There is a photo floating around the internet of a truck driver who, for 28 years, was exposed to UV rays through his window and, as a result, one side of his face is astonishingly more aged than the other. I first saw that picture back in 2012, and vowed to be diligent about daily sun protection factor (SPF) as a result, come rain or shine (UVA rays, which are primarily responsible for ageing, slice through clouds, so skin is ravaged by them unless protected, even in the depths of winter). I rather smugly thought that I’d sidestep all damage thanks to that ritual — but, no, I sustained a quite intense burn across my upper lip in Portugal one summer after neglecting to apply sufficient sunscreen, and it left a significant line of pigmentation in its wake. Dermatologist Dr Antony Nakhla tells me I’m not alone in applying sunscreen imperfectly. “The most commonly missed areas are the tops of ears, lips, upper eyelids, scalp, and hard-to-reach areas like the shoulders,” he says, adding that “the lips and ears are two of the most dangerous locations for skin cancers”. Great. Consider me on high alert.
The good news? People are now more clued up about the importance of sunscreen, and, more specifically, are keen to make sure they don’t miss bits. Clinical aesthetician and founder of Mortar and Milk Pam Marshall has more than 2,000 clients on her books and tells me that “they are now really interested in which SPFs I recommend for different parts of their bodies — they want to protect all areas properly, which is music to my ears”. Peruse any of the big sunscreen brands’ wares and it’s not uncommon to see a seriously varied array promising different finishes and catering to different body parts. But what do you really need to keep yourself safe? I have tested a lot and here’s what I found:
1. You absolutely need a lip SPF
Being emphatic on this is not rooted in my aforementioned episode; Dr Nakhla warns that the skin on the lips is very thin, and that cancers in that location “have a higher likelihood of spreading”. Health scares aside, there are zero oil glands on your lips, so keeping them supple can be a challenge at the best of times, before factoring in the drying effects of the sun. My personal preference is something that acts a bit like a lip balm/gloss hybrid, adding a sheen and a veil of colour while protecting lips, and I really like Lanolips Tinted Lanolin Lip Balm SPF 30 (lanolips.co.uk, £8.99).
2. Face vs body sunscreens
You might be inclined to think that a suncream is a suncream, so why buy a different one for the face and body? I asked Dr Maryam Zamani, founder of MZ Skin, just this. “The SPF you use on your face is different to the body — more studies are done with SPF around the face and eyes, and they are dermatologically and ophthalmologically tested, because there are certain things in sunscreen which might irritate the skin on your face, depending on how sensitive it is.” For a dazzling and well-executed range of face SPFs to cover every eventuality, look to Ultra Violette (ultraviolette.co.uk), and for a similarly comprehensive body range, I love Vichy (vichy.co.uk)
3. For sensitive skin, eye SPF is a godsend
If you use a chemical SPF, i.e. one which deactivates rather than blocks UV rays, you may notice sensitivity in your eyes — think watering, redness, and itching. This is where eye-specific mineral SPFs come into play. Hello Sunday The One For Your Eyes (cultbeauty.co.uk, £18) both protects and brightens, great if you have slightly dark under-eyes.
4. Your scalp and hair need protecting, too
It’s imperative to protect your scalp if you have a large parting, hair loss, or a shaved head. “Scalp cancer is much more prevalent than you’d think,” explains Zamani. The answer will vary for everyone, and of course wearing a hat is the most logical and sensible way to go, but a large SPF stick like Coola Classic Sunscreen Stick (coola.uk, £23) makes light work of covering the area and isn’t too greasy if you’re applying near hair. Equally, the lengths of your hair need protecting, too. “UV rays set off free radicals within the hair shaft which lead to break down and decay,” says Michael van Clarke. His Lifesaver UV Leave-In Styling Treatment (vanclarke.com, £29.50) saves strands from being fried by the sun.
5. The top-up spray
Many brands have launched these lately — they are the solution to topping up sunscreen over make-up, to quickly spraying hard-to-reach bits, to easy peasy SPF on-the-go — but they’re not foolproof, with Zamani warning that “you need to make sure your skin looks wet when they first go on — just a little bit of breeze can carry the protection off with it”. For the face, try Naked Sundays Hydrating Glow Mist Top Up (sephora.co.uk, £30), and for the body La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light SPF 50+ Sun Protection Spray (cultbeauty.co.uk, £22).
