Latest news with #suncream
Times
20 hours ago
- Health
- Times
Luxury suncream to use this summer
If mere mention of the word suncream conjures memories of a childhood being waylaid in your pursuit of the pool on holiday in order to be slathered up in a thick white paint that stings your eyes, sticks in your hair, stains your swimsuit and leaves you feeling all kinds of greasy, you won't be alone. And you'd be forgiven for thinking suncreams still came in thick, heavy formulas. However, we're pleased to report that body suncreams have been spruced up and are now sexier than ever. Don't believe us? Let the luxury line-up below speak for itself — white-streaky lotions have been traded for unsticky oils that glide on the skin, enhance your natural tan and have a blurring effect on the body. In the place of greasy sprays there are fine mists full of skin-loving active ingredients such as ceramides and antioxidants that work to repair any previous sun damage while protecting you from harmful UVA and UVB rays. There are even handy, hydrating SPF sticks ideal for those hard-to-reach places, and top-ups for on the go. Dr Florence Nadal, the scientific communication director at Lancaster Monaco, confirms that texture is everything. 'We attach importance to texture and sensorial experience as we firmly believe that these two essential factors are key to encouraging consistent use and proper application,' she says. 'Sensoriality and texture are also crucial to provide an effective photoprotection and to prevent skin cancers,' she adds, by influencing user adherence. The smartest suncreams not only offer broad cellular protection but also work to combat other lights including blue and infrared. And when it comes to the most luxurious sun care products, you'll get added value in terms of skincare benefits. 'These high-end formulations may include actives that address additional skin concerns such as pigmentation, dryness, redness or visible signs of ageing,' Nadal says. 'The result is a dual-action product that protects and treats the skin at the same time, with refined textures and sensorial appeal that elevate the overall experience.' Now there's really no excuse to forgo the SPF. • This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Luxury body suncreams are taking inspiration from our lengthy skincare routines and incorporating active ingredients to nourish and boost your skin's health while shielding it from harmful UVB and UVA rays. The Spanish brand Natura Bissé, loved for its anti-ageing products, has even incorporated vitamin C and E within its easy-to-apply SPF spray. Both are antioxidants that help to combat free radicals in the skin to protect cells from damage which can lead to uneven skin tone, premature ageing, inflammation and breakouts. The dry touch, invisible finish means this SPF is great for those in a rush to get to the beach, too. £81 for 200ml, Natura Bissé at Space NK Sensai's silky texture will turn applying body SPF from a dreaded chore to a real luxury and in the process leave your limbs feeling smooth and moisturised. The Japanese beauty brand takes suncare seriously and infuses formulas with the same skin-loving ingredients and delicate silk-inspired fragrance as its other skincare, makeup and perfume collections. £85ml for 150ml, Sensai at Harrods A combination of broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB alongside Dr Barbara Sturm's key anti-ageing ingredients — including her staple hyaluronic acid and natural extracts that work to nourish and moisturise the skin barrier — is all housed in this sleek white bottle. If you dread sticky and thick formulations you'll be pleasantly surprised by the super-lightweight texture of this quick-drying body cream, which is instantly absorbed into the skin and works behind the scenes to soothe skin that is sensitive to sunlight. Pair yours with the brand's recently launched Sun Drops for the face, which helps protect you from future photo-ageing, damage and inflammation in one simple serum, and you're fully set for a summer of sunbathing. £100 for 150ml, Dr Barbara Sturm Those with sun-sensitive skin or a fair complexion should invest in a serious body suncreams to ensure they're protected from all environmental damage. Thankfully, Sisley's high-protection body cream is just that — it provides both anti UVA and UVB protection as well as containing vitamin E acetate and Edelweiss extract to help protect the skin from oxidative stress, which is the principal cause of photo skin ageing. Naturally scented with essential oils of lavender and geranium, the moisturiser also contains shea oil to help restore suppleness and moisture that's lost from the skin's barrier when tanning. For those who don't want to tan but still want a healthy glow, Sisley's gradual tan is highly rated and offers a natural radiance rather than a wash of orange. £150 for 200ml, Sisley Paris Some suncreams can feel too heavy, some create unsightly white streaks and other have a greasy, oily finish. However, Dior's silky protective cream promises to be none of the above. As well as providing a high SPF 50 protection against UVA and UVB rays, the body cream is infused with the brand's unique Tan Beautifier Complex with added vitamin E and antioxidants to nourish and aid any pigmentation while enhancing your natural tan. The satiny finish on the skin as well as the floral fragrance are incentive enough to wear it everyday — rain or shine. £48 for 150ml, Dior For some the idea of creams and lotions, no matter how well formulated, is enough to make their toes curl in their fancy flip flops. Let us introduce those people to Lancaster Sun's dry oil. This lightweight, water-like formula offers broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection, shielding skin from UVA, UVB, infrared and visible light. Plus, the brand's full light technology helps repair past sun damage and strengthen the skin's natural defenses against photo-ageing. Expect a shimmering veil and satiny finish. £32 for 150ml, Lancaster at Space NK Founded in 1978 by the French pharmacist and expert in cellular biology, Jean-Noël Thorel, Institut Esthederm was one of the first sun care products to activate melanin, the skin's natural protective pigment. Since then, the brand has created a range of luxury sun protection products, including this hydrating body suncream that comes in a handy spray bottle, which encourages an even-looking tan and has a barely-there feel on the skin. £57 for 200ml, Institut Esthederm at Look Fantastic Loyal lovers of Elizabeth Arden's bestselling Eight Hour Cream — the multipurpose balm that soothes, moisturises, protects and can be used on everything from brows to cuticles and hands — will be pleased to see there is now a suncream equivalent. This handy stick SPF will easily glide across both your face and body and take up next to no room in your beach bag. £19, Elizabeth Arden at Look Fantastic The French skincare brand Caudalie's body SPF is a clever hybrid between an oil and refreshing water which creates an invisible, hydrating veil on the skin. Inside the lightweight formula there's added antioxidants to help protect your skin against free radical damage, plus all the ingredients are ocean-friendly — many suncreams with UV filters like oxybenzone and octinoxate can be linked to marine toxicity — so you can have guilt-free dips in the sea. £32 for 150ml, Caudalie at Space NK Keen swimmers need to invest in body suncreams that are also water resistant. While we recommend topping up on all SPFs every two hours, Ultra Violette's hydrating hand and body suncream can last up to four hours even when you're taking dips in between. Founded in 2019 by Ava Matthews and Bec Jefferd (who previously worked at the major Australian cosmetics retailer Mecca), Ultra Violette's modus operandi is suncream infused with skin-loving ingredients. In this case, the lotion features a blend of pentavitin, skin-smoothing vitamin E and antioxidant-rich aloe vera. £55 for 500ml, Ultra Violette at Space NK While Emma Lewisham's mineral SPFs are mainly for the face, the brand's latest addition to the suncream line-up, the body creme, has been designed to protect the neck, decolletage and hands — areas that are regularly exposed to sun damage. The pump applicator means you get every last drop out of the creamy formula and can invest in the refillable pods to stay stocked up each summer. £62 for 100ml, Emma Lewisham It's a beauty insider secret that French pharmacy products are some of the best in the market and, Nuxe, founded by Aliza Jabès in the late 1980s, is a firm favourite. Loved for its vegan formulations and iconic multi-purpose dry oil, Nuxe's sun oil takes the nourishing staple formula and combines it with a high protection SPF and subtle shimmer that creates an illuminating finish on the skin and has a beautifully blurring effect on the body. £29 for 150ml, Nuxe One of the first of its kind, Shiseido's body suncream features a protective veil which is actually strengthened by heat thanks to the brand's clever Heatwave technology that contains heat-activated sensors. This triggers a process that optimises the suncream's protective film to make it more effective in blocking harmful UV rays. The science doesn't stop there: Shiseido sun care products also include a SynchroShield technology which allows the film to self-repair in case it is damaged. £50 for 300ml, Shiseido at Look Fantastic This all-in-one refreshing mist truly deserves a space in your beach bag this summer. Not only does the nourishing, easy to apply spray (simply shake and spritz across your face and body) help to combat the feelings of dryness that are inescapable when exposing your body to sun, but thanks to the addition of squalane, vitamin E and powerful ceramide in the formula, it can also be used on your hair. Simply add to the ends for nourishment and protection. £27.50 for 200ml, Vichy at Look Fantastic The Times Luxury is brought to you by the award-winning team behind the Times Luxx magazine. For nearly 20 years the Times Luxx experts have been curating an unrivalled selection of the best in fashion, jewellery, travel, tech, cars, design, food, drink and more. The same rigour and insider industry knowledge underpins The Times Luxury. All the products and experiences recommended are thoroughly researched and vetted by our team. If we love it, we know you will too.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Top-rated scent-free SPF brand launches buy-one-get-one-half-price sale (but hurry, it ends tomorrow)
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Busy parents looking to stock up on sun cream ahead of the school summer holidays should head over to Green People where they have a special Buy One Get One Half Price offer. Green People have launched an unmissable offer on their natural and organic sun creams and aftersun, perfect for stocking up and protecting the whole family this summer. Just use the code SUNSHINE25 to redeem. Designed specifically for individuals with sensitive skin and fragrance allergies (the brand was inspired by brand founder's daughter's allergy-prone skin), their sun protection range offers sun protection without the irritation. And now you can shop for less with their exclusive time sensitive offer. The limited-time Green People sale includes organic children's SPF 30 and SPF 50, perfect for keeping the kids topped up this summer as well as Scent Free Facial SPF15, Moisturising After Sun with Insect Repellent, Scent Free Mineral Sun Cream and the Green People Glow and Protect SPF30. The Green People Buy One Get One Half Price sale will end midnight July 28. Use the code SUNSHINE25 to redeem. Green People Organic Children Scent Free Sun Cream - SPF30, 150ml Hypoallergenic, water repellent and naturally non-irritating, this Organic Children's Scent Free Sun Cream with SPF30 will help protect them as they play outside this summer. There's no fussy fragrance or essential oils and is unscented and perfect for sensitive babies, toddlers and children. Parent love the eczema-friendly ingredients too. £29 Shop Green People's Glow & Protect SPF30, 150ml Green People's Glow & Protect SPF30 combines broad-spectrum sun protection, gradual self-tanning, and deep hydration in one natural, streak-free formula designed for sensitive skin. A true multitasker, it delivers a subtle, buildable bronze glow while nourishing the skin and eliminating the need for multiple products or complicated routines. £37 Shop Green People Moisturising After Sun with Insect Repellent, 100ml The Green People Moisturising After Sun with Insect Repellent is a three-in-one moisturiser, after-sun soother and insect repellent, the perfect choice for sun-soaked holidays. Clinically proven to be kind to skin while keeping bugs firmly at bay, this Green People after sun is the utterly multi-tasking formula every suitcase needs, protecting the skin from midges, ticks, black flies, leeches and mosquitoes for up to four hours with just one application. £18 Shop Green People Day Solution Cream SPF15, 50ml A great choice for all skin types, the Day Solution Cream SPF15 50ml is a natural and organic day cream that's a 2-in-1 essential for daily hydration and effective sun protection. £29 Shop Age Defy+ Daily SPF30 Moisturiser, 30ml If you're concerned about skin ageing then make sure this is added to your routine for a natural day cream that protects against sun damage and skin ageing. Fortified with high factor SPF30 and age defence antioxidants, it's just perfect for protecting your skin against sun-induced skin ageing. £47 Shop Green People SPF15 Sun Cream with Natural Insect Repellent, 100ml Looking to keep irritating insect bites at bay without the harsh, man-made chemicals this summer? This 2-in-1 skin defence is certified organic, kind to sensitive skin and suitable for all the family with SPF15 that shields against sun damage while DEET-free Citrepel®75 provides PMD-powered protection against mosquitoes, midges and more for up to four hours. £31.50 Shop
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Why that super-sized shampoo bottle isn't so super-sized after all: We've all long suspected that we're being hoodwinked - so are ANY actually filled to the top? SARAH RAINEY investigates...
Have you ever opened a new bottle of shampoo, jar of face cream or tube of suncream only to find it's far from full to the top? You're not alone; tens of thousands of unhappy shoppers have taken to online forums to vent their frustrations about part-empty containers in the beauty world. Toiletries are among the worst offenders, with super-sized packaging often giving customers a misleading impression of just how much they're getting for their money. Some leading brands use opaque bottles or labels, so you can't see what's inside, while others have double-walled sides, large lids or false bases that can make quantities appear bigger than they are. So why do manufacturers put their products in such big containers? And why don't they fill them to the top? 'They use bigger containers so it looks like you're getting more for your money,' says Ariane Young, a celebrity and media make-up artist. 'Ingredients, labour and marketing are more expensive but customers are less willing to shell out on new products every month, so brands are finding ways to cut corners.' There may be a practical reason in some cases. Kyle Frank, a beauty expert, cosmetics formulator and founder of Frank's Remedies, explains that some products need extra 'breathing space' so that the bottles and tubes reach customers intact. 'Product packaging can expand due to temperature changes and rocky movement during transit,' he says. 'Depending on the formulation of the product, this may cause more air to be produced. This is known as thermal expansion.' Such expansion could cause leakage, or make containers burst open, so leaving a little space at the top of the bottle or jar ensures it reaches customers in one piece. So how much product is there in your everyday toiletries and are you being fooled by the size or shape of the packaging it's sold in? We conducted an experiment, comparing the amount of liquid, gel or cream in beauty products (stated on the packaging) against the total volume of the container (in millilitres). We did this by squeezing the product into a glass measuring beaker and filling the empty container with water to see how much it could hold when full. The results will make you think twice on your next visit to the beauty aisle. Unilever and Procter & Gamble, makers of the products we tested, were approached for comment. Garnier Vitamin C Nutri-Glow Body Cream, (£10) Jar holds: 530ml Actually contains: 380ml Difference: 150ml Percentage full: 72 per cent This jar of deliciously-scented body cream looks like a very generous size - enough to last several months. But when I unscrew the lid I'm disappointed to see it's only three-quarters full; the rest is empty space. There's a whopping 150ml difference between the amount of product inside and the total volume capacity of the jar. Simple Gentle Cleansing Shampoo (£3.25) Bottle holds: 460ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 60ml Percentage full: 87 per cent This large white bottle stands out as one of the bigger ones on the shelves, but all is not as it seems. Our experiment shows there would be room inside for another 60ml of product, nearly a fifth more liquid than what is in the bottle. CeraVe Foaming Face Cleanser (£12.50) Bottle holds: 285ml Actually contains: 236ml Difference: 49ml Percentage full: 83 per cent There's a large pump inside this bottle of face cleanser, so less room for liquid than you'd expect. But even accounting for that, there's capacity for another 49ml of product - that's 21 per cent more than you actually get. Garnier Ambre Solaire Soothing After Sun (£6.99) Bottle holds: 410ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 10ml Percentage full: 98 per cent This bottle feels pleasingly heavy and, looking inside the cap, I can see the white after sun lotion filled very close to the top. For a large, family-sized bottle, there's impressively little empty space inside - just 10ml. Dove Moisturising Hand Wash (£1.49) Bottle holds: 300ml Actually contains: 250ml Difference: 50ml Percentage full: 83 per cent The hand pump fills up a whopping sixth of this bottle. But when I tip it out and fill it to the top with water I find there is enough missing for 10 to 15 more hand washes. Nivea Sun Protect Suncream Factor 30 (£6.79) Bottle holds: 205ml Actually contains: 200ml Difference: 5ml Percentage full: 98 per cent At this time of year, we go through bottles of suncream weekly - so it's important to know what you're getting (and how long it will last) when you stock up. Impressively, this 200ml bottle is almost full to the top; there's space for just 5ml more liquid inside. Sanex Expert Soothing Bath Soak (£3) Bottle holds: 505ml Actually contains: 450ml Difference: 55ml Percentage full: 89 per cent This big bottle of bath soak feels weighty, so I'm hopeful about the amount of product inside. When I open the cap, it looks like it's almost filled to the brim - but looks can be deceiving. When decanted from the container, you could still fit another 55ml liquid in there. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion (£3.25) Bottle holds: 275ml Actually contains: 275ml Difference: 0ml Percentage full: 100 per cent This thick, luxurious lotion is incredibly hard to get out, and I resort to hitting it on the end like a ketchup bottle. It would be much more user-friendly in a jar. But rest assured; the results show the quantity of product inside fills the bottle right the way to the top. Dove Body Love Self-Tan Lotion (£3.99) Bottle holds: 450ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 50ml Percentage full: 89 per cent This gradual fake tan lotion comes in a tall, sleek bottle, but the beige packaging makes it impossible to see how much is inside. Our experiment showed there's room for another 50ml - or one sixth of the total liquid already in the bottle - in there. Oral B 3D White Luxe Mouthwash (£1.99) Bottle holds: 540ml Actually contains: 500ml Difference: 40ml Percentage full: 93 per cent When I take the cap off and look inside, this bottle of mouthwash looks remarkably full. But the results show there's room for 40ml more liquid (mostly inside the narrow neck) if it were completely full. Nivea 2 in 1 Cleansing Milk and Refreshing Toner (£4.60) Bottle holds: 198ml Contains: 175ml Difference: 23ml Percentage full: 88 per cent Though it's a small bottle, this feels light in my hands, and the product doesn't feel like it's filling the container. So I'm not surprised to find you could fit 23ml more (or 13 per cent of the quantity of liquid listed on the bottle) inside. Nivea Men Energy Shower Gel (£1.70) Bottle holds: 424ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 24ml Percentage full: 94 per cent It's not only women's products that come in part-full packaging, men's toiletry brands are just as guilty of giving customers less than they bargained for. This luminous blue shower gel comes in a bottle that could hold 24ml more than it does. Herbal Essences Dazzling Shine Shampoo (£1.95) Bottle holds: 455ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 55ml Percentage full: 88 per cent This is the tallest, thinnest bottle in the test and, though the packaging is bright green, when I hold it up to the light I can just about see the product inside. There's a clear inch without any liquid in it, and the results show this is equivalent to 55ml shampoo. Head & Shoulders Classic Clean 2 in 1 Shampoo (£2.49) Bottle holds: 268ml Actually contains: 250ml Difference: 18ml Percentage full: 93 per cent There isn't a huge difference between the amount this Head & Shoulders bottle could hold (268ml) and the amount of product that's actually inside (250ml). The spout is quite wide, with a flat cap so it's easy to get almost every bit of shampoo out. Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner XL (£5.89) Bottle holds: 580ml Actually contains: 470ml Difference: 110ml Percentage full: 81 per cent Promising to turn 'parched locks to fabulously refreshed' ones, this bottle is deceptive because it's nowhere near full. Our experiment shows that there is enough room for 110ml more conditioner in here. As the product is thick, it's tricky to get it all out so customers will get even less value for money. Palmolive Naturals Coconut Milk Shower Cream (£1.62) Bottle holds: 542ml Actually contains: 500ml Difference: 42ml Percentage full: 92 per cent This super-sized bottle of shower cream looks ideal for a family, but there's less product inside than you would expect. My experiment showed you could fit another 42ml of liquid in there if it was full - enough for 8-10 more showers. Baylis and Harding Goodness Natural Body Wash (£4) Bottle holds: 542ml Actually contains: 500ml Difference: 42ml Percentage full: 92 per cent While lots of body wash products come in clear containers, this one is in an opaque black bottle. At 500ml, it's one of the bigger sizes around and certainly one I'd buy to last the family several weeks. But it's not as full as it appears, there's space for another 42ml. Lynx Africa Body, Face and Hair Wash (£1.49) Bottle holds: 230ml Actually contains: 225ml Difference: 5ml Percentage full: 98 per cent In its distinctive black container, with an opaque red and green label, this body, face and hair wash contains 225ml of product. When full to the top, the bottle - which is squat and wide, with a narrow bit in the middle - could squeeze just 5ml more inside. Bulldog Original Shave Gel (£3.75) Tube holds: 190ml Actually contains: 175ml Difference: 15ml Percentage full: 92 per cent This clear shave gel comes in a squeezy tube, which is white so you can't see how much is inside. There's just 15ml difference between the amount of liquid that could fit inside the tube and what's in there when I buy it - not too bad. Vaseline Healthy Hands and Stronger Nails Hand Cream (£2.85) Bottle holds: 209ml Actually contains: 200ml Difference: 9ml Percentage full: 96 per cent This little bottle of hand cream doesn't have much surplus space inside; you could squeeze just 9ml more inside. It might seem more expensive per millilitre than a big bottle but you're getting more for your money and less empty space.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
I'm 46 & I've never worn sun cream – my real ‘skin age' left me devastated, I loathe my wrinkles & feel like an idiot
MY name is Clare and I've never worn sun cream. There, I've said it. While it might not sound like a huge confession, as a 46-year-old woman who loathes her lines and wrinkles, I now wonder how many of them are down to my lack of SPF. 10 10 10 From frying myself as a teen in Portugal, to sizzling in Scarborough in the early Nineties, I admired my half-Portuguese skin as it turned a deep shade of olive, and maybe a little red, all without a scrap of UV protection. But now, finding out my skin age is SEVEN years older than my biological age is pretty devastating. Dermatologist Dr Toby Nelson, who scanned my face to determine the damage, breaks the news gently. 'The Visia skin scanner uses hi-tech cameras and UV light to take a deep look at the surface of your face, revealing hidden sun damage, wrinkles, inflammation and more,' he says. 'It gives you a 'skin age'. If your skin 's in great shape, your age could come back younger than your actual age. 'But if you've not taken care of your skin, it might say you're older. In your case, Clare, it's seven years older.' The UK sun protection market generated more than £300million last year, but I've never bought a sunscreen or lotion for myself. Growing up in the Eighties, my parents never put any on me either. Now well into my forties, my lines and wrinkles are becoming more obvious. The creases around my eyes feel more noticeable than those of friends the same age and I have dark spots on my cheeks. While the scanner can't determine any skin cancer risk, I'm all too aware that statistics for melanoma, the type of skin cancer common in those who've experienced sun exposure, are on the rise. I'm a dermatologist - here's the 5 things to do in your 30s to slow ageing More than 17,500 people are diagnosed with it every year. That's 48 people a day. Dr Nelson is part of the team at Wood MediSpa in leafy Okehampton, Devon, and while the scan of my skin, which costs £250, takes just seconds, the results will stay with me a lifetime. I look at Dr Nelson for reassurance and am greeted with a shrug. He says it is utterly unsurprising that my skin age is 53. 'Your skin analysis is consistent with someone who likely didn't use sunscreen regularly throughout childhood and early adulthood,' he explains. Still reeling 'As you're now in your forties, we're seeing signs of sun damage, specifically sun spots, called solar lentigines, fine lines and some texture changes. 'People who haven't consistently used SPF tend to show signs of sun damage much earlier.' I smile meekly, wondering just how young my skin would look had I slapped on a bit of SPF over the years, and neglect to mention my occasional use of tanning beds. Given the fact I already feel like an idiot for not using sunscreen, I fear I may be laughed out of the clinic if I admit to grilling myself unsafely under lamps as a teen. While I'm still reeling from the results, Dr Nelson says it is not too late to reverse at least some of the damage. 'You can definitely stop things getting worse and, to some extent, improve the state of your skin right now,' he says hopefully. 'The most important step is starting sunscreen use, as it allows the skin to repair some existing damage. 'Other products offer marginal improvements. Antioxidants like vitamin C, niacinamide, vitamin B3, and other serums can help, but they don't compare to sunscreen in terms of effectiveness. 'You can also monitor the UV index, which is available on most weather apps. 'People often overlook it in favour of the temperature or sunshine forecast. But if the UV index is three or above, you should wear sunscreen.' My 14-year-old daughter Annie is a UV-checking addict, so I leave Dr Nelson's clinic — feeling chastened and foolish — with some leaflets about laser treatment, which he says could help smooth my leathery skin. And yes, I stop and buy a bottle of SPF 50 on the way home. WHAT CLARE'S TEST RESULTS SHOW DR NELSON says: 'Clare's skin age is seven years older than her biological age, which is expected, given the fact she has never worn sunscreen. 'Scores below 50 per cent suggest Clare's skin condition is a lot worse than average for her age. Her scan suggests areas for improvement, especially in texture, pores and redness, while UV damage is less concerning. 'That said, it has placed her skin age above her biological age primarily due to the increased brown pigmentation manifesting as solar lentigines [liver spots] and melasma [darkened skin].' He explains the results, below. . . SPOTS: 41.53% 'CLARE has darker brown or red spots, including freckles, acne scars and hyperpigmentation. "The score reflects how your skin compares to others of the same age and gender. Higher is better.' WRINKLES: 27.12% 'I CAN see both fine lines and deeper wrinkles. Her lower percentage indicates that she has more visible wrinkles compared to her peers.' TEXTURE: 12.47% 'YELLOW highlights show uneven texture. Clare's skin isn't particularly smooth and even. Her lower score may indicate more irregularities due to sun damage.' UV SPOTS: 75.93% 'The damage under the skin caused by sun exposure is not as much as I might expect given Clare's never worn sunscreen. A higher score indicates less UV damage.' BROWN SPOTS: 24.84 % 'THE pigmentation might be due to aging, sun damage or hormones. "The yellow dots indicate melanin concentration and her lower score indicates more brown spots.' RED AREAS: 18.97% 'RED areas show inflammation, sensitivity or acne. 'Clare's lower score means more redness is present, which is a sign of skin damage.' HOW TO STAY SAFE IN THE SUN DR NELSON shares his advice on how to protect your skin . . . RAMP UP THE SPF: The British Association of Dermatologists generally recommends using SPF 30 or higher, but I advise patients to use SPF 50, as the SPF number is based on lab testing, not real-world conditions. DON'T BE MEAN: One common issue is applying too little sunscreen. The recommended amount is about one tablespoon for the face and neck. Many modern sunscreens come in mists, sprays or roll-ons, which can make it difficult to know if you've used enough. APPLY REGULARLY: Regardless of format, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours and especially after swimming or towelling off, even if the label says 'water resistant'. LAYER UP: Protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats and seeking shade, especially during peak sun hours, are all essential. Peaked caps, for instance, do little to protect the central face. A good rule of thumb: If your face isn't in shadow when you wear your hat and look in the mirror, the hat probably isn't offering much protection. SLIP, SLAP AND SLOP: Slip on a shirt, slap on a hat and slop on sunscreen. It's a simple but effective message taught to children in many sun-exposed countries.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Shocking video reveals exactly why you need to wear SPF whenever you leave the house
A doctor has issued an urgent reminder to wear SPF whenever you leave the house after a viral video showed the devastating effects of skipping sun cream. The Austin Skin Clinic posted a TikTok, which has now been viewed over 2.5million times, showing the difference in skin colour between a man's arms, which were sun exposed for 70 years, and his legs which had been concealed beneath clothing. Reacting to the video Dr Dana Figura, a Los Angeles -based podiatrist, said on Instagram: 'Consider this your sign to wear sunscreen. This man never wore sunscreen on his hands and arms but he did wear pants every day which protected his legs. 'There is a huge difference here between ageing and skin cancer risk.' Not much is known about the the unidentified man, except that he has worked outside all of his life and never worn sun cream. His arms, which have been regularly exposed to powerful UV rays, are covered in patchy brown, deeply wrinkled skin, while his legs are pale and doughy in comparison. The doctor warns that this shows the effects of not wearing sun cream over a considerable period of time. Most sun creams carry an SPF—Sun Protection Factor—and a UVA rating which are measures of protection against the rays associated with skin damage and cancer. Going without sun protection has been shown to directly raise the risk of developing skin cancer. Around 15,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with melanoma each year—the UK's fifth most common cancer—with the incidence rate rising faster than any other common cancer. A recent study from Cancer Research UK found that an alarming 87 per cent of melanoma cases, the equivalent of 17,100 in the UK each year, are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, either directly from the sun or sun beds—meaning they could be avoided. This is because increased UV exposure can damage the DNA in skin cells, triggering mutations that become cancerous. From here, the cancer can spread to the blood vessels beneath the skin, getting into the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body. Last year, rates of cancer reached a record high in the UK, with new diagnoses increasing by almost a third in just a decade, according to the charity. According to the NHS website, people should apply sun cream to avoid burning and use 'at least factor 30'. 'Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it's cloudy,' the site reads. The health service also recommends avoiding the sun when it is at its strongest, between the hours of 11am and 3pm from March to November, and to cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses.
