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:
