisturiser in summer and perfect for sensitive skin types. There is also an entire SPF50 range if you want higher protection. The Beach Buddy gift range is a wonderful way to get those “new to natural” friends on board with a stylish range of travel size SPF and After Sun care options along with a stylish towel and Fair Rubber sustainable Sleeper Flip Flops.

REN CLEAN SCREEN MINERAL SPF30 

Ren has been around for a long time, which means they’ve spent years formulating natural products to be effective. In the search for a great face sunscreen, this one by Ren has been one of my favourites. It has a low fragrance, lovely texture with matte finish and broad spectrum protection which means it blocks both UVA and UVB rays along with being full of antioxidant ingredients that offer blue light and pollution protection. It absorbs well into the skin and is great for daily use, both on the beach or out and about under makeup.

EARTH’S KITCHEN KAWAKAWA & TAMANU SPF50+

Finding a really great all-round SPF50 product that works for everyone hasn’t always been easy in the natural sunscreen realm. Enter EK — this one tube of sunscreen is great on your face, body, husband and children. The texture is not too thick, absorbs fast and does not leave a white or sticky residue on the skin. The broad spectrum SPF means it blocks out all potentially harmful rays and it is jam-packed with nourishing ingredients from local medicinal and antioxidant-rich New Zealand plant extracts. For those with very reactive or sensitive skin or small babies, there is also the Moringa & Sandalwood Baby Sun Protection option. If you are the minimalist who wants to only pack one sunscreen product for the entire holiday, this is the product for you.

MÁDARA PLANT STEM CELL ULTRA-SHIELD SUNSCREEN SPF50

Madara’s Anti-Pollution City CC has been one of my favourites for everyday wear with a little SPF and they have a great range of suncare products. Since looking for maximum natural protection, I tried their SPF50 and it’s a great product if you want good sun protection and a foundation base that gives nice coverage. It’s not a foundation as such, but it has a tinted colour that acts as a bit of coverage or a good primer. If you have a lighter skin-tone then you can definitely get away with it on its own; however, as soon as you get to darker more olive-toned skin you’d need to add some bronzer or a darker foundation. It has a nice matte finish and definitely feels protective. It’s packed full of ingredients to combat pollution, sun damage and dehydration so is a great all-in-one for a day out in the sun.