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The best sun creams – getting the right skin care cream

While summer sun is always warmly welcomed, we need to be aware of the damage it can do to our skin. Over exposure to harsh sunlight can lead to UV damage, which isn’t necessarily visible immediately. Whether you are out in the garden, or off on a luxury holiday, applying sun cream before you spend any significant amount of time in the sun is essential. Once UV damage is done, no skin care cream can fully repair it which is why sun lotion is so important.

The ranges of sun lotion are so huge it can be difficult to know where to start. The minimum SPF typical European skin should have is SPF 15. If you have particularly fair or sensitive skin then you will want to use a much higher factor. Remember, the SPF is only an indication of the protection given, and this is assuming proper application and re-applying after activities such as swimming.

You don’t have to go for big brands when it comes to sun cream, in fact many supermarkets own brands are excellent in not only value for money, but also product quality.

Boots Soltan Once spray – SPF30

soltan
Having sun cream in a spray makes application so much easier, and this is no exception. With excellent UVA and UVB protection, and a once daily application which incorporates up to 40 minutes in the pool or sea this is a great own brand product that will give you ample protection while on holiday.





Superdrug Solait Spray – SPF15

solait

This is also another excellent spray on product, and smells lovely. It is easy to apply and will give you superb protection as it has been shown that it actually gives around an SPF25 if applied properly, which is excellent as it is giving some leeway for poor application. It is also water resistant, allowing you up to 40 minutes water exposure before needing to re-apply.




Clarins Oil Free Sun Care spray – SPF15

clarins
This is a lovely light spray, and is perfect for those with oily skin who find that sun cream can give them outbreaks of spots as it can be very heavy and pore blocking. As with all Clarins products this smells great and is a pleasure to apply.  This spray claims to offer deep cellular protection and the cutting edge a mineral filter offering the skin perfect protection.




Nivea Moisturising Sun Lotion – SPF15

niveaNivea have long been associated with excellent skin care creams, and this sun cream is no exception. With the lovely smell that is Nivea this cream is thick and creamy but non-sticky and easy to apply. It works immediately on application and can help to reduce sun allergies which can cause discomfort. With an adequate level of UV protection this makes a great general sun cream to use either at home or abroad.




Whichever brand of sun cream you choose to buy, the most important thing after getting the right factor for your skin is to make sure you apply it properly and regularly. It is all too easy to forget to re-apply your sun cream after swimming, and even if you are using a water resistant cream, it’s effectiveness will deteriorate after water exposure. Choosing the right sun cream is just as important as choosing the right skin care cream as it will help you keep your skin in top condition.

While summer sun is always warmly welcomed, we need to be aware of the damage it can do to

our skin. Over exposure to harsh sunlight can lead to UV damage, which isn’t necessarily

visible immediately. Whether you are out in the garden, or off on a luxury holiday, applying

sun cream before you spend any significant amount of time in the sun is essential. Once UV

damage is done, no skin care cream can fully repair it which is why sun lotion is so

important.

The ranges of sun lotion are so huge it can be difficult to know where to start. The minimum

SPF typical European skin should have is SPF 15. If you have particularly fair or sensitive

skin then you will want to use a much higher factor. Remember, the SPF is only an indication

of the protection given, and this is assuming proper application and re-applying after

activities such as swimming.

You don’t have to go for big brands when it comes to sun cream, in fact many supermarkets

own brands are excellent in not only value for money, but also product quality.

Boots Soltan Once spray – SPF30

Having sun cream in a spray makes application so much easier, and this is no exception. With

excellent UVA and UVB protection, and a once daily application which incorporates up to 40

minutes in the pool or sea this is a great own brand product that will give you ample

protection while on holiday.

Superdrug Solait Spray – SPF15

This is also another excellent spray on product, and smells lovely. It is easy to apply and

will give you superb protection as it has been shown that it actually gives around an SPF25

if applied properly, which is excellent as it is giving some leeway for poor application. It

is also water resistant, allowing you up to 40 minutes water exposure before needing to

re-apply.

Clarins Oil Free Sun Care spray – SPF15

This is a lovely light spray, and is perfect for those with oily skin who find that sun

cream can give them outbreaks of spots as it can be very heavy and pore blocking. As with

all Clarins products this smells great and is a pleasure to apply.  This spray claims to

offer deep cellular protection and the cutting edge a mineral filter offering the skin

perfect protection.

Nivea Moisturising Sun Lotion – SPF15

Nivea have long been associated with excellent skin care creams, and this sun cream is no

excepetion. With the lovely smell that is Nivea this cream is thick and creamy but

non-sticky and easy to apply. It works immediately on application and can help to reduce sun

allergies which can cause discomfort. With an adequate level of UV protection this makes a

great general sun cream to use either at home or abroad.

Whichever brand of sun cream you choose to buy, the most important thing after getting the

right factor for your skin is to make sure you apply it properly and regularly. It is all

too easy to forget to re-apply your sun cream after swimming, and even if you are using a

water resistant cream, it’s effectiveness will deteriorate after water exposure. Choosing

the right sun cream is just as important as choosing the right skin care cream as it will

help you keep your skin in top condition.

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Sun and skin care cream

With summer creeping closer and spring bringing us glorious, sunshine filled days, it is time to start thinking about a summer skin care regime, which of course will include skin care cream in the form of sun cream or sun block.

There are so many different sun creams on the market it can be difficult to know where to start, what factor to use, whether to get waterproof suncream or just re-apply it after going for swim, whether to get sun cream with insect repellent in it. All these things can make choosing the right sun cream seem difficult. However, if you want to keep your skin in tip top condition then you need to address your mind to getting your summer sun cream sorted.

The main thing you want from your sun cream is a high protection factor. Ideally you will have been wearing an SPF15 throughout the winter anyway, to protect you face from the winter sun. Depending on where you are going and what kind of sun exposure you are going to experience, you will need anything from a factor 25 up to 50 for your face and 15 to 25 for your body. Of course this is all dependant on your skin type, as those with fairer skin will need higher factors, while those with darker skin will be able to use lower factors.

Remember, fake tan, while it offers colours, offers no protection from the rays of the sun at all, so while it is all very well and good giving yourself a bit of colour before you hit the beach, don’t forget that underneath that colour your skin is still as fragile as ever, so you should still be slapping on the suncream.  It doesn’t really matter whether you choose water resistant sun cream or not, as you really should be re-applying your cream when you get out of the pool anyway. Of course, if you are prone to forgetting, then using a water resistant sun cream will help prevent you burning, and if you remember to re-apply it then all the better!

Making sure you take care of your skin in the sun is so important, as sun damage can lead to premature aging, lines, wrinkles and in worst cases can even result in skin cancer. Making sure your skin care cream has an SPF 15 or higher is important, making sure you always use a high factor sun cream when you are in the sun even more so.

Check back soon for news and reviews on the best sun creams on the market.

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Choosing the Right Face Wash

When it comes to face washes we tend to ask a lot of them, just as we do our skin care cream. While you want your skin to feel clean and fresh, you don’t want it to feel tight and squeaky, like it is going to crack when you change your facial expression.

One of the main problems when it comes to face washes, is the fact that no-ones skin is the same all over. While you might have predominantly dry or oily skin, you will no doubt have areas of skin that are neither oily nor dry and these are the areas that can suffer at the hands of a face wash that is designed to either help remove excess oils, or replace lost moisture. Thankfully many face washes are designed with this kind of problem in mind, and while they may specify that they are for oily skin or dry skin, they won’t be so targetted to that particular issue that any normal skin suffers.

Gel face washes seem to be some of the best on the market, and they can clean your skin beautifully, leaving it feeling fresh and awake, without any tightness or itching. Jam
packed with wonderful ingredients, face washes such as those made by Yes to Tomatoes have struck a perfect balance between getting your skin clean, and leaving it feeling stripped of any goodness, lycopene from tomatoes and Dead Sea mud combine to give your skin a wonderful combination of cleansing and nourishing at the same time.

If you are after something with a little bit more science behind it, then you might consider
a wash that contains some Salicylic acid, which will gently strip away any dead skin cells
along with grime and oil, to leave your skin feeling incredibly fresh and renewed. While
this sort of face wash is not best suited to sensitive or dry skin, it will work wonders on oily skin, or skin that is in need of a good pick-me up after the hard winter months.

Whether you opt for a simple face wash that just promises honest, clean skin as a result, or choose to go for something a little bit more adventurous, such as a gel face wash, or even a foaming gel face wash, be sure to choose the right type for your skin type. There is no point using something designed for dry skin if you have oily skin, and vice versa. If you are not sure what skin type you are, then start with a face wash for combination skin and see what results you get from it. It may be that it is the perfect face wash for you, or it may leave your skin feeling a little dry or not quite clean, in which case you will need to try a more specialised face wash. Remember that you should use any new kind of facial product for at least a couple of weeks before coming to a verdict on it’s effectiveness. Just as with skin care cream, face wash needs time to actually get to work on your skin as it renews itself in order to show what it is truly capable of.

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