What is your beauty blind spot? For most of us, it’s SPF. We can apply serums, opt for facials, and spend sofa-worthy amounts on touch-ups, but we skip the one product that will slow the signs of aging and improve our dermis.
A new report from Issue 7, which arrived in my inbox this week, says that only 26 per cent of us use SPF daily. And even when we do apply it, we don’t use enough: Dr Mike Bell, Boots’ scientific skincare advisor, says: “It’s important to apply a teaspoon of product to the face and neck to achieve the indicated protection.” I use a bean-sized amount.
Sometimes you need to listen to sun exposure statistics again to take action. Number 7 closely examined the scientific studies and concluded: “Those who get more sun exposure and do not use sun protection will show signs of aging much sooner than those who use protection regularly and control sun exposure.” Additionally, the sun is the number one cause of premature skin aging: 80 percent of signs of premature aging are caused by sunlight. And 40 percent of annual sun exposure occurs outside of the summer months, proving the importance of wearing SPF every day.
But, you say, what about my vitamin D? Pah. Research shows that when you applied factor 15 to protect yourself from the sun, vitamin D was still synthesized. And whatever your skin color, the sun damages it.
If you need more proof of the effects of UV rays on aging, here’s a potential me (above), both after 20 years of being careful about sun exposure and 20 years of not. The images were created by Auriole Prince at Futureface.ai, which uses AI to show the possible effects on our skin of lifestyle factors such as smoking, stress, drinking and, yes, the sun. Vanity can push us to make decisions that benefit our appearance and health in the long term, and Prince says that images of it help us “connect and empathize more with our future selves, so we’re more likely to make changes.”
Forty percent of annual sun exposure occurs outside of the summer months.
And being diligent about using SPF daily means greater protection against skin cancer.
“The estimated cost of skin cancer to the NHS was more than £180 million in 2020,” says Prince. He hopes his technology “can not only reduce a significant burden of disease on people, but also on NHS resources”.
Convinced? Thought like this. One last tip: Cosmetic doctor Dr. Vicky Dondos says applying vitamin C before SPF will increase protection. Bundle up, people!
Super sunscreens
Eye pain?
Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Eye (£17, bioderma.es) rescues even the most sensitive, inflamed or dry eyelids. Our impressed tester reported that it also removed makeup without irritation.
I used to be more of a Camel Lights and Diet Coke type of girl. She worked for me for a long time.
Gwyneth Paltrow on her pre-wellness days
less than ten
Instantly evoke tropical nights, M&S White Coconut Eau de Toilette (£6 for 30ml, brandsandspencer.com) is a surprisingly subtle scent.